Disney's A Goofy Movie just celebrated a milestone anniversary, having viewers laughing and singing Powerline tunes for 30 years. Disney isn't ignorant of the film's impact either, and has delivered a healthy helping of fan service.
We've seen a reunion between the film's leads and even a full-fledged Disney documentary on how the project came to be. However, the studio isn't done yet. Disney just dropped an immersive virtual event that puts fans right in the middle of the Powerline concert at the end of the film. That's undoubtedly cool, but could it be the start of something else?
Eye-to-eye with I2I
Yesterday, Disney dropped a 360 virtual experience that put guests in the middle of the Powerline concert with Goofy and Max. Naturally, it was like slipping into a Disney cartoon with all the bells and whistles that could be expected (at least for those with the right technology).
The Walt Disney Company had this to say about the VR concert,
"The video showcases the iconic climactic scene from the film where Goofy and his son, Max, find themselves backstage at a concert featuring Powerline, voiced by celebrated entertainer and Grammy-nominated R&B artist Tevin Campbell. However, instead of following the off-stage antics of Goofy and Max throughout the concert arena, viewers can watch Powerline’s performance of 'I2I' in its entirety, with the moments from the chaotic scene playing out in various places within the immersive VR experience before the stars join on stage to close out the number."
Disney is known for its immersive features, especially at the Disney Parks, but this writer can't help but wonder if this could lead to something of a slippery slope. If the reception for more VR experiences are big enough, Disney might funnel more and more time, money, and attention to the field, and away from their real-world assets.
With thousands of views already, the long-awaited Powerline concert received a very warm and nostalgic reception. How long will it be before Disney ups the ante and makes more content exclusive to VR?
Granted, this might be a worst-case scenario, but this is also prime evidence of Disney latching on to that all-too-familiar nostalgia factor, and people are already swarming. As novel and fun as something like this is, this writer is personally a bit cautious when it comes to incorporating things like VR into Disney experiences.
Yes, it's really stinking cool to see technology do this, and we might be putting the cart before the horse, but how long will it be before we see this in the parks? With many criticizing the overuse of screens on rides and attractions, is VR really that far behind?
That's not to say that the idea of watching a Disney movie in first-person doesn't have appeal. But it does pose some curious questions about where Disney will go. Walt might have believed in the maxim of "keep moving forward," but should it replace in-person experiences?
What do you think of Disney investing more in VR?