Throwback Thursday 5/21/15 - Captain Eo

Captain EO is a 1986 American 3D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Coppola (who came up with the name "Captain EO" from the Greek, "Eos", the Greek goddess of dawn) that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through 1996. The attraction returned to the Disney Parks in 2010, as a tribute after Jackson's death, but as of 2015, the show is no longer playing at any of the Disney parks.

The film's executive producer was George Lucas. The film was choreographed by Jeffrey Hornaday and Michael Jackson, photographed by Peter Anderson, produced by Rusty Lemorande and written by Lemorande, Lucas and Coppola, from a story idea by the artists of Walt Disney Imagineering. Lemorande also initially designed and created two of the creatures, and was an editor of the film. The score was written by James Horner, and featured two songs ("We Are Here to Change the World" and "Another Part of Me"), both written and performed by Michael Jackson.

The Supreme Leader was played by Anjelica Huston. Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro was the lighting director during much of the principal photography. Captain EO is regarded as one of the first "4D" films (4D being the name given to a 3D film that incorporates in-theater effects, such as lasers, smoke, etc., synchronized to the film narrative).

PLOT

The film tells the story of Captain EO (Michael Jackson) and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to "The Supreme Leader" (Anjelica Huston), who lives on a world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents. Captain EO's alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzball, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idey (Debbie Lee Carrington) and Ody (Cindy Sorenson), robotic security officer Major Domo (Gary Depew), a small robot, Minor Domo (who fits like a module into Major Domo), and the clumsy elephant-like shipmate Hooter (Tony Cox) who always manages to upset the crew's missions. Dick Shawn plays Captain EO's boss, Commander Bog.

Upon arriving on the planet, the crew is captured by the henchmen of the Supreme Leader, and brought before her. She sentences the crew to be turned into trash cans, and Captain EO to 100 years of torture in her deepest dungeon. Before being sent away, Captain EO tells the Supreme Leader that he sees the beauty hidden within her, and that he brings her the key to unlock it: his song, "We Are Here to Change the World".

The two robot members of the crew transform into musical instruments, and the crew members begin to play the various instruments. As Hooter runs toward his instrument, he trips over EO's cape and breaks it, stopping the music. The spell broken, the Supreme Leader orders her guards to capture Captain EO and his crew.

Hooter manages to repair his instrument and sends out a blast of music, providing EO with the power to throw off the guards. He uses his power to transform the dark hulking guards into agile dancers who fall into step behind him for a dance number. As EO presses forward toward the Supreme Leader, she unleashes her Whip Warriors, two cybernetic defenders each with a whip and shield that can deflect EO's power.

The others all run away, leaving Captain EO to fight the Whip Warriors alone. EO is trapped by a closing gate and is preparing for a last stand as both the whip warriors draw their whips back for a final blow. Fuzzball drops his instrument and speedily flies over to tie the two whips together, causing the Whip Warriors to be thrown off balance giving EO an opportunity to transform them as well. With no further obstacles, EO uses his power to transform the remaining four henchmen (not yet unleashed) and they, the transformed whip warriors and the other dancers, press forward in dance before EO transforms the Supreme Leader into a beautiful woman, her lair into a peaceful Greek temple, and the planet into a verdant paradise.

A celebration breaks out to "Another Part of Me", as Captain EO and his crew triumphantly exit and fly off into space.

CAST

Michael Jackson - Captain Eo

Anjelica Huston - The Supreme Leader

Dick Shawn - Commander Bog

Tony Cox - Hooter

Gary Depew - Major Domo

Debbie Lee Carrington - Idee

Cindy Sorenson - Geex

 

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Throwback Thursday 5/14/15 - Discovery Island

Discovery Island is an 11.5 acres island at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake. Between 1974 and 1999, the island was open to guests. Disney originally named it Treasure Island, and later, Discovery Island. Here, guests could observe the island's many species of animals and birds. Disney bought the island in 1965 as part of its strategic property acquisitions before building the Walt Disney World Resort.

The island opened as Treasure Island on April 8, 1974, as a place to observe wildlife, and was later renamed Discovery Island when it was recognized as a zoological park. It closed to the public on April 8, 1999, but continued to operate until July 9, 1999, at which point all of its animals had been relocated to new homes at Disney's Animal Kingdom (whose Safari Village hub area was renamed Discovery Island) and other zoos.

The island remains closed to the public. It can easily be seen from Disney's Contemporary Resort and from Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, as well as from boat trips between them. The island is adjacent to Disney's River Country water park, which is also closed. The decision to close the attraction may have been affected by a change in Florida laws, which prohibited unchlorinated natural water bodies from being used for water parks. Uncertainties and a lack of general information about the island has led to speculation that the island was shut down due to a virus being found in the water park.

It's Attractions included:

• Trumpeter Springs - trumpeter swans
• Parrots Perch - The Discovery Island Bird Show, featuring macaws, cockatoos, and other trained birds.
• Bamboo Hollow - lemurs from Madagascar.
• Cranes's Roost - demoiselle cranes
• Avian Way - The United States' most extensive breeding colony of scarlet ibis
• Pelican Bay - brown pelicans
• Flamingo Lagoon - flamingos
• Tortoise Beach - five Galápagos tortoises
• There was a beach where no swimming was allowed, but playing and walking in sand was permitted.

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Throwback Thursday - Back to Neverland

Back to Neverland was an award-winning short film shown at the beginning of the tour inside The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood (formerly MGM) Studios. It opened on May 1, 1989. The film left the park in 2004. The attraction has since been redesigned and a Mulan-inspired film starring Mushu has taken it's place.

The film was directed by Jerry Rees. Hosted by veteran newsman Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams in the role of a Disney tourist, the film takes the audience through the animation process in the form of an adventure to Never Land, where Robin takes on the role of one of the Lost Boys and has a run-in with Captain Hook. He meets Tinkerbell before being sent to walk the plank and they plan to use the Tick-Tock Crocodile against Hook by using Pixie Dust. However, after defeating Hook and returning to the real world, he returns to the animated world with Peter Pan for another adventure. 

CAST
Robin Williams - himself
Walter Cronkite - himself
Corey Burton - Captain Hook, Peter Pan

Click HERE to watch a great YouTube video of the film!






This film was one of Robin's many contributions to Disney and devoted fans (including me) would love to see this film make a return to the attraction!

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