The experience: a spiritual leader of the Na’Vi welcomes you to her humble abode

The trick: the most realistic Audio-Animatronic (AA) ever created

Image: DisneyThe climax of Na’Vi River Journey sees the boat reach its destination, the Na’vi Shaman of Song. She’s currently leading a hymn whose lyrics are discussed in the next section. This Audio-Animatronic reflects a decade of technological innovations that surpass what was universally regarded as the best previous one, the famously broken Disco Yeti.

In the 11 years between the construction of the two AAs, computer advances gave Imagineers unprecedented leeway in building the Shaman of Song. Her movements are the most fluid of any AA to date. She also has countless simultaneous moving parts. When you see her, you may feel overwhelmed in choosing which part of her to watch. Both of her hands have individual gestures rather than symmetrical ones. Her tail flicks like a frisky cat, and she gyrates as she sings her song. It’s stunningly life-like, although the Shaman is also gigantic at almost 10-feet-tall.

The experience: a soulful rendition of the Na’Vi people’s favorite hymn

The trick: a new language and a terrific sound system

Sounds play throughout the ride. Early on, they are standard jungle sounds that highlight the various forms of communication that animals use. About a minute into the journey, tribal music begins to play, and it rises to a crescendo as guests approach the Song of Shaman.

Her song is important, although you won’t understand it. Cameron hired a linguist to build an entire Na’Vi language. Dr. Paul Frommer then had the honor of crafting the companion song for Na’Vi River Journey. While the song is in Pandoran, he was kind enough to provide a translation of the final version, even as he noted that he’d written several different iterations of the lyrics. He wrote the first set more than two years prior to the opening of Pandora, which speaks volumes about the level of preparation required for an attraction of this scale.

Here are the translated lyrics of The Shaman’s Song:

Stanza One:

O beautiful forest,

There are tears in the forest.

Woodsprite(s).

We cry out, calling,

"O Eywa!" (3X)

Stanza Two:

Connected as one,

O Great Mother.

Woodsprite(s).

We cry out, calling,

"O Eywa!" (3X)

Stanza Three:

By the People's will,

the forest is singing.

Woodsprite(s).

We cry out, calling,

"O Eywa!" (3X)

Disney had a simple goal in constructing Na’Vi River Journey. Famous Imagineer Joe Rohde describes it as, “Just plain beauty.” When you ride it, you’ll appreciate how the Imagineering tricks listed here elevate it to something spectacular. The attraction has the task of accentuating all the spectacular sights of Pandora, and it does this in a subtle, almost poetic way. While Avatar Flight of Passage gets most of the headlines, Na’Vi River Journey is the better example of life in Pandora.