CMU School of Drama


Saturday, October 19, 2013

First Look: AVATAR to Come to Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney Parks Blog: From the moment AVATAR was released, people were captivated by the mythical world of Pandora. When we announced that we’d be working with James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment to bring this world to life in our parks, we felt certain that this partnership and combination of talent and imagination would produce an experience unlike any other ever created.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

At first I was so excited, as a huge fan of Avatar the Last Airbender, that is where my thoughts went. I keep forgetting that the James Cameron movie was a lot more popular. As a movie I didn't think very highly of it. The point, it seemed to me, was the graphics not the plot. In that vein it makes sense that Disney would turn it into a huge expansion for their park. The quality of the movie means little to them, the quality of visuals means everything. This is a good move on their part. I imagine thousands of people will want to go experience Pandora in person.

rmarkowi said...

This will be so cool when its built. I know several people who would be over the moon. I forsee this taking forever to be built only because technology willnhasv to catch up with what they want to do. Also, I think in would be a little terrified to go in there. It also sounds a little unnerving, because being in a space like that would be a little nerve wracking. I really hope this gets built though, because even must as a testiment to what technology and entertainment can do.

AAKennar said...

That largest expansion, that is what the article said. Well it going to be BIG. Disney does amazing things and I kind of feel that they are the group that pushes entertainment technology to see where they can go. Then others can see what they did and follow in footsteps. The visuals for the movie were impressive and yes it would be pretty amazing to walk around in a complete fantasy world. So best of luck Disney in the new adventure and I would love to go see it.

Becki Liu said...

This expansion is going to be marvelous! I haven't been to Disney in a long time and I would love to go back especially if they have this recreation of Pandora! I really enjoyed Avatar and the special effects and how they made the movie really fascinated me. I wonder how disney will pull off building this especially since the movie was pretty much all created digitally. This also makes me think of my friends who want to design and build for Disney. I think this shows how far Disney allows its designers to imagine and create which I am a huge supporter of! When I was in Architecture, I wanted to recreate the world and how people saw it and felt in it. Unfortunately, that wasn't what architecture was (and I ended up dropping and not really being into architecture or scenic... going with my passion for fashion and clothing, haha) And that is still what I want to do through clothes. I want to create new people and new feelings by what people wear! I want to manipulate figures and test people's comfort zones with what they wear. Design has so many outlets and they are all so fascinating. We are creating new worlds in the one we live in.

Keith Kelly said...

I can't wait to see this! I haven't been to Disney since I was really little and I can only remember a little, but things I do remember were pretty typical amusement part rides. Its only been about 12 years since I've last been to Disney, but in those 12 years technology has advance intensely, which has had a dramatic change to the entertainment industry. It so cool to even believe that we can take a futuristic movie like Avatar and create a fully immersed world. I have no doubt that this project is going to be huge and be such a success coming from Disney. Te quality of work they produce is astonishing and is never lower then my expectations. I will have to get out to see this giant undertaking when the process is complete.

Timothy S said...

Words cannot express how excited I am for this expansion. I was there when they made the announcement of this land for Disney's Animal Kingdom. I was torn as to how to feel about it. I was wondering how they would meld the heavy artillery from the movie with the family feeling of the park. But from talking with friends that work on the project, they really are excited about it. I just re-watched the movie and I think it is going to be a great meld with the parks. From the ride concepts to the implementation of the idea, I think it is going to be the coolest most exciting thing for adults. Animal Kingdom was long considered to be a children's park for quite a while because until Expedition Everest was put in. I think this will really make this park something new and exciting. With the exception of Expedition Everest, there have been very few changes to the park since it's opening in 1998 and this will dramatically change how the park is viewed in the eyes of guests coming to the park. For the first time since it's opening, I think there is going to be a massive draw to this park.

I also think love the idea of Animal Kingdom becoming a night park. Of the six parks in the US, Animal Kingdom is currently the only park that closes at sunset. Due to the type of attractions and the animals, night hours and fireworks shows are not conducive to this park. However, with the bio-luminescent aspect of Pandora (the world from Avatar), this park will become a night park and allow it to be open for longer hours. It will also allow for an amazing opportunity for a night light show on the Tree of Life. I am so excited for this. I hope to work on this when I graduate.

Katie Pyne said...

Whenever Disney says that they are planning on adding something else, shivers go up my spine. I love it. I've firmly held the belief that Disney and all its affiliates are the happiest places on earth, no matter what age you are. Hearing word of this new Avatar expansion just made my blood pressure rise to probably unhealthy levels. The quality in which Disney creates things is incredible, and to take such a high-caliber movie such as Avatar and create a section of a park for it is going to be an amazing feat that I know the Disney corporation can live up to. I'm also looking forward to being at Animal Kingdom at night. Though I won't see much of the animals, I'm excited to see how they bring the Tree of Life alive in the dark.

Unknown said...

I am very excited to see how closely the park's final product will mimic the amazing concept renderings included in the article. Sometimes it seems what is actually created in the parks is not as saturated and vibrant as their marketing media. I am happy that they are creating a night time show at the park. I understand that fireworks would disturb the animals so it is great they have come up with alternate methods such as water screens, etc. to create the same excitement.

Trent Taylor said...

This looks awesome!! I am so excited to see this come into reality. This appears to be disney's direct competition with universal's harry potter land. The idea behind it seems to be that of an immersive experience, as if you are entering the world of avatar and i think that speaks to the strength of the design. That also correlates to how the harry potter world is designed. I am excited to see how the imagineers conquer some of the physical challenges inherent to creating pandora as well as some more of the specific attractions that will be created within this world.

Mariah G said...

My roommate actually showed me this article last weekend and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. This is going to be absolutely huge if it's the largest expansion disney has ever done. Not to mention, recreating a world that has floating mountains is going to be quite the challenge. After reading the article, my roommate and I watched the movie and spent the whole time trying to figure out how disney is going to recreate it. I can't wait to see how they pull this off and how it is going to look when it is finished. I can only imagine how expensive this project must be and I really hope that doesn't get in the way (not that it would, it's disney's project) because I can't wait to see this in person.

Jenni said...

Lets be honest, Avatar is a terrible movie. The reason people talk about it is because the graphics are absolutely stunning. I'm glad that in the Disney parks interpretation of this movie is to take the world of the movie and recreate it in reality rather then focusing on the storyline (because we all know that ride would be a failure). I'm interested to see what the actual addition to the park will look like as the artwork displayed at the D23 Expo was a little large than life and I have a hard time rapping my mind around the reality of it.

I also an excited about addition of night time hours to the Animal Kingdom. As Tim mentioned, it will have some great connections to the bioluminescent world of Pandora

AlexxxGraceee said...

Well First off i am SO excited to see this come to life! Im not sure how long this will actually take to be done, and if by the time it is finished it will still be relevant, but I will go see it non the less. I think its super cool how a movie that was technologically so advanced for its time (its out dated now) but is still inspiring people to build a new huge installment. Even if avatar hadn't been a movie I think people would've enjoyed this. Its beautiful and super different than anything ive seen at disney for a while. And the idea thats its just big enough to walk through and experience the place is an amazing concept. It will be beautiful and super realistic im sure. I just hope James Cameron doesn't make even more money off this. That man is some serious cash.

Hunter said...

Well first off I know my dad will fly to Florida by himself just to see this when it is finished but I really wouldn't mind going with him. I was pretty indifferent to the movie but I really don't think that matters because quality of the movie aside it created beautiful world full of strange plants and animals and tons of color, and that is what I would like to see, whether its Avatar or not.

E Young Choi said...

I think this is really cool concept and will definitely fascinate all ranges of people in the world. Ever since AVATAR was premiered, I, too, was imagining what it will feel like being in a place like Pandora. Pandora to me seemed very sacred that I could never reach. However, looking at this article, anything seems possible. I am really curious to hear more about how they will manage to show floating lands and mysterious, glowing plants. I am pretty sure that they announced this because they had some kind of practical plan in their plan. I also wonder where this largest Animal Kingdom will be built. I am really excited to see dream coming to life. Although sometimes it is sad how people are only trying to imitate something that is already existing and popular among people rather than creating something that will be groundbreaking, I still think this concept of building Pandora is really fantastic.

Unknown said...

While it doesn't specifically have to do with avatar, I find the theme park branch of the entertainment industry very interesting. When one thinks of the entertainment industry the film and live entertainment industries usually come to mind, while the park branch is often overlooked, even though it is such a large portion of the industry. Just as with Disneys acquisition of Star Wars, the pairing with avatar could be a huge leap forward for both.

Nick Coauette said...

I am really excited to see this actually come to life. Joe Rohde, the head Disney Imagineer on this project, is a very close family friend of mine and he's been talking non-stop about this for years. It is so evident the passion that he pouring into his work, especially after his first successful project, Animal Kingdom. I think that the work he is doing is unparalleled, and the creative genius that is going into this project between Cameron and Rohde is going to come out breathtaking. I know that this will be my first stop when I finally have the chance to visit Disney World.

Albert Cisneros said...

I've known about these plans for an Avatar inspired world at Disney for a little while now, but to actually see renderings and concept images is so incredibly exciting! I love Disney and the magic they create at their parks and with their movies. Ever since I was a kid I've known that I want to work for disney imagineering one day. I grew up at Disneyland and then at Disney's California Adventure. It doesn't matter how many times I go, I am still amazed at the magic and wonderful way in which Disney immerses you in a different world. These images for Pandora at Animal Kingdom inspire me to work even harder to achieve my goals and one day to eventually work for Disney.

Unknown said...

I think that it is really interesting that Disney is adding an Avatar section to Animal Kingdom. I am a huge Disney fan, and think this idea is really cool. However, I do question their motives for this. The world of pandora offers a ton to do with new technology, animals, and other fun, but the renderings don't seem to give a feel for what experience guests will give. I can't wait to see what kinds of attractions are put into this new world.