" You are... Renaissance People "

You've probably heard before that Ray Bradbury, the legendary Sci-Fi author of "Martian Chronicles" and "Fahrenheit 451" once said that WDI Imagineers were "Renaissance people". This Bradbury quote is very famous but do you know why and when Ray Bradbury said this? Just like you probably, i didn't knew... until two days ago, when i saw this Ebay auction: "Rare 1976 Walt Disney Imagineering Ray Bradbury Speech".

Described as "Original paper given to Disney Imagineers "You are Renaissance People" Excerpts from two addresses by Ray Bradbury to WED and MAPO Imagineers on December 23, 1976", this Ebay item intrigued me. So, you know how i am, i had a closer look to it and realized that this was probably the origin of Ray Bradbury's famous quote!



Above: Ray bradbury in 1975

The document has only four pages but what a great piece of history! On the first one is the title "You are... Renaissance People" and on the last one only the copyright with a Mickey logo, but it's the middle pages who are of great interest as it is there you'll find the complete text that Ray Bradbury adresses to WED and MAPO Imagineers on his talk, back in 1976.

Double-click on the picture below to read this historical text.



Mind you, the relation between Ray Bradbury with Disney didn't start on December 23, 1976. As you can read in this chapter called "The Disney Connection" from "Ray Bradbury Uncensored! : The Unauthorized Biography" that i strongly recommand you to read on this link.

In this chapter Ray Bradbury remembers some of his meetings with Walt Disney, back in the 1950's:



And Marty Sklar tell us how WDI asked Ray Bradbury to work on Epcot's Spaceship earth concept:



Few lines below it's Bradbury himself who describe how he had conceived Epcot's iconic attraction:



Years later Ray Bradbury worked again with WDI Imagineer Tim Delaney on the Orbitron concept for Disneyland Paris Discoveryland. Imagineer Pat Burke who worked on DLP Frontierland, including Phantom Manor remember: "Ray Bradbury was a common fixture walking around the halls of WED, as he was the New Voice for Walt's Epcot and World Showcase for Walt Disney World. Walt's friend John DeCuir Senior could visualize what the project could possibly become. Harper Goff realized it on a working plan. Ray Bradbury expressed it in words that we could all visualize as we worked on the many concept models and pieces of the Bigger Pie as we sometimes called the model. We often sat with Ray Bradbury at lunch and listened to his stories and concepts. I was able to attend his play on his Martian Chronicles at a small theater near the old Disney Hyperion Studio. Having read it in school in the early 60's, this was a great event seeing it with the actual writer present and get his questions and answers afterwards. When Disney produced in 1983 "Something Wicked This Way Comes" starring Jason Robards and Jonathan Pryce, based on the Bradbury novel of the same name, we were allowed to preview it at the Studio, as we were often allowed back then. We were all amazed at the special effects in the film and how some of the film treatments might be used in our projects at WDI, as we were called by then. The corpse in the Mortuary window coming to life in the coffin was an eerie experience. The Carousel scene that followed was hypnotic. I had hoped these could be used in the Haunted Mansion or even our DLP Thunder Mesa, when we were going to have a carriage barn for the Manor. I had even located 2 hearses for the Manor and wanted to employ Ray's Coffin effects. Budget cutbacks erased the DLP plans but not the thoughts and Images Ray had created for us on many levels".

So, you see, Ray Bradbury has been a lot of inspiration for WDI Imagineers. This Ebay auction with this historical document will end today Feb 17, 2010 at precisely 16:02:18 PST (1 A.M Paris time, Midnight London time). If you're interested you still have time to bid on it. At the time i post this article the top bid is $11.50 which is ridiculously low for such a piece of Imagineering history. But remember: there is only one copy of it, and only one of you will get it!

There's nothing better than to see Ray Bradbury talking in person to understand how great - and cool - he was. So i didn't resist to embed this 2001 video. Bradbury who was at that time 81 years old did a speech at the Sixth Annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea where he delighted his audience with stories about his life and love of writing. Take the time to watch the video, Ray Bradbury is fantastic on it!




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

Pictures: copyright Disney

Ray Bradbury Uncensored! : The Unauthorized Biography screen captures: copyright iUniverse, Inc

Spaceship Earth Original Artwork

Today we will have a closer look to the original renderings for Epcot icon: Spaceship Earth, beginning by this Herb Ryman painting showing the exterior above.

Next renderings are some artwork for the cro-magnon cave sequence.




Strangely, it seems that a scene with dinosaurs was considered before being cancelled.





Here is the rendering of the egyptian temple sequence.



This one is for the Phenician scene.



Three renderings , now, for the Gutenberg press scene.





Artwork for the Michelangelo - Sixtine chapel scene.



Two artwork for a scene called "the age of invention"




The model for the telephone-telegraph scene of the "age of invention"



Let's end with three artwork for the outer space "planetarium" sequence as it was envisioned at the beginning






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

All artwork: copyright Disney enterprises

Walter Cronkite, famous CBS anchorman and "voice" of Spaceship Earth died yesterday

He was the other most famous "Walt" of America. CBS evening news anchorman legend Walter Cronkite died yesterday in his New York home. Called "the most trusted man in America" millions of americans watched him every evening from 1962 to 1981. Cronkite is vividly remembered by many Americans for breaking the news of the death of President Kennedy or his coverage of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing mission among many others great reports.

But for Disney fans he will be forever the great "voice" of Epcot's Spaceship Earth.
Until 1994 the commentary voice that visitors of Epcot's iconic attraction could heard during the ride was the voice of Walter Cronkite - before he was replaced by the voice of Jeremy Irons. On Youtube, nwothunder had the good idea to upload yesterdazy the video of the "Walter Cronkite Spaceship Earth" version and you'll be able to see it below...and hear one last time Cronkite's great voice of this beloved attraction.

President Obama said yesterday in a statement "Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world".




Many thanks to nwothunder for the Spaceship Earth video!

EPCOT SPACESHIP EARTH NEW VERSION - Full report : Photos and Ride Videos

It's a big week for Disney fans ! This week-end , not only the WDS Tower of terror opened, but the hihly awaited new version of Epcot Spaceship Earth, too ! Good news for all: you will see below a lot of this new version, including an on-ride video.
And may be it is too much for those of you who want to preserve the surprise! So, here again the usual warning: do NOT look further as many spoilers awaits you below !

Okay, now that everybody is warned, let's have a closer look to this new version of the ride. First, Dame Judi Dench is the voice of the new audio commentary - goodbye Jeremy Irons ! - and, good news, all the favorite historical scenes are still there. And yes, with new improved audio-animatronics.




You will find a video of the full ride at the end of this article, but here is a first short youtube video of these scenes, thanks to "intercot"



Among them, the one AA which looks the most advanced - in robotic - seems to be in the old story teller in the greek scene.



Here is another short youtube video of it , always thanks to "intercot"



The new computer scene is just fantastic. Two AA there, too. Great lighting.






..and also a short video of that scene, once again thanks to "intercot"



A "Matrix" style motion screen replaces the original multi-color tunnel just before you reach the planetarium scene.
Great effect!



...And a video of it thanks to who? that's right, thanks to "intercot" !



But it's when the vehicles go down that the big "new" thing is appearing. In front of each seat there is a new screen.



On this one, each guest must answer to few questions about what he likes and his wishes for the future. Like this one:



...Or this one:



...Or this one:



After few seconds - during the wait, some historical facts are remembered to you - a special editing of a cartoon movie- depending of your answers - appear on the screen . Here is how it looks like.




If to the answer "how would you like to do sports" you've answer "with a coach" , a robot-coach will appear with you during your "training"...



I really like the 60's style of this cartoon movie, i think it fit perfectly with the architecture of Future World pavillion.
And of course the movie images are totally different if you choose other answers!



When you exit the ride, you access directly to the Project Tomorrow post-show area.



And now here is a two-part video of the new ride - once again, it's time to open the "exit door" if you want to keep all the surprise! For the one who stay here, the video is as good as possible - remember how dark it is inside - and i want to thank
"DisneyHD" who posted it on youtube for the great link.

All aboard the new Spaceship Earth and enjoy it!







Spaceship Earth Photo : copyright Disney

Youtube videos and screen capture : copyright DisneyHD and intercot. Many thanks again to them for the great links!

Spaceship Earth and WDW monorail Behind the scenes

Here is another great "behind the scenes" video about Spaceship Earth and the WDW monorail with Disney legendary imagineers Marty Sklar and Bob Gurr. Take the time to look at it, you will love it!




Photo and Video : copyright Disney

EPCOT 25TH ANNIVERSARY - a special celebration - Original Spaceship Earth Artwork

In tribute to Epcot 25th celebration, here is the first part of a series of articles about the original artwork.
In this part one we will have a closer look to the original renderings for Epcot icon: Spaceship Earth.

We begin by this Herb Ryman painting showing the exterior above.

Next are some artwork for the cro-magnon cave sequence.




Strangely, it seems that a scene with dinosaurs was considered before being cancelled.





Here is the rendering of the egyptian temple sequence.



This one is for the Phenician scene.



Three renderings , now, for the Gutenberg press scene.





Artwork for the Michelangelo - Sixtine chapel scene.



Two artwork for a scene called "the age of invention"




The model for the telephone-telegraph scene of the "age of invention"



Let's end with three artwork for the outer space "planetarium" sequence as it was envisioned at the beginning






All artwork: copyright Disney enterprises