Storytelling Through Characters at Disney Parks I SXSW 2023

Summary

Josh, a representative from Disney, discusses the company's innovative efforts to bring characters to life at South by Southwest. He introduces Tinkerbell, who engages with the audience in a unique, interactive experience. Disney Imagineers Morgan Pope and Tony Dohi present a cutting-edge robotic project, showcasing a dynamic robot designed to connect emotionally with guests through motion capture and high-performance materials. The presentation highlights Disney's commitment to pushing boundaries in robotics and storytelling.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Josh is at South by Southwest to discuss the future of happiness and inclusivity, emphasizing Disney's commitment to creating welcoming environments.
• 🌟 Disney characters are central to guest experiences, with the goal of making these interactions as joyful and real as possible.
• 🧚‍♀️ Tinkerbell makes a special appearance, showcasing Disney's ability to bring characters to life in innovative ways.
• 🤖 Disney has a history of using robotics in storytelling, with the aim of creating dynamic and emotionally engaging characters.
• 🚀 The presentation introduces a new robot that can perform daring stunts, demonstrating Disney's push for technological advancements in character animation.
• 🎭 The Imagineers, Morgan Pope and Tony Dohi, discuss the challenges and aspirations of creating robots that can connect emotionally with audiences.
• 🤹‍♂️ The robot's performance is part of a developmental phase where Disney explores the character's flaws and insecurities to elicit audience empathy.
• 💡 The process involves a 'backwards machine learning' approach, where robots are built and then lessons are learned from their behaviors.
• 🌈 Disney's Imagineering team is committed to taking risks and trying everything to push the boundaries of what's possible in character robotics.
• 👏 The audience's reaction highlights the success of Disney's efforts to create characters that resonate emotionally with people.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Josh's speech at South by Southwest?

The main theme of Josh's speech is about inventing the future by drawing in a range of voices and perspectives to create happiness around the world where everyone can feel welcome.

Why are they at South by Southwest according to Josh?

They are at South by Southwest because it is a crossroads of science, art, innovation, and business, which is an ideal place to spark conversations about the future.

How does Josh describe the interaction between Disney characters and guests?

Josh describes the interaction between Disney characters and guests as moments that spark joy and happiness, with the aim to make the characters feel as real as possible to deepen the connections and happiness.

What is the challenge with bringing certain Disney characters to life?

The challenge with bringing certain Disney characters to life, especially those who are very big or very small, is that they require extra imagination and effort to make them feel real to the audience.

Why is Tinkerbell featured in Josh's speech?

Tinkerbell is featured in Josh's speech to demonstrate the joy and happiness Disney characters bring and to showcase a new, innovative way of presenting her that the audience has never seen before.

What is the significance of Tinkerbell's appearance with Josh at South by Southwest?

Tinkerbell's appearance signifies Disney's commitment to innovation and the use of technology to create more realistic and engaging character experiences for their guests.

What does Josh imply about the relationship between Tinkerbell and Peter Pan?

Josh implies that while Peter Pan might get some of the limelight, Tinkerbell is the one who truly captures everyone's attention and is the main focus.

Why does Tinkerbell wear green according to the script?

Tinkerbell wears green because it is her favorite color.

What is the purpose of the robotics project discussed in the script?

The purpose of the robotics project is to create dynamic robots that can perform like Disney characters, making them emotionally connect with guests and tell stories in a more engaging way.

What is unique about the robot's design that is discussed in the script?

The robot's design is unique because it combines high-performance materials for toughness with motion capture data to embed emotion into its performances, aiming to create an emotional connection with the audience.

What is the current phase of the robot project that is being showcased?

The current phase of the robot project is a developmental stage where the team is playing with the robot to identify its flaws and insecurities, which are intended to make the audience care about the character.