Changes: Muppet Mobile Lab

Revision as of 22:42, 19 June 2014

Muppet mobile laboratory — Audio-Animatronic versions of Bunsen and Beaker in their Muppet Mobile Laboratory

Mml bts — Behind the scenes of Bunsen's creation

The Muppet Mobile Lab was a theme park exhibit for Disney California Adventure. Part of Disney's "Living Characters Initiative" project, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker are "brought to life" through the use of advanced Audio-Animatronic remote-control-puppeteering technology.

Starting in February 2007, Bunsen and Beaker began to travel in their Muppet Mobile Laboratory vehicle through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, part of California Adventure. The Audio-Animatronic puppet versions of the characters encourage park visitors to take part in their experiments and antics.

The Muppets' vehicle is equipped with flashing lights, rotating signs, bubble jets, smoke sprayers, water misters, confetti cannons, and even a built-in gorilla detector. Eight cameras are concealed within the unit, including one in the bridge of Bunsen's glasses which allows the controller to make eye contact with guests.

Imagineers have written 53 scripted comedy bits and routines and a repertoire of 12 traveling songs. The entire show can be controlled by a single operator from a control booth many miles away for the actual park. The characters can react spontaneously to audience involvement through improvisation as the characters can call guests by name, tell the color of their shirts and respond to unique questions.

The characters are really reacting to the guests and directly responding to them (as opposed to the traditional, one-sided Audio-Animatronic shows). The Muppet Mobile Laboratory unit is of a shape and size that would make it impossible for any full-sized human being to operate the characters from inside. The two Muppets are detachable from the unit and can be operated as remote puppets independent from the vehicle. On a few occasions, the Imagineers have set the pair in cafes, theaters and on benches throughout parks to have them interact with guests.

Dave Goelz served as a consultant for this project and was personally on-site with Steve Whitmire, observing and working on the show when the attraction was first unleashed on the park in February/March 2007. The laboratory had several private test runs - including the 2006 Walt Disney Company corporate Christmas party, a Pixar Company event, and even in the Walt Disney Imagineering parking lot. A public test was conducted at Disney California Adventure from February 13 to March 4, 2007.

In August of 2007, the Muppet Mobile Lab moved to Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. In February 2008, it moved to Hong Kong Disneyland. It returned to the US to stroll the streets of New York City as part of the 2008 World Science Festival, after which it moved to the Tokyo Disney Resort for the summer 2008. In Hong Kong, Bunsen's dialog was performed in Cantonese.

A second unit is currently in production. The new unit will be shared by the Orlando parks - moving between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot Center. The original unit will rotate between California, Tokyo and Hong Kong. In March 2009, the original Muppet Mobile Lab (then stationed in Hong Kong) received a THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement (Technical) from the Themed Entertainment Association.

At the D23 Expo in 2009, it was mentioned that a mobile unit for The Electric Mayhem was in development.

The lab made an appearance at Hong Kong Disneyland's Disney Dreamers Everywhere event, May 2013.^[1]

Gallery

Credits

The Muppets Studio

General Manager: Lylle Breier
VP, Talent Relations: Kevin Frawley,
Director, Creative Affairs: Debbie McClellan
Creative Consultant/Voice of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew: David Goelz
Voice of Beaker: Steve Whitmire
Writer: Jim Lewis

Muppet Mobile Lab Development & Production – WDI Research & Development

Electronics and show software: Holger Irmler
Electronics: Dave Barnett
Mechanical: Tod Camill
Figure: Bryan Tye
Ride software: Carl Allison
Show software: Bill McArdle
Skins: Phil Jackson
Creatives: Toni Dogi, Bruce Vaughn, Orrin Shively
Producer: Susan LeBar
Project Managers: Chris Holm, Frank Mezzatesta
SPX/Audio: Asa Kalama
Puppeteer/Show Director: Cory Rouse
Audio: Steve Kadar
SPX: Gilles Martin
Writer & Characters: John Paragon
Costumes & Figure Finishing: Amy Van Gilder
Fabrication: Dean Christie
Mechanical Design/Fabrication: Lance Updyke
Segway Algorithms: John Morrell

Live Show Development – WDI Creative Entertainment

Creative Director: Dan Fields
Project Producer: Carrie O'Banion
Supervising Technical Director: Peter Ballenger
Production Manager: Sam Russo
Writer: Bill Larkin
Technical Director: Bob Maske
Technical Supervisor: Mark Major
Project Coordinator: Michelle Malakoff

Other uses

Muppet Mobile Lab is also the lab depicted in Muppet Labs Experiment 5T832: Ghost Hunt, in which Bunsen and a penguin watch Beaker investigate a haunted house.

Sources

↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151614548050690&set=np.213673049.516681899&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-prn1%2F945342_10151614548050690_958912151_n.jpg&size=640%2C960

External Links

Jim Hill Media Disney's Living Character Initiative
Jim Hill Media Muppet Mobile Lab Update
Videos: [1], [2], [3]
2008 press release, Hong Kong Disneyland

[1] ttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151614548050690&set=np.213673049.516681899&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-prn1%2F945342_10151614548050690_958912151_n.jpg&size=640%2C960

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Muppet_mobile_laboratory.jpg|thumb|300px|Audio-Animatronic versions of Bunsen and Beaker in their Muppet Mobile Laboratory]]
+[[File:Mml_bts.jpg|thumb|300px|Behind the scenes of Bunsen's creation]]
+The '''Muppet Mobile Lab''' was a theme park exhibit for [[Disneyland|Disney California Adventure]]. Part of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]'s "Living Characters Initiative" project, [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]] and [[Beaker]] are "brought to life" through the use of advanced Audio-Animatronic remote-control-puppeteering technology.
+Starting in February [[2007]], Bunsen and Beaker began to travel in their Muppet Mobile Laboratory vehicle through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, part of California Adventure. The Audio-Animatronic puppet versions of the characters encourage park visitors to take part in their experiments and antics.
-'''The Muppet Mobile Laboratory''' is an theme park exhibit for [[Disneyland|Disney's California Adventure]]. Part of Disney's "Living Characters Initiative" project, [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]] and [[Beaker]] are "brought to life" through the use of advanced Audio-Animatronic remote-control-puppeteering technology.
+The Muppets' vehicle is equipped with flashing lights, rotating signs, bubble jets, smoke sprayers, water misters, confetti cannons, and even a built-in [[Gorilla Detector|gorilla detector]]. Eight cameras are concealed within the unit, including one in the bridge of Bunsen's glasses which allows the controller to make eye contact with guests.
-Starting in Febuary [[2007]], Bunsen and Beaker began to travel in their Muppet Mobile Laboratory vehicle through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, part of California Adventure. The Audio-Animatronic puppet versions of the characters, based on the puppets used in ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'', encourage park visitors to take part in their experiments and antics.
-Imagineers have written script options for the show. The entire show can be controlled by a single operator from a control booth many miles away for the actual park. The interactions create the illusion of spontaneity, audience involvement, and improvisation as the characters can call guests by name, tell the color of their shirts and respond to unique questions.
+Imagineers have written 53 scripted comedy bits and routines and a repertoire of 12 traveling songs. The entire show can be controlled by a single operator from a control booth many miles away for the actual park. The characters can react spontaneously to audience involvement through improvisation as the characters can call guests by name, tell the color of their shirts and respond to unique questions.
-The illusion makes it appear that there are really Muppets interacting right in front of the guests asking questions and directly responding to them (rather than a one-sided Audio-Animatronic show). The Muppet Mobile Laboratory unit is of a shape and size that would make it impossible for any full-sized human being to operate the characters from inside.
+The characters are really reacting to the guests and directly responding to them (as opposed to the traditional, one-sided Audio-Animatronic shows). The Muppet Mobile Laboratory unit is of a shape and size that would make it impossible for any full-sized human being to operate the characters from inside. The two Muppets are detachable from the unit and can be operated as remote puppets independent from the vehicle. On a few occasions, the Imagineers have set the pair in cafes, theaters and on benches throughout parks to have them interact with guests.
-In late 2006 [[Dave Goelz]] was consulted for this project; and was personally on-site along with [[Steve Whitmire]], observing and working on the show when the attraction was first unleashed on the park in Febuary/March 2007. The laboratory was tested on guests at the 2006 Walt Disney Company corporate Christmas party and was tested and tweaked while running in the Walt Disney Imagineering parking lot and at California Adventure for a test runs from mid-Febuary to March 4, 2007.
+[[Dave Goelz]] served as a consultant for this project and was personally on-site with [[Steve Whitmire]], observing and working on the show when the attraction was first unleashed on the park in February/March 2007. The laboratory had several private test runs - including the 2006 Walt Disney Company corporate Christmas party, a [[Pixar]] Company event, and even in the Walt Disney Imagineering parking lot. A public test was conducted at Disney California Adventure from February 13 to March 4, 2007.
+In August of 2007, the Muppet Mobile Lab moved to Epcot Center in [[Walt Disney World]]. In February 2008, it moved to Hong Kong Disneyland. It returned to the US to stroll the streets of New York City as part of the [[World Science Festival|2008 World Science Festival]], after which it moved to the Tokyo Disney Resort for the summer 2008. In Hong Kong, Bunsen's dialog was performed in Cantonese.
+A second unit is currently in production. The new unit will be shared by the Orlando parks - moving between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot Center. The original unit will rotate between California, Tokyo and Hong Kong. In March 2009, the original Muppet Mobile Lab (then stationed in Hong Kong) received a THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement (Technical) from the Themed Entertainment Association.
+At the [[D23 Expo]] in 2009, it was mentioned that a mobile unit for [[Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem|The Electric Mayhem]] was in development.
+The lab made an appearance at Hong Kong Disneyland's Disney Dreamers Everywhere event, May 2013.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151614548050690&set=np.213673049.516681899&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-prn1%2F945342_10151614548050690_958912151_n.jpg&size=640%2C960</ref>
+==Gallery==
 <gallery>
 Image:MobileLabs1.jpg|Bunsen
 Image:MobileLabs4.jpg|Beaker
-Image:Mobile_Labs_2.jpg|Bunsen and Beaker roll around Disney's California Adventure Park
+Image:Mobile_Labs_2.jpg|Bunsen and Beaker roll around Disney's California Adventure Park (now known as Disney California Adventure)
+Image:D23-MML-Presentation.jpg|"Characters On-The-Move" display at the D23 Expo in 2009
+Image:D23-MML-ConceptArt01.jpg|Concept art at the D23 Expo
+Image:D23-MML-ConceptArt02.jpg|Concept art at the D23 Expo
+Image:D23-MML-SignedPortrait.jpg|Signed Muppet Mobile Lab portrait at the D23 Expo
+Image:D23-MML-BeakerSign.jpg|Beaker warning sign at the D23 Expo
+Muppet Mobile Maps uniform.jpg|A staff uniform was available at Theme Park Connection store.
 </gallery>
+==Credits==
+:'''[[The_Walt_Disney_Company#The_Muppets_Studio_.282004-present.29|The Muppets Studio]]'''
+*General Manager: [[Lylle Breier]]
+*VP, Talent Relations: Kevin Frawley,
+*Director, Creative Affairs: [[Debbie McClellan]]
+*Creative Consultant/Voice of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew: [[Dave Goelz|David Goelz]]
+*Voice of Beaker: [[Steve Whitmire]]
+*Writer: [[Jim Lewis]]
+:'''Muppet Mobile Lab Development & Production – WDI Research & Development'''
+*Electronics and show software: Holger Irmler
+*Electronics: Dave Barnett
+*Mechanical: Tod Camill
+*Figure: Bryan Tye
+*Ride software: Carl Allison
+*Show software: Bill McArdle
+*Skins: Phil Jackson
+*Creatives: Toni Dogi, Bruce Vaughn, Orrin Shively
+*Producer: Susan LeBar
+*Project Managers: Chris Holm, Frank Mezzatesta
+*SPX/Audio: Asa Kalama
+*Puppeteer/Show Director: Cory Rouse
+*Audio: Steve Kadar
+*SPX: Gilles Martin
+*Writer & Characters: John Paragon
+*Costumes & Figure Finishing: [[Amy Van Gilder]]
+*Fabrication: Dean Christie
+*Mechanical Design/Fabrication: Lance Updyke
+*Segway Algorithms: John Morrell
+:'''Live Show Development – WDI Creative Entertainment'''
+*Creative Director: Dan Fields
+*Project Producer: Carrie O'Banion
+*Supervising Technical Director: Peter Ballenger
+*Production Manager: Sam Russo
+*Writer: Bill Larkin
+*Technical Director: Bob Maske
+*Technical Supervisor: Mark Major
+*Project Coordinator: Michelle Malakoff
+==Other uses==
+[[File:Muppet_Labs_Experiment_5T832_Ghost_Hunt|thumb|300px]]Muppet Mobile Lab is also the lab depicted in [[Muppet viral videos|Muppet Labs Experiment 5T832: Ghost Hunt]], in which Bunsen and a [[Penguins|penguin]] watch Beaker investigate a haunted house.
+==Sources==
+<references />
 ==External Links==
 *[http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2006/09/21/5842.aspx Jim Hill Media] Disney's Living Character Initiative
 *[http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/01/31/muppet-mobile-lab.aspx Jim Hill Media] Muppet Mobile Lab Update
 *Videos: [http://media2.ocregister.com/video/_player/index.php?xmlPath=http://media2.ocregister.com/video/muppet030207/xml.xml], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owJGRvo0y_g], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJTtjT4xvM]
+*[http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/eng/discover/20080214.html 2008 press release, Hong Kong Disneyland]
 [[Category:Disney Theme Park Attractions|Muppet Mobile Laboratory]]

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