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Friday, February 17, 2017
Behind the Scenes: Ancient Techniques & Digital Technology Bring ‘Rivers of Light’ Costumes To Life
Disney Parks Blog: “Rivers of Light,” the new nighttime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is just days away from it’s grand debut this Friday, February 17. Today we’re excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at the four costumes you’ll see in the show that represent Earth & Fire and Air & Water.
9 comments:
Alexa James-Cardenas
said...
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful. It kind of feels like a Cirque du Soleil costume instead of Disney, in the sense of it’s amazing mythical and detailed style. I have already come to realize that Disney World is a hundred times better the Disney Land, and this is article is evidence of that. Disney Land is the hotel, and Disney World is the resort. I mean, I do remember the night shows at Disney Land, specifically Fantasmic, and it was my favorite thing at Disney Land. When Disney Land had the Anaheim ticket discount, where if you were a Los Angeles resident or something like, you would get a discount that made Disneyland very affordable to a family of four, my dad took my brother and I there all the time. We would go multiple times a month and I loved it. However, I noticed, specifically with the Fantasmic show, that it seemed like the park was deteriorating in terms of maintenance and for weeks no one would fix it. For example the Maleficent dragon in Fantasmic broke down and they just didn’t fix it, soon it just turned into a big sheet covering the inner mechanics or just didn’t show up. I would understand for a couple of weeks, but for months! Anyway, I glad that Disney World is doing this, and putting so much effort into their products and shows.
Being the costume design enthusiast I am, seeing this article made me jump up and down in my seat and get excited. It is amazing how Disney has the power to make that feeling of bliss and joy rush over you. I have no doubt the costumes for Rivers of Light will only enhance this feeling, and help this show to cast its spell over its audience. I have always wondered if Disney had a specific costume department and designers, or if they just outsourced their costumes from shops like Universal does, so not only does this article inspire me, it also gives me a helpful piece of information I have wondered about for quite some time. I love that with this show, the designer did cultural research which only adds to the rich beauty of this show. It is absolutely beautifully done and I would love to see it if I were able.
I absolutely adore the combination oof both new and ancient techniques. I find the anachronistic quality of these costumes really compelling and i feel that will work really well twords the look they are going for. The consideration for the traditional techniques of certain places such as Tibet and India i think is really nice. it adds something that you cant just print on the fabric. not only that but i think that kind of detail is just as important for the actor as it is for the audience. for an actor to "feel" the tradition in the costume can help them really develop and portray a character better, and an audience can feel that when they watch a piece. I also appreciate the attention to detail rather than pushing out the costumes as fast as they can. this really allows the creative team to pour their heart and soul into the work..
There is obviously an amazing amount of detail in these costumes shown in the photos. I wonder how close the audience sits and how much of that detail they can see. In the video, there were a few moments where you could see the shadow of the performer against the sail, which had some really interesting forms, in particular from the headdress. I also wonder how many of these costumes they made (I mean, you have to have a backup in case something goes wrong with a costume that is worn outside that often, right?) and how they chose the size to make the costume (did they already have performers in mind, or build them to an average performer size? Because those costumes do not look easy to take in). I love that they considered the processes and the source of the beads, which no one would have known and most wouldn’t have considered without having seen this video.
The cover image was absolutely captivating. The costumes walked the fine line of intrinsic detail without coming across as gaudy or unbalanced. Two and a half years for only four costumes is crazy, it goes to show Disney will stop at nothing, not even money, to surpass the competition. Fantastical is the only word that can come close to a word that encompassed the perfect balance between every detail in the costumes. When the image zoomed out to the boats the costumes looked like every fiber of their being (pun intended) fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the show. At first I was worried by the stiffness of the costumes due to the heavy embroidery but when I saw the scale of the costumes to the boats and lights the stiffness of the costumes didn't seem to be that much of a problem. I wonder just how many of the costumes would be produced, they must have a shorter lifespan due to their close proximity to water.
Article Rating: 6/10 Notes: More than water is necessary to quench thirst
The idea of spending two and half years on four costumes is mind blowing. I can’t help but wonder how much each of these costumes cost when you add up not only the cost of the materials (I imagine all the imported beads aren’t cheap) but also all the cost of labor. Obviously these costumes are impressive, not only because of how intricate they are but also because of all the research that went into them. That being said, there is a part of me but can’t help but wonder, is it worth it? Looking at the clips of the show in the video, it seems like with the lighting being so dim as well as the audience being pretty far away from the performers, I wonder how much of the detail will actually read. I trust that Disney wouldn’t invest this much in these costumes if it didn’t make a difference, but it seems like a lot of work to put into something that won’t be seen up close.
I am so excited!! The world has been waiting for a nighttime Animal Kingdom show for the longest time, but it seems like it was definitely well worth the wait. Those costumes look absolutely stunning, and it will be incredible to see them in action. It is truly amazing to note the extreme detail that was put into each of those costumes. Two and a half years is a really long time to make four costumes. That means it was more than half a year for each individual costume. I do wonder, however, if the costumes are fit for specific actors, or if they are adaptable to others as well. It would be a real pain to have to wait a year every time there is a casting change. I assume they made multiple costumes for multiple casts, but I do wonder how much time and money was dedicated to reproducing these costumes a million times over. Disney truly has no limits.
I love when the fabrication process involves awesome new technology while also staying true to the origins of the process. I think these are absolutely stunning and think they will be even more incredible with all of the other production elements as seen in the video. I think the amount of time spent on these really shows. I remember in class the other day it being mentioned that Disney spends a huge amount of time on shows, almost as long as a new ride, and now I see that in action. I also remember talking about, in the costume mini, about how a lot of Disney water shows have costumes that are quick-rigged to release if the actors were to fall into the water. I wonder if this played a role at all in the timeline for these garments, because if so, I can definitely see why this took as long as it did. Also, I'm sure with all of the other effects, they might have to be flame retardant as well, likely among a slew of other safety precautions.
I love hearing about any instance where traditional technology is used and incorporated with newer, digital mediums. Personally, I am old fashioned for some strange reason but I've always loved paper, hand tools, and "analog" media. So, over recent years, I've been trying to learn how to switch to a more digital mindset myself because I believe that you are lacking if you only use one exclusively and that a healthy balance between the two is needed to create the steps to success. Given that I am very, very new to costuming tech, I think of the analogy involving CNC routers/laser cutters and how they relate to more traditional, manual tools. Granted, CNC and laser tech is ground breaking stuff, I don't agree that it's "cheating" to use them but I also don't agree that you should avoid them at all. Once again, it's just another step in the creation process. Similarly, I can't even begin to imagine how long this would take to embroider by hand but I also understand how certain traditional techniques are needed to get the look they wanted. Interesting enough, I didn't even think of their time in the water damaging the products and it must be a blessing to have certain technologies now that can reproduce the garments quickly if needed.
9 comments:
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful. It kind of feels like a Cirque du Soleil costume instead of Disney, in the sense of it’s amazing mythical and detailed style. I have already come to realize that Disney World is a hundred times better the Disney Land, and this is article is evidence of that. Disney Land is the hotel, and Disney World is the resort. I mean, I do remember the night shows at Disney Land, specifically Fantasmic, and it was my favorite thing at Disney Land. When Disney Land had the Anaheim ticket discount, where if you were a Los Angeles resident or something like, you would get a discount that made Disneyland very affordable to a family of four, my dad took my brother and I there all the time. We would go multiple times a month and I loved it. However, I noticed, specifically with the Fantasmic show, that it seemed like the park was deteriorating in terms of maintenance and for weeks no one would fix it. For example the Maleficent dragon in Fantasmic broke down and they just didn’t fix it, soon it just turned into a big sheet covering the inner mechanics or just didn’t show up. I would understand for a couple of weeks, but for months! Anyway, I glad that Disney World is doing this, and putting so much effort into their products and shows.
Being the costume design enthusiast I am, seeing this article made me jump up and down in my seat and get excited. It is amazing how Disney has the power to make that feeling of bliss and joy rush over you. I have no doubt the costumes for Rivers of Light will only enhance this feeling, and help this show to cast its spell over its audience. I have always wondered if Disney had a specific costume department and designers, or if they just outsourced their costumes from shops like Universal does, so not only does this article inspire me, it also gives me a helpful piece of information I have wondered about for quite some time. I love that with this show, the designer did cultural research which only adds to the rich beauty of this show. It is absolutely beautifully done and I would love to see it if I were able.
I absolutely adore the combination oof both new and ancient techniques. I find the anachronistic quality of these costumes really compelling and i feel that will work really well twords the look they are going for. The consideration for the traditional techniques of certain places such as Tibet and India i think is really nice. it adds something that you cant just print on the fabric. not only that but i think that kind of detail is just as important for the actor as it is for the audience. for an actor to "feel" the tradition in the costume can help them really develop and portray a character better, and an audience can feel that when they watch a piece. I also appreciate the attention to detail rather than pushing out the costumes as fast as they can. this really allows the creative team to pour their heart and soul into the work..
There is obviously an amazing amount of detail in these costumes shown in the photos. I wonder how close the audience sits and how much of that detail they can see. In the video, there were a few moments where you could see the shadow of the performer against the sail, which had some really interesting forms, in particular from the headdress. I also wonder how many of these costumes they made (I mean, you have to have a backup in case something goes wrong with a costume that is worn outside that often, right?) and how they chose the size to make the costume (did they already have performers in mind, or build them to an average performer size? Because those costumes do not look easy to take in). I love that they considered the processes and the source of the beads, which no one would have known and most wouldn’t have considered without having seen this video.
The cover image was absolutely captivating. The costumes walked the fine line of intrinsic detail without coming across as gaudy or unbalanced. Two and a half years for only four costumes is crazy, it goes to show Disney will stop at nothing, not even money, to surpass the competition. Fantastical is the only word that can come close to a word that encompassed the perfect balance between every detail in the costumes. When the image zoomed out to the boats the costumes looked like every fiber of their being (pun intended) fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the show. At first I was worried by the stiffness of the costumes due to the heavy embroidery but when I saw the scale of the costumes to the boats and lights the stiffness of the costumes didn't seem to be that much of a problem. I wonder just how many of the costumes would be produced, they must have a shorter lifespan due to their close proximity to water.
Article Rating:
6/10
Notes:
More than water is necessary to quench thirst
The idea of spending two and half years on four costumes is mind blowing. I can’t help but wonder how much each of these costumes cost when you add up not only the cost of the materials (I imagine all the imported beads aren’t cheap) but also all the cost of labor. Obviously these costumes are impressive, not only because of how intricate they are but also because of all the research that went into them. That being said, there is a part of me but can’t help but wonder, is it worth it? Looking at the clips of the show in the video, it seems like with the lighting being so dim as well as the audience being pretty far away from the performers, I wonder how much of the detail will actually read. I trust that Disney wouldn’t invest this much in these costumes if it didn’t make a difference, but it seems like a lot of work to put into something that won’t be seen up close.
I am so excited!! The world has been waiting for a nighttime Animal Kingdom show for the longest time, but it seems like it was definitely well worth the wait. Those costumes look absolutely stunning, and it will be incredible to see them in action. It is truly amazing to note the extreme detail that was put into each of those costumes. Two and a half years is a really long time to make four costumes. That means it was more than half a year for each individual costume. I do wonder, however, if the costumes are fit for specific actors, or if they are adaptable to others as well. It would be a real pain to have to wait a year every time there is a casting change. I assume they made multiple costumes for multiple casts, but I do wonder how much time and money was dedicated to reproducing these costumes a million times over. Disney truly has no limits.
I love when the fabrication process involves awesome new technology while also staying true to the origins of the process. I think these are absolutely stunning and think they will be even more incredible with all of the other production elements as seen in the video. I think the amount of time spent on these really shows. I remember in class the other day it being mentioned that Disney spends a huge amount of time on shows, almost as long as a new ride, and now I see that in action. I also remember talking about, in the costume mini, about how a lot of Disney water shows have costumes that are quick-rigged to release if the actors were to fall into the water. I wonder if this played a role at all in the timeline for these garments, because if so, I can definitely see why this took as long as it did. Also, I'm sure with all of the other effects, they might have to be flame retardant as well, likely among a slew of other safety precautions.
I love hearing about any instance where traditional technology is used and incorporated with newer, digital mediums. Personally, I am old fashioned for some strange reason but I've always loved paper, hand tools, and "analog" media. So, over recent years, I've been trying to learn how to switch to a more digital mindset myself because I believe that you are lacking if you only use one exclusively and that a healthy balance between the two is needed to create the steps to success. Given that I am very, very new to costuming tech, I think of the analogy involving CNC routers/laser cutters and how they relate to more traditional, manual tools. Granted, CNC and laser tech is ground breaking stuff, I don't agree that it's "cheating" to use them but I also don't agree that you should avoid them at all. Once again, it's just another step in the creation process. Similarly, I can't even begin to imagine how long this would take to embroider by hand but I also understand how certain traditional techniques are needed to get the look they wanted. Interesting enough, I didn't even think of their time in the water damaging the products and it must be a blessing to have certain technologies now that can reproduce the garments quickly if needed.
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