Why doesn't anyone like Audio-Animatronics?

[CMandImagineer]

This thread is an adjunct to the fun thread called "You're an Imagineer..."

I noticed that all the fun, new ideas everyone posted for attractions at Disneyland, few, if any, included A-A figures. Yet, the great perennial favorites at the parks, still going strong after decades, are all about A-A. What gives? I'd love to hear your opinions and theories.

[The Mad Hatter]

I love aa's. I don't think they'll ever go away. It's just that people are probably looking to incorporate newer technologies into rides.

[dramaqueen]

I had heard recently about new AA technology possibly being used in POTC, making the pirates interact with the guests and their dialogue and actions would be different everytime. If that kind of technology could be incorporated, that would be awesome!

[Club 33]

It's kind of like what Kevin Yee was saying in his article "The New Patriotism", we used to simply sit back and watch the show. These days, people seem to be more interested in being a part of something, as apposed to just coasting by some AAs. Dont get me wrong, I love AAs and I love PotC and HM, but that just seems to be where the market is headed, or perhaps was. Disney still builds AA attractions. WtP (Winnie the Pooh) was the same deal, and this Submarine Nemo attractions too.

However, look at some of the newest attractions, Buzz, Mission: Space, they're about being a part of the ride, not just watching a show.

[cellarhound]

It's kind of like what Kevin Yee was saying in his article "The New Patriotism", we used to simply sit back and watch the show. These days, people seem to be more interested in being a part of something, as apposed to just coasting by some AAs. Dont get me wrong, I love AAs and I love PotC and HM, but that just seems to be where the market is headed, or perhaps was. Disney still builds AA attractions. WtP (Winnie the Pooh) was the same deal, and this Submarine Nemo attractions too.

However, look at some of the newest attractions, Buzz, Mission: Space, they're about being a part of the ride, not just watching a show.

I don't know, I think So Cal is growing up when it comes to the vertues of interactive theatre.... but getting people to interact in a safe way is the key...

AA's seemed to be an experiment with a type of drama called "realism" - and we recently passed through the need to have every film and attraction to be as "real" as possable...

But the recent trend moves beyond realism or even "emersion" but toward "interactive super-realism."

[Ghostbuster626]

The only people who hate audio animatronics seem to be upper disney management

[nish221]

oops...sorry,

Actually, I meant to have A-A in both of my rides.... But I guess like
in Indy, the best A-A rides are ones where they're just part of the story
(of the ride). Not so much A-A intensive like PoTC is. Even the Yeti in
the Matterhorn is a very rudimentary A-A. (BTW. I recently saw a
stationary picture of the Yeti. I didn't know that it looked so cheesy!
but when you're speeding by, one doesn't see it).

[nish221]

I had heard recently about new AA technology possibly being used in POTC, making the pirates interact with the guests and their dialogue and actions would be different everytime. If that kind of technology could be incorporated, that would be awesome!

Yes, this is actually possible. The voice recognition is now good enough that if
they put a mic on the boat, they could attempt to discern what you say and
react to it. However, I'm not sure if it would hear *you* reliably since PoTC is
pretty loud sometimes (music, sfx) The only way to do that is to put a mic
on *you*. I guess they could use a nice directional parabolic mic.

[nish221]

Cellerhound: I agree w/ you salient points.... One note: "Nemo Subs" can be considered
"immersive" since it does go (partially) underwater :-):-):-)

[nish221]

Nevermind....

Hmmm.... it's ok now....

[cellarhound]

Cellerhound: I agree w/ you salient points.... One note: "Nemo Subs" can be considered
"immersive" since it does go (partially) underwater :-):-):-)

Or is that Sub-mersive?

[SilentBob66]

I was rather surprised that there were no AAs at DCA either.....it's screaming out for a really good California history AA attraction.

[nish221]

heh, heh!

Good one, cellerhound!

[robotpirates]

I was rather surprised that there were no AAs at DCA either.....it's screaming out for a really good California history AA attraction.

Something with the Gold Rush, at least.

I personally love AAs! The one in Buzz in the queue is amazing. Fluid articulation and face projection akin to Madame Leota! I hope they consider some AAs for new rides; I think it really enhances the whole experience, especially for the younger set.

[Jspider]

It's kind of like what Kevin Yee was saying in his article "The New Patriotism", we used to simply sit back and watch the show. These days, people seem to be more interested in being a part of something, as apposed to just coasting by some AAs. Dont get me wrong, I love AAs and I love PotC and HM, but that just seems to be where the market is headed, or perhaps was. Disney still builds AA attractions. WtP (Winnie the Pooh) was the same deal, and this Submarine Nemo attractions too.

However, look at some of the newest attractions, Buzz, Mission: Space, they're about being a part of the ride, not just watching a show.

yes and no

guests like rides that make you feel part of the action and they don't want a passive experience

Pirates and Mansion still work for the most part because they simulate exploration and discovery that you yourself are doing

and I think that the Pooh attraction your speaking of is the Tokyo one it uses AA's but it also uses projection effects which is very fitting for the style of ride that it is

I have heard Nemo will use AA's but it might also use projections of some sort

[FigmentJedi]

Can they even have underwater projectors?

[Cousin Orville]

Can they even have underwater projectors?

What do you think the Finding Nemo Sub ride is gonna be?

[Yensid TlaW]

I was going to start a simelar thread asking where AAs had been installed in the US parks in the last 10 years. I can only think of the Buzz ones at his ride, and maybe the Ellen one put in the new Universe Of Energy, but that might be from 94.

[ModHatter]

I do think rides that are as AA-intensive as HM and PotC are a thing of the past. I suspect that, even though it is very low-tech, Splash Mountain's approach to in-ride characters represents the next wave, and followed through with Indy. The alternate approach during this time period was the Great Movie Ride, which introduced us to an incredible Wicked Witch AA, and also featured those interchangeable "tour guides."

Personally, I'd love to see an Indy-style vehicle dropped into a GMR-scale AA ride. For that matter, one of my pet ideas is tearing out the whole Autopia/MBC/Subs area in a few years and creating a submarine tour through a Sea Castle-style underwater city, where complex AAs can inhabit underwater vehicles, homes, and control centers, and simple-motion figures can operate freely in the water...

I think AAs will always be integral in Disney attractions. But unlike the days of HM and PotC, AAs will be part of the ride's ensemble of features, not the star.

[Jspider]

I was rather surprised that there were no AAs at DCA either.....it's screaming out for a really good California history AA attraction.

there are no AA's in DCA? :confused: I could've sworn there's at least one AA in DCA

I mean isn't Hopper a fairly advanced AA, and also they have a few in Muppetvision?