If you've looked at the most recently added attractions to the Disney Parks, you might have noticed that a lot of our favorite animated friends are looking a bit... flat. As Disney continues to develop new ride technology, many attractions are phasing out the use of audio-animatronics made so famous by Disney ages ago.
While some might see this as an inevitable outcome, many fans are longing for the days of traditional Disney magic, and that includes the incredibly detailed animatronic figures that have brought these attractions to life for decades. While other parks, such as Tokyo Disneyland, have evolved and perfected the art form, things aren't as rosy stateside.
End of an era?
In the footage above, Walt Disney goes into great detail on how these original figures worked. While this technology has long since evolved since he was with us, many fans point out their dwindling presence in Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort. As the international parks evolve, the ones at home are left with projections on screens, and it's growing tiresome.
Matthew Rizzo, an animator and vocal Disney fan petitioning to run for Disney CEO this month, has brought up the growing concern on his TikTok page (found here). While Rizzo will still have to contend with the likes of Josh D'Amaro, it feels like he's calling him out when he states the following,
"Projection mapping technology has ruined Disney Rides... Not only are animatronics more immersive than pictures on a screen, but they're not some primitive technology from the mid-20th century that we should be moving away from. What if by the 2030s we saw an era where animated characters like the Seven Dwarfs or Woody and Buzz could actually interact with guests and speak to them..."
This is not the first time Along Main Street has mentioned Rizzo's ambition, and he definitely has this writer's support. However, Disney isn't just sitting on its thumbs. Even at the time of writing, brand new technologies are being developed for the parks (even if it does have some resemblance to Universal's tech).
Be that as it may, Disney's core parks in the US have desperately needed a boost. Perhaps Rizzo's observation and campaign promises could be the igniting spark for a season of change at the House of Mouse.
Do you think Disney needs a massive upgrade?