Kenversations™
Page 6 of 6
Disney theme parks, currently in four locations throughout the world, are part of a corporation that also has live theatrical productions; film & television studios and libraries; cable and broadcast television programming, networks, channels, and stations; radio networks and stations; home video; record companies; book and magazine publishing companies; interactive games and online destinations; mall stores; and more. This provides opportunities to create entertainment fit for a new century.
Feature Animation and WDI could work together (culture clashes, egos, and office politics overcome) to create detailed environments and well-developed characters for use in multiple, layered, intersecting stories and repeatable experiences, both generic and customized, both passive and participatory, offered in several formats, merging home and location-based entertainment.
What in the world am I talking about? Imagine if Disney staffers created an elaborate setting populated with interesting characters, and carefully orchestrated their usage in several different formats (media, merchandise, and location-based) in such a way that the different manifestations of the content were not just repeating the same thing over and over again, but combined together to tell a larger story? It could be done in a way that one person could just see the movie and enjoy it or just ride the ride and enjoy it. Another person could put together the movie, the ride, the book, the online game, the Disney Channel specials, and the replica of a character’s prop the bought in a store to get deeper into the story, discover subtexts and hidden clues, and learn more about and even interact with their favorite characters. It would become something more involving to those who are interested, and light entertainment to the larger audience.
Disney could sell a replica of a prop from a film that interacts with a television show and a theme park attraction. Personal digital assistants, hand-held radios, phones, plush dolls, action figures - all could be interactive with various Disney media and venues. Similar things have been done before, but Disney could pull it off on an intricate, worldwide level with many different media.
Disney’s theme parks and stores could be even more interactive with Disney’s television programs - including sports, game shows, reality shows, and sitcoms, allowing the audience to not only watch, but participate.
This all does have the potential to be really bad, but if it is done right, it could be exciting for the audience and lucrative for Disney. It all boils down to having Disney’s storytellers (character creators, writers, set designers, environmental designers) work together, keeping in mind the various ways Disney has of presenting content to consumers, and using them all in concert. I like to think as taking Imagineering out of the box, letting the Feature Animation staff do more than just theatrical films, and letting the people behind Disney’s television shows do more than just TV. Have them work together to provide something that can be a hobby for the smaller audience, a brief diversion for the larger audience.
Disney could pull it off.
Conclusion
As the world’s populations and economies change, there may very well be a new set of
ideal places for major new theme parks and resorts. Renewal of existing parks may also
come into fashion. We may just be in a temporary slowdown in the theme park industry.
Disneyland Park has always been a magical place for me. When I discovered the people behind the magic, I was fascinated. WDI has an awesome legacy and can have a radiant future. It’s just a job for some people, and not even a job anymore to many more people. For others, it’s a state of mind, a culture unto its own, a kind of magical laboratory where they get to create things that will bring fun and laughter to people all over the world, communally entertaining, educating, emotionally stirring, and allowing people to face their fears and emerge triumphant. It is hard to put a price on that. It is unromantic to believe that Tokyo DisneySea will be the last of the great leaps forward for Imagineering.
I hope that Imagineering is still just getting started, and that Disney will not rest on its laurels, but will forge ahead with gusto, amazing the world with grand and bold new projects. As I wrote in a previous column, there IS such a thing as Disney magic, and it should be cultivated, nurtured, and should be encouraged to flourish in Disney’s offerings. Disney theme parks are businesses, but their rightful business is surrounding their guests in magic.
With that, I say "Happy 50th Anniversary, Walt Disney Imagineering". You’ve done some wonderful things, and I believe the best is yet to come.
I would love to read your thoughts on Walt Disney Imagineering’s past, present, and future - either via feedback or the discussion link below. Thanks!
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-- Ken Pellman
Ken Pellman studied theme park design and has a BA in Thematic Environmental Design. He has been a life-long fan of Disney, has worked as a Disneyland Cast Member, and is currently a writer. Ken can be reached directly at Kenversations[at]flash{dot]net or at http://www.Pellman.net, where you can learn more about him.
Kenversations is usually posted on the fourth Wednesday or Thursday of each month.
The views, opinions and comments of Ken Pellman, and all of our columnists, are not necessarily those of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted January 10, 2003
©2003 Ken Pellman, all rights reserved.
Licensed to LaughingPlace.com.