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The Experience: Fun in multiple dimensions

The Trick: Enhancing 3D with special touches

Image: DisneyThe 3D parts of PhilHarmagic are easy to spot. The first element occurs when a frustrated Donald throws his conductor’s wand at the audience. It whirls in motion as if it’s going to smack the viewer in the face before boomeranging back on him. Soon afterward, other musical instruments fly through the air as they join our ducky friend in getting sucked into a void. Numerous other 3D elements add a touch of flair to the proceedings.

From the earliest stage, Imagineers knew that they needed 3D animation to bring PhilHarmagic to life. There was just one problem. Most of the movies that they intended to feature in the presentation were never converted into 3D. In addition, Disney planned to rely on computer animation for every frame of the film. Since none of the animated movies mentioned here employed computer graphics, Disney had to start from scratch.

Imagineers animated the entire show this way. The help that they received from Disney’s film studio was invaluable in this regard. Alex Keane, the character designer for A Goofy Movie and story artist for Treasure Planet, even wrote the script for PhilHarmagic. Due to the three-year creation process for the presentation, he simultaneously worked on this project and Treasure Planet.

Disney received a helping hand from other proven artists. Glen Keane, the award-winning illustrator and Disney Legend, re-did his work from The Little Mermaid, turning Ariel and friends into 3D characters. Nik Ranieri did the same for Lumière during the Be Our Guest sequence.

These scenes feel so realistic and authentic because Imagineers went straight to the original source. And they even recycled dialogue from Clarence “Ducky” Nash, the original voice of Donald Duck, for much of the show. That’s Tony Anselmo during Be Our Guest, though. Finally, the director of PhilHarmagic is George Scribner, who helmed a classic Disney animated film, Oliver and Company.

The special touches in PhilHarmagic occur beyond the screen. While the 3D effects are remarkable, the mesmerizing elements are the mists and scents. These aren’t new tricks at Disney shows, but the “4D” aspect is what makes the production so engrossing.

Image: DisneySince you wear 3D glasses aka “Opera Glasses” throughout the show, you don’t have your ordinary peripheral vision. Disney takes advantage of this fact by tantalizing your other senses. At the start of the show, an audio trick will build the illusion that Goofy is desperately running around backstage, worrying about the absent orchestra. These sound effects “move” across the surround system to complete the effect.

At crucial moments, the entire stadium will shake. The most notable instance is when Donald gets shot out of a cannon-like musical instrument across the whole movie theater. It's the final visual of the show, the one where duck feet are hanging from the wall. Imagineers are so proud of this trick that it carries over into the adjoining gift shop. Attentive visitors will appreciate that part of Donald is still visible in the wall here.

The other 4D features are ones familiar to Disney guests. They're used in other shows like It's Tough to Be a Bug! Disney constructs unique vents that can distribute misting water.  The spray isn't tricky technology, but it's incredibly immersive. The same is true of the wind that wafts in your face as the champagne corks pop. While the effect is excellent, it's just a pressurized fan at work.

Similarly, the scents like the apple pie smell are the same Disney trick you’ve known for ages. They have proprietary technology that pipes in the appropriate smells. Something you may not know is that you can buy a similar device for your home. The ScentHD mimics many of your favorite Disney fragrances.  And it’s basically the same technology that you’ll find in PhilHarmagic.

All of these interactive components evolve PhilHarmagic into something greater than a simple short film. As you watch the 3D animation and listen to your favorite Disney classic songs, the various mists and scents will engage you on a deeper level. It’s the purest Disney magic imaginable.

Here’s one final fun fact about Mickey’s PhilHarmagic. When the attraction opened, it was the first time Mickey Mouse ever appeared in 3D!

 
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