"Glow With the Show" Ears Debut at WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios Fantasmic!

So, last night, these "Glow with the show" ears were introduced at WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios' Fantasmic! show - and will also debut this Saturday at WDW Magic Kingdom "Celebrate the Magic" nighttime projection show and "Wishes" fireworks.

Is it really a good idea or is it the prototype of the right wrong idea? Personally and although i know that these "ears" technology works well i think it's a right wrong idea - except for Disney of course as it brings some cash in. Why? Because the lighting and projection effects of the shows were not designed with these glowing ears in mind. And if you're not in the first row but far behind you now have all these glowing ears in front of your eyes and i'm pretty sure that it spoils the concentration on the show itself.

I may be wrong and i know that audiences can like easily anything which shine - or in this case, glow - but as they say everything which shine is not necessary "gold". That said, have a look at the video below to see by yourself how it looks with the DHS Fantasmic show.




Picture and video: copyright DIsney

Tokyo Disney Sea reopens - New Fantasmic show

I am be in London until monday evening. I'm part of the guests invited at Buckingham Palace reception for the Royal wedding and you'll understand that i wouldn't miss this for anything in the world! (just kidding). However the awaited TDS Fantasmic show just began with the reopening of the park, and here is the full show on two videos. Enjoy, and see you next tuesday!







Videos: copyright TDRFantasmiclove

Nighttime Spectacular “Fantasmic!” will premiere in 2011 at Tokyo DisneySea 10th Anniversary

The good Disney news of the day is coming from Japan as Tokyo Disney Sea has announced that nighttime entertainment spectacular “Fantasmic!” will premiere in April 2011 to kickoff the yearlong celebration of the Tokyo DisneySea 10th Anniversary, which is September 4 2011. The nighttime show “BraviSEAmo!” currently being presented, will end on November 13, 2010 in preparation for the new show.

Taking place at night in Mediterranean Harbor, the show which represents an investment of approximately 3 billion yen for the Oriental Land Co will feature Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice who creates a breathtaking world of wonder and imagination. The show features fantastic scenes from many familiar Disney films such as Aladdin, Cinderella and Finding Nemo, as well as a thrilling sequence of Mickey fighting a gigantic dragon.

Filled with special effects using water and fire on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor, this dramatic 20 minutes show promises a night of unforgettable fantasy and excitement for all. Performances of “Fantasmic!” will continue to be presented after the Tokyo DisneySea 10th Anniversary celebration ends.

I remind you that Mickey's Philarmagic will also premiere in 2011, but at Tokyo Disneyland, as well as the Cinderella walk-through inside Cinderella’s Castle which will tell the story through dioramas and paintings a bit like the Sleeping Beauty walk-through at Disneyland.

Well, we'll probably never have "Fantasmic!" at DLP Walt Disney Studios but at least the Japaneses will have it! One thing is sure: if you're planning a trip to Tokyo, 2011 will be a good year to visit the Tokyo Disneyland Resort!

Picture: copyright Disney - Oriental Land Co

Great Pictures of Fantasmic! Dragon by Armadillo 444 and new video by MintCrocodile with the Dragon's "breath of fire"

The Fantasmic! Dragon did his second performance last night and this time as you will see on the new great video of MintCrocodile his performance included the "breath of fire" that was missing on opening night!

Armadillo 444 who was at the opening performance tuesday evening shoot fantastic pictures of the Dragon. As you will see, the design of the Dragon is absolutely awesome. It's just like if he had jumped out of the Sleeping Beauty movie to arrive on the stage of Fantasmic!

The first picture is when the Dragon appear.



And then, of course, arrives Mickey to defeat the Dragon.



A closer shot of the Dragon's head...



Mickey is back for the final battle!...



The Dragon is defeat!



Great pictures, isn't it? And now, here is the second video that MintCrocodile shoot yesterday evening, this time from the side, which was a perfect location to film the Dragon's breath of fire. As always, MintCrocodile did a fantastic filming - he always do and i strongly suggest you to subscribe to his Youtube account so you won't miss his future productions!



All Pictures: copyright Armadillo 444
Video: copyright MintCrocodile

Many thanks to both of them for their great pictures and video!

Fantasmic Dragon first public appearance at Disneyland ! Videos by MintCrocodile and TopChefRemy

The Fantasmic Dragon did at last his first performance last night at Disneyland and Murphy's debut was acclaimed by thousands of Disneyland super-fans who were there. Many videos were shoot and i choose for you what seems to be the two best one.

Although "Murphy" didn't spit fire yesterday, the dragon looks awesome and its movements will probably be improved in the next days.

The first video is from the always excellent MintCrocodile who succeed again to shoot the video with the best definition.



The second very good video is from TopChefRemy and is a very interesting one as it is filmed from the side and offer a different view of the dragon.




Videos: copyright MintCrocodile or TopChefRemy whom i thanks and congratulate a lot for their video!

Screen capture: copyright MintCrocodile

Fantasmic Dragon, at last !

Wait. Yes, Disneyland released these pictures and the video below of the awaited Fantasmic Dragon so you'll be able to see him at last BUT they cancelled this morning press event as well as the dragon's performance tonight. Which means that you still will have to wait for a face to face with this huge WDI Audio-animatronic.

Mike Hyland, director of Disneyland Resort public relations released today this official statement about the dragon delays: "“The dragon in Fantasmic! is technically complex and the largest and most fully animated Disney character ever created for a live stage show. We want to make sure it’s perfect before adding it to the show”. Of course they want to make sure that everything works perfectly THIS time! The last time they announced it was at the beginning of the summer season and everything went awry, so...




But let's talk about the dragon itself, which is much more interesting, and after seeing the video below i must say that the result looks absolutely fantastic. Not only the dragon looks exactly like he just escaped from the beloved animated movie, but the AA animation is incredibly subtle. Obviously the head and the neck animation seems to be the most complex part, technically speaking, which may explain the problem they had.

Okay, enough talk, i let you have a look to the video, and please leave a comment to tell us what you think of this new WDI wonder!





Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Pictures and Video: Copyright Disney - Many thanks to the O.C Register

New Disneyland Nightastic Videos !

Disney released a new "Nightastic" video and this is one is longer - and better - than the previous one. Have a look!






And for those of you - just like me - who won't be able to go to Disneyland this summer here is a two part video of the Nightastic fireworks - including the sequence with Dumbo flying over the castle - as well as one of the new Main Street Electrical Parade at DCA both shot in High-Definition by HV10N90!







Top Youtube videos: copyright Disney

Nightastic Firework and Main Street electrical parade videos: copyright HV10N90 whom i thanks a lot!

Disneyland Nightastic "augmented reality" marketing campaign is fantastic !

The highly-awaited Fantasmic dragon may be broken, but that will not stop you to have it on your computer, roaring, breathing fire, and in 3D!

Disneyland new Nightastic marketing campaign is using incredible "augmented reality" 3D effect, and you're going to like it! Here is what you have to do to enjoy this amazing effect: First go on the Disneyland website HERE

When you arrive on this page below click on the bottom right on "Fantasmic 3D", or, if it doesn't work go HERE.



Then, when the page below appear, choose "Full interactive experience" and click on "Print your marker and full instructions". A PDF will download, and the page to be print is the one of the left with the Nightastic image. It's the same image you have on the top of this D&M article, so if you have a problem with the PDF you can print the one on the top. Now,once this is done, click on "Launch". You'll have to download and install a small program (it works for both Mac and PC) but go ahead, do it, it will take 5 minutes only, it's safe and you need it for the great 3D effect. Just close your internet browser before, and start it again when the program is installed. Everything is clearly written in the PDF instructions page.



Once all of this is done click on "Launch" again, and when your face appear in the webcam, take the page you've printed - the one with the Nightastic image - and put it in front of the webcam... and be amaze by what will happen!

Just to give you a preview of what awaits you, i did a little video with the help of my young cousin, holding the page while i'm filming. Here it is below.
Now, once you hold the page in front of the webcam, there is more special effects you can do. Just push and hold some letters on the keyboard and you will make the dragon roar, breathing fire, call TInkerbell, launch fireworks over Disneyland castle or a video, etc...



And now, here is the video, which is better than thousand words.



It looks magical, doesn't it? Basically, this is what is called "augmented reality" effect. In two words, an element which doesn't exist in real is added to reality. When you show the flat Nightastic image print to your webcam, thanks to the software you've installed previously, the webcam detect it and add automatically the 3D elements you've seen in the video.

Now, go ahead, do it yourself, you will enjoy it a LOT!

Screen Capture Pictures: copyright Disney

Video by Alain Littaye - Disney and more

Disneyland's Fantasmic Return - Videos

Disneyland released this short promotional video for the return of Fantasmic. The new dragon is unfortunately broken and it will take weeks to fix it, but you'll be able to see the new 37-foot-long eels Flotsam and Jetsam! You will see these new Fantasmic characters - eel puppets mounted on the top of a high-performance Jet Ski - even better on the other Youtube video from gunitballa87. Right after the videos, you'll find the official press release.






‘Fantasmic!’ Returns to Disneyland This Summer With Awesome New Creatures and Brighter Images


ANAHEIM, Calif. (June 12, 2009) – More powerful projection technology and some awe-inspiring new creatures – including 37-foot-long eels Flotsam and Jetsam – make “Fantasmic!” an exciting part of Summer Nightastic! at Disneyland. The long-running nighttime special-effects spectacular, presented on the Rivers of America in New Orleans Square and Frontierland, jumps off the screen like never before with stunning video and lighting effects that bring brilliant life to Mickey Mouse’s encounters with classic characters and menacing Disney villains.

What: The show combines animation on giant mist screens with lifelike Disney characters and performers. New to the show are Flotsam and Jetsam, the eel pets of Ursula the Sea Witch from “The Little Mermaid.” Another surprise in the cast of creatures is Captain Hook’s crocodile nemesis, now 12 feet tall, 21 feet long and - thanks to new “high-tech” animation – more lifelike than ever with snapping jaws that threaten Peter Pan’s hapless rival. Making its debut later this summer will be a fully animated, three-dimensional dragon who breathes fire across the Rivers of America. The 40-foot-tall dragon will dazzle guests like never before as the creature steps out of the shadows that concealed it in past “Fantasmic!” performances.

WHEN: Nightly, beginning Friday, June 12, and continuing through Aug. 23, with weekend shows through Sept. 7, at Disneyland. For details, visit www.disneyland.com/summer.

BIGGER, SHARPER IMAGES: All-new digital projectors have replaced the 70mm film projectors, revitalizing the images from classic Disney animated films that appear in “Fantasmic!” The result is a larger image with improved clarity and more vivid colors than even before.

FUN FACTS

* Flotsam and Jetsam, Ursula’s eels from “The Little Mermaid,” are each eight feet tall and 37 feet long.
* Central to the magic of “Fantasmic!” are the three mist screens, each 50 feet wide by 35 feet tall, upon which the films are projected.
* Approximately 9,000 guests can view “Fantasmic!” at each performance. The audience is approximately 70 feet from the main stage on Tom Sawyer Island.
* Each night, more than 100 cast and crew members bring “Fantasmic!” to life, in the
23-minute show.
* Additional water effects include 21 fountains and six “whale tails” in the scene when Monstro the whale charges across the Rivers of America.
* At the beginning of the show, two light towers appear on either side of the main stage. During the day, these towers rest 26 feet underground. They rise to a height of 40 feet in less than a minute.
* The audio surrounding the “Fantasmic!” spectators is created by four speakers on Tom Sawyer Island and three on the mainland.
* Kaa, the conniving snake from “The Jungle Book” who slithers across the “Fantasmic!” stage, is 100 feet long.
* The “crew” of Captain Hook’s ship (the Sailing Ship Columbia by day) is composed of professional stunt performers who execute all the spectacular duels and falls.
* As part of the “Fantasmic!” story, the wicked Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” will rise to a height of 35 feet in 17 seconds, before transforming into a new dragon.
* The new dragon is a fully animated three-dimensional design that replicates the movements of the dragon in “Sleeping Beauty.” The dragon is 40 feet tall by 28 feet wide and weighs approximately 10,000 pounds.
* The dragon lights the Rivers of America on fire for 25 seconds.

Photo and video: copyright Disney

Many thanks to gunitballa87 for his great Youtube video!