Talking Characters: Do you want more of them?

[AliceandAriel]

Because Mickey is traditionally mute. So it's uncanny when he can actually speak to you.

He's only traditionally mute because they didn't have the technology to make him talk before. It was traditional to use CD players in the late 90's and early 00's, but you don't see too many people using them now, no?

I'm definitely not looking for a fight, I guess I just struggle to understand how and why it's creepy when all the arguments for it can be applied to regular life and the resulting answer makes sense, but doesn't make sense for Mickey.

 

[pmaurer74]

we don't. the talking Mickey ruined it for my 7 year old. She said it was not the real Mickey after she met the talking Mickey. I felt sad after that.

 

[Stitch850]

we don't. the talking Mickey ruined it for my 7 year old. She said it was not the real Mickey after she met the talking Mickey. I felt sad after that.

There's no need to repost every few people. It's one person, one opinion. More posts don't equal a larger say. Not trying to be rude - but I dont know why people do this. It's not a poll.

I would personally love to see more characters, which I already expressed, especially Donald Duck.

 

[Stitch850]

Hoping some more ppl will jump on to show support. I like it, so I hope the majority dont think it's weird.

 

[glassslippergirl]

We haven't met talking Mickey yet, but I like the idea of talking characters. It's the next logical step if the technology is finally available. Characters talk on film, so why not in theme parks. As a kid, I was always confused why some characters could talk and some could not. That made it less real to me.

The technology may not have caught up with our expectations yet. They have to start somewhere, and a few phrases in one location seems like a good start. This is one place where I'm confident it will get better. Technology always does.

To the PP, I'm sorry talking Mickey "ruined it" for your child. She was probably used to a mute Mickey. But maybe she was just old enough to stop believing, too. That's always hard for parents and child. My son is two and will grow up in a world where talking Mickey is the norm, and I don't look forward to the day when something happens to stop him from believing.

 

[pmaurer74]

There's no need to repost every few people. It's one person, one opinion. More posts don't equal a larger say. Not trying to be rude - but I dont know why people do this. It's not a poll.

I would personally love to see more characters, which I already expressed, especially Donald Duck.

ummmm..... it is called a "mistake". I did not think it posted the first time as my window was still open after hitting submit. Did not mean to offend

 

[brielise]

I find the non-face characters creepy to begin with. I think it's mostly because I'm not quite sure how to interact with them. I haven't seen talking Mickey yet, just pictures from my Aunt, but I think it might just escalate the creepiness...especially if it's just scripted phrases.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

But how is that weird? When adults don't look other adults in the eye and talk to each other, that's considered weird. But when a character looks at you, it's weird?

It's not that. We look at the mute characters and there's obviously a bit of 'eye contact' before the hugging, pointing etc, but Talking Mickey has complex eyes and blinks. It was like staring into something dead. I can't explain it. It just felt ... wrong! When you talk to a real person you can see their eyes and expression so it's not the same at all.

What we thought was really odd was that he did the Minnie card trick on both DD and myself (and I refrained from saying 'the card is Minnie, isn't it!' and let him complete the trick. However, the photographer actually had to prompt him, saying, "Look, Mickey! It's her birthday!" Yes, I had a badge on. I wonder how much they can actually see behind that head. Or, I wonder whether it's similar technology to Push, where someone sits behind the set with a microphone and it comes out of Mickey's mouth. Hence Mickey's inability to say happy birthday (ie the speaker's view was blocked).

I also doubt it's all pre-recorded because there was definitely interraction which sounded off the cuff.

We probably wouldn't visit Talking Mickey again, but we are glad we did it for the experience.

 

[leebee]

We haven't seen Talking Mickey yet and probably won't, as we are past character interaction stage; DD is almost 21 and neither of us enjoy it anymore (and please don't jump on me, it's not a criticism- if you enjoy it, GREAT!!- but we don't). However, put us both down in the "it's creepy" column. It's one thing to interact at Turtle Talk w/Crush, where he is clearly animated but can respond and react. I think talking to "something" with a flat facial expression and the "dead eyes" mentioned by a previous poster would just be too much for me. When you talk to face characters, at least you know they are real people. I can't imagine talking to cartoon fur characters; would we then have to acknowledge cartoons as humans? I can make the jump for face characters, but not fur. Too awkward, too creepy… not a positive for us.

 

[Delirium]

Talking won't impress me, but juggling while doing a one-armed handstand would.

 

[TuneTownMagic]

Maybe it will get more enjoyable and natural once the talking character can have more real conversations and actually interact in response to the things you are saying too (I know they do that a little bit now, but as previously mentioned, its not certain how the speaking is done) ... but I think even then, I might not like it. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about it that's just not right. And the reason is not because I didn't grow up with talking characters so I'm just not used to it. It's something else, really; the live action characters are different than the animal characters, such as the Fab Five, and that's a good thing. There should be something that sets them apart, and I like that you sort of have to suspend your imagination with Mickey and others. It's part of the magic.
Maybe it would be okay if it was just a voice and no facial movement, like the Mickey in stage shows....I'm not sure.

 

[Woodmnky]

I'm not a fan of talking characters. DS has sensory issues and I know that talking Mickey would freak him out. I'd hate to have to avoid even more M&Gs.