For additional information, here is the "script" I used at the 2005 Shareholder's Meeting and a transcript of Mr. Eisner's response. The only change I made is removing my last name,
My name is Michael *******, from Orlando Florida, home of Figment. I have been a shareholder for over 15 years.
Michael:
Ten years ago at the shareholders’ meeting I asked you about the exclusive Epcot character Figment and, why, in spite of his popularity, little was done to promote him and his co-star character Dreamfinder. Your response then was that you were looking for a good vehicle for him.
Five years ago at the shareholders’ meeting in Chicago, you were asked again about Figment who had then been ‘discontinued’ as a Disney character. At that time you announced that “Figment has gone to Figment Heaven”.
Now, five years later, it’s time once again to review the state of Disney’s Figment character.
Thanks to popular demand there has been a resurrection: Figment is not only back at Epcot in the Journey Into Imagination ride; there also is another Epcot attraction featuring Figment that just opened, a meet and greet photo location named “Figment’s Place”.
Unfortunately for the newer attraction, Disney Entertainment has come up with a walk-around Figment which towers over guests at 6 feet 9 inches tall, all because they wanted a “huggable” Figment character. The result was a big freaky Figment, blown up entirely out of proportion, much like the one that you ordered shelved back in the 1980s. On the Internet, it has been nicknamed “Figzilla”!
It’s not that people don’t like “huggable” characters; in fact, I’d personally love a “huggable” Jessica Rabbit. (Anyway...)
As for Figment and Dreamfinder, they always belonged together; they were created to play off of each other. Figment was always intended to be tiny, an extension of Dreamfinder, not a stand alone, overblown, ‘Barney dinosaur wannabe’.
A face character Dreamfinder, relating with and performing for guests with a cute baby-like Figment puppet, evolved into a magical relationship, and created a significant following. In their role as ambassadors of Epcot, these two characters became an important part of the theme park experience; cultivating repeat visits for many guests. There are even press accounts of people who credit those two characters with saving and improving the quality of their loved one’s lives.
Recently both characters came out on an expensive, collectible pin. People lined up for hours, and the pin sold out on the spot! It’s painfully obvious that the fans miss the Dreamfinder. Figment misses the Dreamfinder. The Dreamfinder misses Figment and the Epcot guests. All involved would benefit greatly by their return. Since your affection for Figment is on the record, and because we know that you authorized the return of Figment from “Figment Heaven” to Epcot, we turn to you once again for your help.
Thank you for returning our friend Figment, and even though you may have other things on your mind right now; please, as one Michael to another...
It’s time to bring Dreamfinder back home.
How about it?
Mr Eisner’s Response:
Well… This is an excellent, excellent question, one of the best questions of the year.
This is proof positive of the lack of real power of a CEO in American corporations. It also is proof positive that I’m not the micromanager that I’m depicted to be.
Because I agree with you; but I’m the only one who agrees with you.
I have not been able to elicit the passion you expressed in our animation department, in our live-action department, and in Mr. Iger to my left.
However, we’ll keep trying; we’ll keep suggesting.
And maybe I’ll take you to the next meeting that I go to on Figment down in Florida.
so we have to ride it! His favorite part though is not the the ride at all, but the activities afterward. In particular the images on the floor that you can jump on to hear the corresponding sound. I can't for the life of me figure out why, but he could spend hours doing just that If we let him!
!
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