It was an announcement that I personally thought was going to be saved as a “one more thing”-style delivery at the end of the recent Disney Experiences keynote from Chairman Josh D’Amaro, but instead, the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic was one of the first announcements of the presentation. During the presentation, it was clear that D’Amaro and Imagineers are taking the task seriously, and new details reveal that it’s not only the storytelling that matters but the technology and realism of putting Walt Disney on stage just feet away from guests.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life
In 2025, a new show will play at the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland called Walt Disney – A Magical Life. It will feature for the first time an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt, advancing a technology he pioneered 60 years ago with Abraham Lincoln at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
“Creating our first Walt figure is an idea that’s been whispered in the hallowed halls of Imagineering for years – decades, even,” said D’Amaro at Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase. “We just had to wait for innovation to catch up with our dreams. And we’re finally ready.”
“We wanted the show and story to appeal to all ages, and while some of our younger audience may not know as much about Walt Disney, we felt his story could be inspirational to them,” Tom Fitzgerald — Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering said. “Follow your dreams, turn setbacks into success, never give up, and give the world your very best.”
The Opera House theater will transform into Walt’s studio office and will bring together the past, present, and future of Disney storytelling. A Magical Life will play in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln after an initial exclusive run.
Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic New Details
Fitzgerald noted that the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic will “incorporate features and innovations that have never been achieved before. It will be the most lifelike human figure we have ever created.”
Fortune was able to get a preview of the Audio-Animatronic and shared some new details that reveal just how lifelike the Walt Disney figure will be. As seen in the concept art released, Walt Disney will be leaning on his desk before standing up to tell his story. All-new technological methods are being used to animate Walt’s hands and fingers. Imagineers will also be using new techniques to create the skin for the figure, and they’re placing each strand of hair individually onto the figure’s head. Walt’s words during the show will be his own thanks to archival audio recordings, and special lighting will be used to draw out a twinkle in Walt’s eyes.
Imagineers have been perfecting Audio-Animatronics technology for more than 60 years, and some of the newest Audio-Animatronics are the most stunning figures to date. The Na’vi Shaman in Pandora – The World of Avatar is probably the current high water mark for the technology, but the Walt Disney figure will likely raise the bar again. It is fitting that Walt Disney will rotate with Abraham Lincoln given the stories of how lifelike Lincoln was perceived to be during the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Hopefully, in 2025, Imagineers are able to create a similar sentiment among the guests who visit Disneyland to see Walt Disney with their own eyes.
In an interview with WDW Radio, D’Amaro recalled the moment that Roy P. Disney first saw the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic figure at the Imagineering campus.
I did have a chance to bring Roy Disney (Walt’s nephew) over. He was in the audience with us last night. He came over to Imagineering. And we walked in, and I showed him where we were on it. You can imagine that moment – walking into Imagineering, and standing in front of Walt, with Roy Disney. And it’s complete silence as we both just stand there, and stare. He looked at me for a moment, and I looked back at him – and then there was just a smile. It’s incredibly special.
In that whole show last night, this was one of the moments that I was most excited about.
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