Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025

[esskay]

I do wonder how quick that we'll either see B mode being widely used, or guests feeling Disney has fallen way behind, although as I write that I'm thinking "why not both".

It doesn't take much to draw crowds away, kinda hope this gives Disney execs the kick up the rear they so desparately need.

 

[JT3000]

The animatronics look good, especially by Universal's standards. Perhaps they don't trounce Disney's best work, but they're up to snuff, which is all that really matters. I do regret watching the video though. I think revealing the characters like this takes away from the ride's mystique.

They look incredible but I agree that they don’t necessarily Best some of the stuff we’ve seen. It’s a lot easier to make an animatronic look scary than to make one look friendly (see: Po animatronics at Universal Beijing).

My ACTUAL concern is upkeep. B-Mode always arrives…

Dread it. Run from it. B mode arrives all the same. And now it's here. Or should I say, I am.

Again, we need to wait and see. AAs tend to look a lot better in close-up + slow-motion reels than they do in person. Although there’s no denying that Frank is looking incredible.

I would argue they tend to look better in their intended setting than in a video such as this, where they're not even using proper show lighting. Perhaps you won't see them as well, but that can also help mask any deficiencies.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I would argue they tend to look better in their intended setting than in a video such as this, where they're not even using proper show lighting. Perhaps you won't see them as well, but that can also help mask any deficiencies.

I disagree, but I see exactly what you mean. AAs, for whatever reason, always look far more fake or uncanny in person than they do on video for me. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s just a vibe thing.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

The elephant in the room that no one has mentioned is the comparison of the newest UNI AA’s to Disney’s latest in Tiana…THAT should be enough to concern everyone here…

 

[Stripes]

The elephant in the room that no one has mentioned is the comparison of the newest UNI AA’s to Disney’s latest in Tiana…THAT should be enough to concern everyone here…

The tech in the Tiana AAs is very advanced but the animation is lackluster. Not the animators fault though. The story is weak and the animatronics lack purpose.

I’m expecting the Walt Disney AA to impress, and I assume it will be ready before Epic opens.

The scariness of the Monster AAs give them power. I think the emotions invoked by the Walt AA will give it a similarly powerful effect.

 

[donaldfan]

Maybe whomever worked on Wolfman can fix the yeti …

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

They look absolutely incredible. The Dracula and Wolfman jumpscare animations look like they’ll be especially effective considering how the kuka vehicles can get real up close and personal. And walking Frankenstein should be a show stopper.

each of these monsters is humanoid and even frankenstein's monster isn't moving in a shaky stumbling manner

i agree though that disney lately is focusing on arms waving around while the figure stands upright

wolfman is crouched ready to jump, dracula is arched screaming, frankenstein is actually walking and shielding his face from what i assume will be a torch or fire, the creature is reaching up from the depths (although he is the most flaily). the starting positions are more dynamic

Boom. Just nailed immediately why so many new Disney animatronics are technically impressive but not realistic or thematically

Tiana for example is sitting or standing in a neutral position in all of her appearances in TBA. There’s literally no dynamic action anytime she’s around, so she just has to wave her arms around like no human would ever do just to remind you that it is a very technically impressive figure.

Kylo Ren has the same problem at the end of RotR. Everyone says it looks so silly because his starting position is a flat footed un-athletic pose. What should be an exhilarating moment when the wall collapses is made silly because he remains in that weird feet close together and knees locked pose.

 

[TalkToEthan]

The elephant in the room that no one has mentioned is the comparison of the newest UNI AA’s to Disney’s latest in Tiana

I kind of did that back on #7012 when I brought up Odie.

But yes, your point is taken: we should be looking at newest vs newest

 

[Misted Compass]

They look like the Rise animatronics, which is all they need to be.

They look even better than the Finn/Hux animatronics (the only Rise ones with faces)

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

They look even better than the Finn/Hux animatronics (the only Rise ones with faces)

Lieutenant Bek?

 

[Jayspency]

The elephant in the room that no one has mentioned is the comparison of the newest UNI AA’s to Disney’s latest in Tiana…THAT should be enough to concern everyone here…

on that topic, am I the only one that thinks that Tiana's animatronic movements are uncanny? She kinda just flails her arms around whenever she's talking.

 

[JoeCamel]

Those look AWESOME! I wish they had put some AAs in Gringotts of this caliber!

their movements seem a lot more natural than disney's animation recently and the sculpts, especially dracula, are extremely realistic

I appreciate how dracula's jaw quivers some as he's yelling and it isn't just static. The staging/positioning of the figures' is a lot more dynamic too. You can tell a lot of the story just looking at how they are arranged.

I’m still hung over from 10 years ago with those goblin tellers at Gringots and that Hogswarts sorting hat before that; not to mention that witch doctor freak in the Kong queue………….and now Universal unleashes these life like monsters on us.

Once again Uni raises the bar.

These are their babies, their children. Uni created the movie monster and over a hundred years perfected their presentation. They went all in on these and what a ride they will star in, best work to date even after raising the bar in themed spaces ala Potter.
Wish I had this park in my future

 

[MisterPenguin]

They look even better than the Finn/Hux animatronics (the only Rise ones with faces)

Lieutenant Bek?

Hondo?

 

[Stripes]

I will say I hope there’s a bit more diversity in the show programming in the final ride.

Everything they showed us (other than the Frankenstein figure which is rumored to be in the pre-show instead of the ride itself) was animated as if it was coming after us. To me, it’s going to get repetitive if the ride is: Dracula’s coming to get you! Oh, and he’s set Wolfman after you too! And here’s the Creature! He’s gonna get you!

It’s not that different from “let’s go find some musicians for the party,” “that’s not enough, we need to search high and low!”

 

[MrPromey]

I see Universal took it upon themselves to fix the Yeti AA

In seriousness, wonder if this will motivate Disney at all to "plus" Everest.

It's been broken long enough they could probably replace it with something less complex and most people would think it's an upgrade rather than a half-a$$ed replacement to what was supposed to originally be working there.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I will say I hope there’s a bit more diversity in the show programming in the final ride.

Everything they showed us (other than the Frankenstein figure which is rumored to be in the pre-show instead of the ride itself) was animated as if it was coming after us. To me, it’s going to get repetitive if the ride is: Dracula’s coming to get you! Oh, and he’s set Wolfman after you too! And here’s the Creature! He’s gonna get you!

It’s not that different from “let’s go find some musicians for the party,” “that’s not enough, we need to search high and low!”

At least they're better than the laughable Dementors on a stick in FJ.

Which is better than the Halloween masks on a piston in Haunted Mansion.

Which is better than plastic fish glued to a wall in Ariel's ride.

Maybe it's time for a tier list...

 

[MrPromey]

...

i agree though that disney lately is focusing on arms waving around while the figure stands upright

...

The Imagineers have been getting their inspiration lately from 70's/80's Hanna Barbera rather than Disney animation, it would seem.

 

[Stripes]

At least they're better than the laughable Dementors on a stick in FJ.

Which is better than Halloween mask on a piston in Haunted Mansion.

Which is better than plastic fish glued to a wall in Ariel's ride.

Maybe it's time for a tier list...

There’s a difference between a show’s production quality and quality of its story.

Mediocre production quality can be overlooked when there’s a great story. Great production quality can’t save a mediocre story.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

They look even better than the Finn/Hux animatronics (the only Rise ones with faces)

Human faces are hard, why do you think we can barely see the Hux one?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Mediocre production quality can be overlooked when there’s a great story.

For you, maybe.

Mediocre and bad production quality takes me out of the story.