WALL•E and Tomorrowland

[MasterGracey]

Pixar's latest film, WALL•E, has been in theaters for about two and a half weeks. It has grossed over $166 million worldwide as of July 14, and has a 97% Fresh rating at RottenTomatoes.com.

Yet, despite being set 700 years in the future - the world of WALL•E isn't entirely new. Found in the pages of The Art of WALL•E are brilliant concept sketches, paintings, and development art for the film, including a lot that seems to have taken a cue from John Hench's 1967 New Tomorrowland sketchbook.

Not only does much of the art show clear influences from Walt Disney's New Tomorrowland, but the film's artists openly acknowledge Walt Disney's "World on the Move" as a main influence for the film.

Below are a few conceptual sketches from Pixar's artists as well as Imagineering legend John Hench...

"Act Two is basically Tomorrowland."

- Ralph Eggleston
The Art of WALL•E, Page 100

"We found the colorful, almost retro naivete of 1950s and 1960s design sensibility very appealing. Optimism. This is the attitude that Buy N Large tries to instill in people. 'We can do it. We'll clean it up for you.' Everything was doable in the '50s and '60s. It was this world of 'can-do.'"

- Anthony Christov
The Art of WALL•E, Page 102

"Most people think of the 1960s, that feeling of the space age, when they think of Tomorrowland. What we tried to do is put that same excitement about the future back into the film's vision of the future."

- Noah Klocek
The Art of WALL•E, Page 102

"I keep coming back to the Disneyland stuff
and looking at it and that environment.
I still want that future."

- Ralph Eggleston
The Art of WALL•E, Page 103

How is it that several decades after it was originally imagined, that old Disneyland concepts can still be relevant to current artists and filmmakers? The Disneyland concept art as well as the Pixar concept art features sweeping curves, dynamic angles, large glass windows, water features, and domed buildings. If this future is still possible for the film world, why can't it be possible for Disneyland?

Do you think today's Imagineers should re-visit the classic Tomorrowland concepts of the 1950s and 60s to make a new Tomorrowland? Should the Walt Disney Company bring in its best artists from Pixar to re-imagine parts of Disneyland like Tomorrowland, much like Walt Disney brought in his studio's best artists to create his Magic Kingdom?

The new Mark VII Monorails and the recent restoration of the Tomorrowland Terrace stage are small, but great, steps towards reclaiming the "retro future" that defines YesterTomorrowland. Hopefully the "Retro-Future" trend can continue.

[k_peek_2000]

I do think the creative force of Pixar should be in the head of Walt Disney Imagineering, much like the origional Disney animation studio became the leaders of WDI when it began. I don't however want to see Pixar products in the parks. Big Difference.

From what i've seen. Shanghai Disneyland's Tomorrowland is going to be mercilessly wall-to-wall Wall-E.

[Uncle Bob]

In regard to the question should TL embrace it's retro style for its future makeover, yes, absolutely. Should Pixar people be given some opportunity to work on imagnineering? Sure. Should they take over Imagineering, no. The biggest thing the parks could learn from Pixar is management style but that doesn't necessitate Pixar taking over. Let the creative people at WDI make more important decisions, and do not kill creative ideas, or never give the Imagineers a chance to really be creative.

I think it's a very dangerous path to believe that having animators in charge is going to solve the creative problems in the parks. The early imagineers were not just animators, and when they were, they were hand selected by Walt for certain skills and interests that he saw could be well adapted to Imagineering. Individuals at Pixar, or any department in Disney, who show and aptitude and interest in Imagineering, should be able to move in that direction if that's what they want. But that's not going to magically make creative attractions if management is still preventing it. It is also important to change the management because Disney needs to make creative people feel like they will have opportunities there. Imagineering should be recruiting the best and the brightest from where ever they can find them and creating an environment that fosters creativity is critical.

[VeganPrincess]

I do think the creative force of Pixar should be in the head of Walt Disney Imagineering, much like the origional Disney animation studio became the leaders of WDI when it began.

I believe his name is John Lasseter.

[k_peek_2000]

I believe his name is John Lasseter.

Yah but they are still producing pixar only rides. I want to see something creative and origional from him.

[Uncle Bob]

I believe his name is John Lasseter.

Yep, and this was a smart way to bring the Pixar infuence into WDI. Not to control it, but to advise, restructure, and provide someone on the creative side of the parks that has the ear of Iger and Jobs. My only concerns are that he will bring too much of a bias toward Pixar projects, and his time must be spread very thin, but I still have high hopes for the changes he will bring.

[Fantasmico!]

Tomorrowland needs that creative optimism in the worst way. No Wall-e. If Lasseter can do something original with the same retro brightness then by all means bring it on. Uncle Bob is right in that Disney needs to change its imagineering management. In fact while you're at it how about getting people who really care about Disney into all levels of management?

[MasterGracey]

By connecting WALL•E to Tommorrowland in this thread my intentions were not to call for a complete re-model of Tomorrowland featuring "wall-to-wall" WALL•E film references and attractions. Doing that would be missing the point entirely.

However, Imagineering ought to take a strong lesson from Pixar about adapting, utilizing, and learning from old concepts in order to create a fresh, unique, contemporary take on things.

Also, I agree with UncleBob -- I don't think that Pixar should take over Imagineering. What should be implemented, though, is the sort of hand-picking of creatives for specific tasks, which Walt Disney did routinely in his time. WED Imagineering was made up of incredibly talented film and animation creatives that Walt hand-picked for jobs in Imagineering. I also agree that the current management needs to be fixed -- it's a problem that is stifling creativity and expression. I think the big problem now would be to break up the current Imagineering culture and Parks and Resorts managment and find a team with vision and understanding of Walt Disney's WED to get the ball rolling.

Is that person John Lasseter? Who knows.. so far, I've found John to be incapable of distancing himself from his own babies -- all of his contributions thus far have been big pats-on-the-back for making such great films. If anything, he should be using his newfound power in the Company to urge management to approve a new generation of truly grand, breakthrough, and unique experiences like the ones that used to define the Disney theme parks (like that old boat ride he used to be a skipper on) -- not re-tellings of his studio's animated films.

But one thing so far is clear to me -- Pixar animators and artists may be the folks that we need to Re-Imagineer ailing parts of Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. Many of these people value, appreciate, understand, and study the art and ways of Walt Disney Productions and WED Imagineering. These people seem to get it. Now only if they'd be allowed to transfer their enthusiasm for the parks into the parks themselves.

[Uncle Bob]

I think that's the most important thing, not so much the background of the Imagineers, but their creativity, and their understanding of, and passion for the parks. If people who really care about the parks are put in charge, mistakes may still be made, but the general trend for the parks will always remain positive and growth oriented.

In reagard to Lassiter, I hope he's starting to get over the novelty of having his characters represented in the parks. He does seem to have a bit of a bias, but he is not even the major obstacle to Disney building more original attractions in my opinion. Those directives come from the upper management, marketing, and accounting, who tell WDI, sorry too big of a risk, every time they present an original idea. That may be starting to change, but I doubt the Imagineers are going to all run out and start presenting their ideas when a culture that rejected that kind of behavior existed for so long.

[mycroft16]

I think that's the most important thing, not so much the background of the Imagineers, but their creativity, and their understanding of, and passion for the parks. If people who really care about the parks are put in charge, mistakes may still be made, but the general trend for the parks will always remain positive and growth oriented.

In reagard to Lassiter, I hope he's starting to get over the novelty of having his characters represented in the parks. He does seem to have a bit of a bias, but he is not even the major obstacle to Disney building more original attractions in my opinion. Those directives come from the upper management, marketing, and accounting, who tell WDI, sorry too big of a risk, every time they present an original idea. That may be starting to change, but I doubt the Imagineers are going to all run out and start presenting their ideas when a culture that rejected that kind of behavior existed for so long.

That was beautifully stated Uncle Bob. I think this is a beginning for WDI. I think that Lasseter will use his influence to allow for more unique and creative attractions to get greenlit and hopefully this will help start a shift in the thinking of management and marketing (who should not be running the creative arm of the company since they aren't creative people). In my opinion, there need to be creative people involved in the final decision making process to temper the purely business aspect of it. Just as Walt's creativity was balanced by Roy's business sense and vice versa. The two need to work together to accomplish something great.

[Luke Manning]

Yah but they are still producing pixar only rides. I want to see something creative and origional from him.

Just wait 'til the Voyage of the Little Mermaid buddy.

[pineapplewhipaddict]

Why are you guys being so tough on Lasseter?

All of the Pixar stuff in the park was started up by the higher-ups...when John finally got the position he has now, Nemo was already being built. He had no creative say beforehand in terms of what and what does not go into the parks. He was able to step in for Nemo and say "Make this better by doing this and that," but past that, it was out of his hands. Wasn't Midway Mania approved to go into DCA before he got the position, too? I'm not 100% sure, but I think so. We really haven't gotten the chance to see what original ideas he wants to place in the parks yet because he really hasn't gotten the opportunity.

Did he come up with the idea for Carsland? I don't think even he would name a section of the park by that name (I'm still hoping they change it to Radiator Springs). Who was the backbone for this concept? Anyone know?


Anyhow, I truly do think the original intent and ideas for Tomorrowland would be successful and should be re-applied to the land. And I do believe some Pixar animators would actually be great at helming future projects for the parks, as many have the enthusiasm for them. But we shouldn't get the parks Pixarfied. And unfortunately, it's upper management that needs to stop looking at the short-term numbers and appreciate the quality of the products they put out there.

[Coast21]

I'm still hoping they change it to Radiator Springs

So am I or at least Route 66.

[Uncle Bob]

I really don't know who is behind the Carsland part of the project. I don't think something that big probably moves ahead without most departments backing it, but my guess is that merchandise had a lot to do with it, because they're supposedly making a killing on Cars merch. A lot has to do with which properties that company has decided to make into one of its synergistic mega properties that they want to continuously market in all form of media. They have quite a few of those now, and I believe Cars in one of them, perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[Luke Manning]

I really don't know who is behind the Carsland part of the project. I don't think something that big probably moves ahead without most departments backing it, but my guess is that merchandise had a lot to do with it, because they're supposedly making a killing on Cars merch. A lot has to do with which properties that company has decided to make into one of its synergistic mega properties that they want to continuously market in all form of media. They have quite a few of those now, and I believe Cars in one of them, perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Cars is one of them, seeing as they're working on a Cars Online game much like Pirates of the Caribbean Online & VMK.