Imagineers Partner With Avatar Filmmakers To Create Pandora - The World of Avatar

Imagineers Partner With Avatar Filmmakers To Create Pandora - The World of Avatar: Have a new fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how WDI project team has partnered with Lightstorm Entertainment and many of the original AVATAR filmmakers – including James Cameron and Jon Landau – to bring the new land to life.



In this video, several members of the Pandora “Super Team” share what the experience of bringing Pandora – The World of Avatar to life has been like for them, and some of the amazing moments that have exceeded even their imaginations.




Pictures and video: copyright Disney

James Cameron and Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment Adapt AVATAR into a New Stunning Game !

While director James Cameron is preparing the next four Avatar sequels, he and his Lightstorm Entertainment production company are also teaming up with Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment to develop a cutting-edge new game based on the franchise. The folks of Ubisoft released an announcement video telling us what we can expect from the game. The video features interviews with the great people involved with the Avatar game development including Cameron, who says:
"What impressed me about Massive were the group’s passion for this project, and the power of its Snowdrop engine. With the power of [Snowdrop], and the team’s passion and obsessive focus on detail, we know they’re the right group to bring the beauty and danger of Pandora to life."

Players will have complete freedom to explore the world of Pandora in new and different ways. Considering the amount of work and detail that Cameron puts into his films, Avatar fans can expect nothing less than greatness and spectacular.

The four Avatar sequels currently in development will be filmed simultaneously. The release of Avatar 2 is expected for December 2018, followed by the three others sequels to be released in December 2020, 2022, and 2023. As for the game, no word yet on when it will be released but most probably with one of these releases.

"Toruk : The First Flight" Cirque du Soleil Show Inspired by Avatar Debut in Montreal, - Video Review

"Toruk: The First Flight" is the awaited new Cirque du Soleil show inspired by James Cameron's Avatar. Described as "A live multimedia immersive spectacle that brings to the stage the breathtaking world of James Cameron’s Avatar like you have never seen before" the show include amazing projection effects as well as Cirque du Soleil signature stunning acrobatics sequences. 

Toruk : The First Flight envisions a world beyond imagination set thousands of years before the events depicted in the film. The word Toruk, in the Na’vi language, refers to the great leonopteryx, the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky. Central in Na’vi lore and culture, this fascinating creature is crucial to the Na’vi clans’ sense of destiny and interconnectedness – and is about to be ridden for the very first time by a Na’vi.

The official site is HERE but i have plenty of great videos for you so let's start with the short official commercial.




The next videos below were shot during the media event or the Montreal premiere and shows a selection of scenes from the show.







The 8.30min video below shows apparently the first minutes the show.




Another 10min long video showing others scenes of the show.




A great 4K video of different scenes filmed in wide angle with a Go Pro.




More amazing projection effects and the end of the show.




This video shows the arrival of the guests on the red carpet and include more footage!




And what does James Cameron think about the Toruk show? Here is the answer.




Next video is an interview of the show directors with more footage.




Costumes were obviously an important part of the show and this is what this next short video is about.




This last video is about the acrobatics rehearsal for Toruk, World of Avatar!




Pictures: copyright Cirque du Soleil

D23 Expo Parks and Resorts Pavilion : Part Two : Pandora – The World of AVATAR - NEW Article With Andy Castro Pictures !

Editing: This is a brand NEW article with dozens of pictures shot by Andy Castro at D23. When i did the previous version as i couldn't find pictures from Andy i thought that he didn't shot the Pandora model. But today Andy posted his latest set of pictures in which was these fantastic pictures of the model! So, i've totally edited this article and it's a brand new one that you must not miss if you've read the previous one!

Make sure to follow Andy on his Dateline Disneyland site!


The other area inside the Parks and Resorts pavilion at D23 Expo is about "Pandora – The World of AVATAR" - as this is now the official name of the land - where was displayed the model of the land. Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests will journey into the magnificent world of Pandora at this new AVATAR-themed land – a world that includes floating mountains, a bioluminescent forest and the winged creatures known as Banshees, giving guests a transformational experience they will never forget.

Pandora – The World of AVATAR is a key part of the expansion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and will feature awe-inspiring floating mountains, a nighttime jungle of bioluminescent plants as well as an amazing new attraction called A"VATAR Flight of Passage". This e-ticket attraction will allow guests to experience what it’s like to fly with banshees.

Let's have a close look at the Pandora model. By the way, Imagineer Joe Rhode - picture below - confirmed during the presentation that the boat ride is still part of the land. What is not 100% clear to me if it will be totally indoor or outdoor, or half an half.

And now, Andy's great series of pictures of the model. Please note that the model was presented with a day light and night time versions to show to D23 guests the electroluminescent lighting effects. Click on each picture for a better look in big size.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek shared the update on Pandora – The World of AVATAR at the D23 EXPO 2015 with Imagineer Joe Rohde who said one of the things that has made work on this project so special has been the collaboration with the Oscar-winning team behind the film – James Cameron, Jon Landau and the rest of the Lightstorm team:  “We’ve been working side-by-side with Jim and Jon to make sure that what we do is true to the story, characters and vision for the beautiful, mythical, epic land of Pandora,” Joe said. “We’re creating a transformational experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.” 

New visuals were also displayed!

Alpha Centauri Expeditions ( ACE ) will be the travel tours company supposed to help you totravel to Pandora. In the video below filmed by The DIS you'll see a short video explaining you in details what is Alpha Centauri Expeditions, as well as close shots on the model and in glorious 4K definition!




He was joined then during the D23 presentation by Imagineers working on these projects as well as legendary filmmakers James Cameron and Jon Landau who shared new details about Pandora – The World of AVATAR including the names of the land and E-ticket attraction – AVATAR Flight of Passage.




Don't miss in the next article below or HERE the great Pandora "travel" posters!

On Disney and more i've covered essentially the D23 Expo announcements about Parks or Imagineering but there was more so make sure to follow Andy Castro others updates on D23 Expo either on his Dateline Disneyland page HERE or on Mice Age HERE.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Videos: copyright The DIS

James Cameron Confirms Sophisticated Na'vi Audio-Animatronics for Avatar Land !

A small but great news coming from a James Cameron interview to Slash Film:
"Cameron spoke about the Avatar Land at the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex Film Festival on Saturday May 31. First he said they were looking into doing something olfactory in the park to simulate the experience of being in a rain forest, then added the following:

"It’s going to be called, I believe, "Pandora: The Land of Avatar.” It’s going to have floating mountains. It’s pretty cool. I’ve seen the model and the design work the Imagineering people have done is spectacular. They’ve got a quarter inch to the foot scale model of the whole park and I’ve looked at all the sight lines…it’s not a park, it’s a land within the park but a land is not just a ride. There will be several rides and a number of other attractions. It’s really just a place you’re gonna wanna go and hang out. It’s gonna be gorgeous. Of course it’s gonna be gorgeous at night and they’re using every new trick, every new bit of technology that they’ve created.

The animatronics for the Na’vi characters are gonna be fantastic. For example, their early animatronics would use 12 axis of motion and I think the most they’ve ever done was 32 axis recently. I think they’re up to 64 just in the face of the Na’vi characters. So it’s gonna be remarkable. They really see it as a major, major attraction.

As we know "Pandora: The Land of Avatar" is scheduled to open at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida in 2017, which will be between the release of Avatar 2 and Avatar 3. Construction began earlier this year."

Picture: copyright Disney

James Cameron and Cirque du Soleil Developing an Avatar Live Arena-Touring Show ! Debut Late 2015 !

You're awaiting the opening of the Avatar land at Animal Kingdom or may be the three Avatar sequels, but the next big thing linked to James Cameron's Avatar will come next year, in 2015, and it's a big news that was announced this week-end in Montreal as Director James Cameron has teamed up with Cirque du Soleil to develop a live arena-touring show that will be created around Cameron's Avatar movies. The "live experience" is expected to debut in late 2015 and will travel all over the world.

If you'ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show, and the amazing. acrobatics that they pull off in these shows you'l understand that a Avatar show with the Cirque du Soleil could end to be something really spectacular. The announcement was made in Montreal during the C2MTL– Commerce + Creativity Conference, and here are more details. Note that Disney is not involved in this project:

The live production will feature the creative signature drive of Cirque du Soleil in association with Cameron's and Jon Landau's Lightstorm Entertainment. The show is expected to debut before the first of three upcoming Avatar sequels, for which Cameron is currently in pre-production. Twentieth Century Fox, which financed and distributedAvatar, will bring the new films to theaters around the world and is also a partner on the live show.

"Our relationship with Jim Cameron began with my visit at his 'Avatar' cutting room", explained Daniel Lamarre. "I am thrilled that almost 5 years later, Cirque du Soleil will be able to explore the very inspirational 'Avatar' realm for the live stage. This will mark our second creative project with Jim and I believe it will be as stimulating for both our creative forces."

"Over the years, I have discovered the extraordinary talents and imaginations of both the artists and the creative forces behind Cirque du Soleil," said James Cameron. "I know we share the common goal of bringing audiences to another level of entertainment experiences. I look forward to doing just that on this project."

"Audiences around the globe have embraced 'Avatar' and we believe they will want to experience this amazing world in an entirely new way," commented Kathy Franklin, President of Franchise Development at Lightstorm Entertainment.

"'Avatar' remains a phenomenon that continues to inspire people around the globe, and combining it with the live event ingenuity of Cirque de Soleil is a perfect synthesis of imagination and talent," said Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO, 20th Century Fox. "As Jim Cameron prepares to take us to even greater heights with three new 'Avatar' films, we're thrilled with the innovative experience he's developing in this groundbreaking agreement with Cirque de Soleil."

Creative forces from Cirque du Soleil and Lightstorm Entertainment will meet and put in place a dedicated creative team, which will be announced at a later date."

Fantastic WDI Video Shows James Cameron, Joe Rhode and WDI Imagineers working on Avatar Land, New Concept-arts, and more !

Wow-ow, Disney Parks has released for D23 Japan a fantastic video showing James Cameron and WDI Imagineers working on Avatar Land! This is the very first insight that you will have in the hyper-secret design of the "World of Pandora" that Imagineers will recreate at Animal Kingdom. And there is even some new artworks shown inside the video!

So, it's time to have a closer look at what this great video is showing us thanks to enhanced screen captures that i did for you. Definitely click on each image to see them in big size!

The video starts with James Cameron talking from the performance capture stage where he actually shoot scenes for one of the THREE upcoming Avatar sequels - if you have a closer look you'll even be able to see one of the scenes of the new movie! Cameron say how delighted he is to work with WDI Imagineers and, wishing the best to guests of D23 Expo Japan, he add that Lightstorm and WDI share a same deep commitment to create an unparalleled immersive environment for the Avatar land.

Then, Imagineer Joe Rhode  appear - picture on top - and describes more precisely what guests will experience at Animal Kingdom Avatar Land and how the land will "come to life" when you'll interact with it and will seems to be a living creature itself. Joe Rhode also say how the project will be filled with new technology, new style, new materials, and is a tremendous tour de force to achieve what they thought was impossible, a recreation of the world of Pandora. The video last 3.35 minutes and during this time here are the great shots that you can see in the video that you will find of course at the end of this article.

First, there is shots of a meeting at WDI with James Cameron, Bob Iger, Tom Staggs, Joe Rhode and others WDI Imagineers in a room with a model of Avatar land...

You've note the two Navi's statue in the background, i suppose. Here is a closer shot of the same meeting.

Always during the same meeting there is another interesting shot with Joe Rhode talking to James Cameron in a room where are displayed on the walls unseen Avatar land renderings!!

Talking about renderings the video shows two new artworks starting by this first impressive one below showing a daylight view of the land on a new angle.

Now you remember this other beautiful artwork unveiled last Saturday, always showing the land by daylight...

Well, thanks to the video you can discover how will look exactly the same scene at night!

And as we talk of night scenes the video also do an interesting zoom on the boat ride artwork that you saw Saturday, proving that there will be six guests by boat in case you didn't noticed it yet.

Where things become extremely interesting is when the video shows James Cameron, Joe Rhode and others looking at a test of what seems to be the movie for the flight simulator ride, not the final version of the movie, of course.

When you look at the video it seems that the platform from which they look at the movie is moving but in fact it's not, it's the movie itself which gives this feeling.

Others greats shot also show James Cameron testing the creation of WDI Imagineers to reproduce the bioluminescent vegetation of Pandora.

And another sequence shows Cameron with Joe Rhode looking at a movie which also seems to be related to Pandora's vegetation.

The icing on the top of the cake comes with this incredible shot showing the whole team of WDI  Imagineers working on the Avatar land, the most secret team of all WDI! 

And now, as i know you're dying to watch the video here it is, of course watch it in full screen mode!

Pictures and video: copyright Disney