Mickey Talks

[Halloweenluv03]

Oh Boy! I just saw the Blog and Video for the Disney Marathon, and not only was Mickey "animated" but so was Chip and Dale, Donald, and Goofy. (Although I didn't hear them talk like Mickey did). I think it's a little creepy (I'm so use to Mickey not talking for the almost 30 years of my life), but it's time for a change, and what a great way for the characters to interact with the guests instead of just with hand signals and gestures.

My first major in college was robotics and I wish I stuck with it. It's such a great concept and I'm glad Disney is now using it as more than just a "test" in Disneyland. Hoping they have meet and greets at the World next year for our honeymoon.

What's everyone's feelings on this?

 

[Robo]

1- what a great way for the characters to interact with the guests instead of just with hand signals and gestures.

Sorry, but those "talking" characters are not able to interact with guests in a regular Meet & Greet situation.

Those articulated characters have been around and in use for "shows" since about 2009, but they do not have the power of interactive speech.

 

[jesswindsor]

I seen them (At least Mickey and Minnie) in a show in front of the castle but no meet and greets.

 

[Robo]

I seen them (At least Mickey and Minnie) in a show in front of the castle but no meet and greets.

And, Donald and Goofy in the same show.

Yes, that's correct.
Same articulated characters.

They can't interact directly with guests.
They don't have "voices."

 

[jesswindsor]

And, Donald and Goofy in the same show.

Yes, that's correct.
Same articulated characters.

They can't interact directly with guests.
They don't have "voices."

I thought Donald and Goofy were there but I wasn't positive, I thought they were pretty neat. My guess is they just use them for the shows to make them more realistic in that you can not only hear them sing, but you can see them sing.

 

[Robo]

I thought Donald and Goofy were there but I wasn't positive, I thought they were pretty neat. My guess is they just use them for the shows to make them more realistic in that you can not only hear them sing, but you can see them sing.

That's right.
They are a lot of fun (and kind of surprising) to see in the shows.

As I recall, Timon at Festival of the Lion King (DAK) is now also one of these articulated characters.

 

[futuredisneyceo]

That's right.
They are a lot of fun (and kind of surprising) to see in the shows.

As I recall, Timon at Festival of the Lion King (DAK) is now also one of these articulated characters.

I think i saw a video of a test at disneyland with mickey actually interacting with guests at a meet and greet? maybe i remember incorrectly?

 

[mesaboy2]

I think i saw a video of a test at disneyland with mickey actually interacting with guests at a meet and greet? maybe i remember incorrectly?

I've heard of that video. If true, it was just a test and all indications are they're not ready yet to roll it out.

 

[futuredisneyceo]

I've heard of that video. If true, it was just a test and all indications are they're not ready yet to roll it out.

yeah i mean if lil kids get scared of mickeys big head as it is, when it comes down and calls them by name, i think thats a little too much for most young kids!

 

[Robo]

I've heard of that video. If true, it was just a test and all indications are they're not ready yet to roll it out.

I've seen them. And some are linked below.

The first ones to hit YouTube (HERE) show something that could never be a daily Meet & Greet (it involved a live (but unseen) appearance with Mickey's official voice, Bret Iwan.)

(Mr. Iwan also provides the voice of Mickey in the "Marathon" video referenced in the first post of this thread.)

The second generation of videos on YouTube were a test with a Mickey that worked somewhat like a "Pal Mickey."

He had a set of pre-recorded phrases that could be called up to (hopefully) sort-of fit the "conversation" that he was having with a guest.

HERE is a video.

Guest: "Are you having a good time?"
Mickey: "Thank You!"

Not quite ready for daily use yet, I'm afraid.



.

 

[disneygirl777]

I think i saw a video of a test at disneyland with mickey actually interacting with guests at a meet and greet? maybe i remember incorrectly?

Yea I think I've seen this too. I read somewhere lately that at one of the parks they're going to start using the space from when an old attraction was closed to start testing characters like this that interact with guests in a Meet & Greet. I can't remember exactly where it was in WDW, but as of now I think it's just speculation.

 

[Robo]

Yea I think I've seen this too.

I linked to a couple of these videos in my post just above yours in this thread.

 

[chartle]

I've seen them. And some are linked below.

The first ones to hit YouTube (HERE) show something that could never be a daily Meet & Greet (it involved a live (but unseen) appearance with Mickey's official voice, Bret Iwan.)

(Mr. Iwan also provides the voice of Mickey in the "Marathon" video referenced in the first post of this thread.)

The second generation of videos on YouTube were a test with a Mickey that worked somewhat like a "Pal Mickey."

He had a set of pre-recorded phrases that could be called up to (hopefully) sort-of fit the "conversation" that he was having with a guest.

HERE is a video.

Guest: "Are you having a good time?"
Mickey: "Thank You!"

Not quite ready for daily use yet, I'm afraid.



.

I thought for sure there was some sort of voice processor involved because Mickey said the persons name.

Also there was a posting of a patent application that showed how the friend of Mickey could speak into a microphone in the suit.

 

[Robo]

I thought for sure there was some sort of voice processor involved because Mickey said the persons name.

To what clip are you referring?

 

[chartle]

To what clip are you referring?

I was thinking the first one but I thought I saw another one with mickey on the left of the frame.

 

[Robo]

I was thinking the first one but I thought I saw another one with mickey on the left of the frame.

The first clip does have a live "helper" (in person of Mickey's official voice, Bret Iwan) speaking the role in real time.

That clip is of a very specially cast and set up Meet & Greet.
Not the kind of thing that can simply happen every day, all day at multiple theme parks.

 

[chartle]

The first clip does have a live "helper" (in person of Mickey's official voice, Bret Iwan) speaking the role in real time.

That clip is of a very specially cast and set up Meet & Greet.
Not the kind of thing that can simply happen every day, all day at multiple theme parks.

Here is the patent I was talking about.

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-patent-disney-talking-mickey-technology-20-years-9532/

Now that I reread it it looks like an old patent waiting for the technology to catch up.

 

[minnieandmickey]

Sorry, but those "talking" characters are not able to interact with guests in a regular Meet & Greet situation.

Those articulated characters have been around and in use for "shows" since about 2009, but they do not have the power of interactive speech.

I truly hope they come out with the technology that they have tested at Disneyland! Sure it may freak some of us that can see, but as a grandmother of a blind child it would be amazing if she could actually interact with a talking mickey (or other characters)!

 

[Robo]

Here is the patent I was talking about.

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-patent-disney-talking-mickey-technology-20-years-9532/

Now that I reread it it looks like an old patent waiting for the technology to catch up.

Yes. That's it, exactly.

The Disney Co. is very (VERY) protective of the Mickey voice.

Mickey's first voice was none other than Mr. Walt Disney, himself.
Since then, there has only been a small, but celebrated line of "official voices," one-after-another, over time.
(Kind of like -if you'll excuse me- the Pope.)

It would be out-of-character (pun there) for the Disney Co. to allow
a dozen (two dozen? three dozen?) front-line CM's to actually attempt to mimic the voice of Mickey (electronically enhanced or not) for meet & greets at multiple venues, at multiple Theme Parks, all day, every day.

If you'll look at one of the charater "stars" that DOES interact in real-time with guests,
CRUSH (character from Finding Nemo who now stars in Epcot (FL) and California Adventure (CA) in the "Turtle Talk" attractions)
you'll find that (although the Southern California "Surfer Dude" ACCENT and ATTITUDE remains with each performance)
Crush's actual "voice" (pitch, quality, speed of delivery) does change,
due to the multiple puppeteers who bring him to life over the course of a day,
a week, a year... at multiple theme parks at different Disney locations.
Apparently that kind of "difference" seems to be OK on a relatively "generic" (sorry Crush) character,
but it would not be true to the Disney standards for Mickey Mouse to "sound funny" during a multitude of guest interactions.

Will technology "catch up" to the patent on a speaking, interactive Mickey Mouse?
(Or will the folks at Disney just decide an imitator with a voice-changer box be "good enough to pass" for Mickey Mouse?)

Time will tell.
As always... Stay tuned.



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[Halloweenluv03]

I truly hope they come out with the technology that they have tested at Disneyland! Sure it may freak some of us that can see, but as a grandmother of a blind child it would be amazing if she could actually interact with a talking mickey (or other characters)!

If this was facebook, I would have hit the "like" button. Let's hope Disney can improve the technology and make it an everyday thing for children like this.