Anaheim, Calif. – Watch out, Mickey Mouse. The Muppets might be sneaking up on you.
Walt Disney Imagineering last week rolled out its latest cutting-edge creation: free-roaming, interacting audio-animatronic Muppets capable of “seeing” and “talking” to tourists – without a puppeteer in sight.
Disney’s most advanced robotic creation to date makes the costumed, mute Winnie the Poohs and Donald Ducks seem like felt-covered relics, although Disney executives are quick to reassure that the beloved, autograph-signing cast isn’t going anywhere.
“This is an incredibly compelling and powerful way to experience the characters,” said Bruce Vaughn, vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering’s research and development division.
“They are fully aware of the people in their presence and can call you by name,” Vaughn said. “It is a 100 percent live experience.”
The technology is vastly more sophisticated than Disney’s first foray into audio- animatronics with the Tiki Room birds in 1963 and Mr. Lincoln in 1964.
In their first appearances at Disney’s California Adventure last week, bumbling scientist Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his meep-meeping sidekick, Beaker, joked and chatted with guests. The Muppets could see the color clothes the kids wore and the lollipops they licked – casting a slight Big Brother vibe over the proceedings.
They maneuvered in a silver, egg- shaped roving laboratory outfitted with flashing lights, spinning signs, confetti cannons, and smoke and water sprayers.
“That’s amazing!” said Adam Young, 27, a tourist from Alberta, British Columbia.
As Beaker and Honeydew encouraged people to do the hokey pokey, Young scanned the park, high and low. He twisted around, his eyes darting in search of the human manning the controls. “I’m trying to figure out who was driving it. It’s crazy.”
Never wanting to divulge their secrets, Imagineers waved it off as “Disney magic” and “pixie dust.” In reality, a live puppeteer who can see and hear everything reacts remotely from afar.
The Muppet Mobile Laboratory will roam the streets of California Adventure through today, before it heads back to the shop for more tweaking.
