Jungle Cruise Re-Imagining

[JoeCamel]

It's not that simple -- I don't think there's any way to position those frogs so that every leg looked like it was in the right place while also not looking like the frog was about to fall backwards off the log. I think the whole figure would need to be redesigned.

That's really what I meant about giving them leeway with little to no budget (if that's the case). I'm thinking they didn't have the time or money to design and redesign prototypes so that it looked perfect. I'm imagining it was more along the lines of "let's quickly get something fabricated that looks like the original frogs".

Just change the log to match the foot position. Easy to make bumps, knots etc

 

[UNCgolf]

Just change the log to match the foot position. Easy to make bumps, knots etc

That definitely seems like it would be easier than making new frog figures.

 

[Phil12]

Just change the log to match the foot position. Easy to make bumps, knots etc

They just need to make some model railroad clump bushes and moss glued down to the log. That will fill in any and all gaps between the frogs web feet and the log. They could ask the local model railroad club to do the job for free! And WDW would get a few extra points for community involvement.

 

[DisneyGentlemanV2.0]

The lack of movement doesn't bother me, but the floating legs are unfortunate.

Imagineering used to pride themselves on attention to detail - like the moveable type in Gutenberg's printing press is Spaceship Earth.

Now they can't even make stationary frogs unless they defy gravity. I can hear the tour guide now...

"and here we have the infamous floating frogs, which would have actually sat on the logs had we not granted Bob Iger $19,254,055 in total compensation...."

 

[Dragonman]

I don’t see why they couldn’t have just pulled the original ones out of the archives if they still exist (maybe someone knowledgeable like @marni1971 would know) and hooked them back up. Anyone know what currently exists in their original spot?

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I don’t see why they couldn’t have just pulled the original ones out of the archives if they still exist (maybe someone knowledgeable like @marni1971 would know) and hooked them back up. Anyone know what currently exists in their original spot?
View attachment 596346

Most things once removed do not go into the archives. I'm sure the original frogs were long, loooong gone.

Generally the archives only takes ownership of items considered to be especially noteworthy in the history of the company. Regardless of what WE think about them, the animated frogs would not have made that cut.

 

[note2001]

Most things once removed do not go into the archives. I'm sure the original frogs were long, loooong gone.

Generally the archives only takes ownership of items considered to be especially noteworthy in the history of the company. Regardless of what WE think about them, the animated frogs would not have made that cut.

Are you saying they croaked?

I'll show myself out.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Are you saying they croaked?

I'll show myself out.

Hop to it!

 

[Movielover]

Are you saying they croaked?

I'll show myself out.

Hop to it!

Frog legs.



Oh there's no pun there, I just like frog legs!

 

[Bocabear]

So the original Marc Davis animated frogs didn't meet show standards and were removed and now they have decades later been replaced with non moving stock frogs that were not even custom made to fit the show environment?

 

[WondersOfLife]

It's not that simple -- I don't think there's any way to position those frogs so that every leg looked like it was in the right place while also not looking like the frog was about to fall backwards off the log. I think the whole figure would need to be redesigned.

That's really what I meant about giving them leeway with little to no budget (if that's the case). I'm thinking they didn't have the time or money to design and redesign prototypes so that it looked perfect. I'm imagining it was more along the lines of "let's quickly get something fabricated that looks like the original frogs".

Actually, it is quite simple. Lol. Technical design major here. I guarantee you, it’s not rocket science... nor would it cost more than 5 bucks to get right.

 

[Dragonman]

I’m sure you’ve all seen these by now but here’s the only two known videos featuring the original animated frogs. As you can see the larger ones had belly and mouth movement while the smaller ones only had the latter.

 

[EeyoreFan#24]

This is an interesting question (to me at least) about when an animatronic/effect is removed. Do they remove the supporting infrastructure along with it. My guess is most are abandon in place. For example, with the frogs or the pirate parrot - are there utilities buried in the dirt or behind the patched wall on the column that can be excavated and reactivated?

Probably really depends on the end goal and future plans. Maybe with the removals it’s abandoned and covered, but with upgrades - say pneumatic/hydraulic to electrical and no plan to look back - the infrastructure ripped out too?

Anyone have any insight? I find these things interesting.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

We're getting a lot of forum mileage with these frog statues.

 

[Jambo Dad]

Perhaps it’s a little thing, but this doesn’t meet the standards set by Disney and needs to be fixed, removed or hidden better. Shouldn’t cost much either.

 

[Movielover]

So the original Marc Davis animated frogs didn't meet show standards and were removed and now they have decades later been replaced with non moving stock frogs that were not even custom made to fit the show environment?

It's almost as if the people running the company now in 2021 are not the same people who ran the company in the 70's...

 

[UNCgolf]

Actually, it is quite simple. Lol. Technical design major here. I guarantee you, it’s not rocket science... nor would it cost more than 5 bucks to get right.

How? There's no way to make every leg look like it's on the log with that current design; something would be floating no matter what. Either the frog figures would have to change or the log would have to change.

If you're saying the positioning could be adjusted so the floating wouldn't be quite as bad, I agree with that. I'm pretty sure they would only fit properly with no floating at all on a completely flat surface, though.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Did the park actually put out any press release or was this something people noticed? If they think putting a few frog statues on a log requires an announcement....good lord.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Did the park actually put out any press release or was this something people noticed? If they think putting a few frog statues on a log requires an announcement....good lord.

At least, a commemorative cupcake.

 

[wdwmagic]

Did the park actually put out any press release or was this something people noticed? If they think putting a few frog statues on a log requires an announcement....good lord.

No. I think it is very much an easter-egg type of thing.