Olaf has made quite the impression on fans around the world after debuting at Disney Adventure World. This robotic version of the character has been charming guests with his appearances in World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris. Those who have met him say he is even more incredible in person. This says a lot, as even on video, it is amazing to see Olaf come to life like never before. This Olaf is just one chapter in a much bigger book that is being written on the magic of robotics by Walt Disney Imagineering.
Future of Olaf
Kyle Laughlin, SVP of Walt Disney Imagineering R&D, sat down with Fast Company and discussed Olaf, his future, and the potential for more robotic characters in the parks and beyond. First off, Olaf. Laughlin shared that there are quite a few plans for the friendly snowman. As time goes on, he could appear in more places around the world. He could also end up having more personal encounters with guests.
“He’s so popular that we have to ensure, both from a security perspective as well as an operational one, that we can ease him into the park,” Laughlin says. “You’ll absolutely see him roaming the park in the future.”
Laughlin was questioned whether there would be more traditional meet and greets with Olaf. “Yes. I mean, absolutely yes,” he answered. “The North Star goal that we have is to be able to have that huggable moment.”
Olaf will also not just remain at Disneyland Paris (and Hong Kong Disneyland, where he made a limited-time visit). Just as the BD-X droids ended up being deployed around the world to other Disney parks after debuting at Disneyland, Olaf will do the same. Also, just like the BD-X droids, Olaf could end up on cruise ships as well. While there are plans to send him around the globe to parks and ships, there aren’t any timelines yet.
“He’s one of our most popular characters, so domestically you’ll also see him as well,” says Laughlin. “That’s really kind of the important point: We really are building these now for operations, and to ensure that they’re everywhere.”
More Characters and Robotics
The interview with Fast Company also reiterated what was said in a recent panel at Disneyland Paris for the opening of Disney Adventure World. There are more robotic characters in the works. During the panel, Laughlin said, “And this is really just the start. We’re gonna have more characters wandering our lands in the future.”
At Disney Adventure World, construction is currently underway on a new land based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film, The Lion King. With the opening of this land, putting people in a traditional lion costume wouldn’t look great. The traditional puppeteer versions of The Lion King characters would also be limiting for meet-and-greets. Robotics could also be seen in the future, bringing more droids to life in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. These also would be difficult to recreate costumes for with people inside. This is something fans have been clamoring for since the land opened at Disneyland in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
“Our robotic characters and our animatronic characters are going to begin to merge,” Laughlin shared.
The technology used with these magical robotics will also find its way into audio-animatronics on rides. Last year, in Walt Disney – A Magical Life, guests saw an audio-animatronic version of Walt Disney take a step or two onto the stage at the Opera House. Disney is interested in taking these movements to the next level. With new lands and attractions on the way as part of this era of supercharging Disney Experiences, there will undoubtedly be plenty of opportunities for this technology to be showcased in the future.
A New Culture of Innovation
All of this comes as Walt Disney Imagineering sees a cultural shift. Bruce Vaughn, the Chief Creative Officer and President of Walt Disney Imagineering, shared that when he returned to Imagineering, he brought a startup mentality with him.
“We’ve actually culturally shifted Imagineering by . . . celebrating anybody who finds opportunities and creates opportunities,” Vaughn told Fast Company. “Just because we’ve spent 74 years . . . doing things one way, that doesn’t mean it’s the best way, especially given [the] new tools.”
As Disney moves into this new generation, new tools are being used. This includes AI, which is used to supplement the creativity of Imagineers. “We did a side-by-side test internally to see if AI could generate anything that we would build,” he says. “It sparked ideas. Then, when we went one step further and we put it in the hands of someone who can actually sketch and draw, they at first were like, ‘I don’t know if this would be useful.’ Very quickly, they were like, ‘Oh my god, what I can do now in days used to take me months.’”
Innovative Process
Disney has a history of innovation with robotics since its early days. This dates back to tiki birds in Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and has continued to more advanced characters like the recent Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic. None of these is done in a void. There is a process that helps spur the creative process and create new offerings that utilize technology to make magic in front of guests’ eyes!
“All of our innovation [follows] a planned, critical path where it goes into the product,” Vaughn says. “It isn’t just, ‘Hey, we’re an experiment. Maybe we’ll end up doing something.’ We literally commit to an early idea. And since we can move much more quickly now, based on our relationships with companies like Nvidia and Unreal Engine, we can move an order of magnitude faster.”
What do you think about a robotic Olaf making his way around the world? Where would you like to see him in the future? What other robotic characters would you like to see in the future? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
