Captain EO
Captain EO is an attraction located in the Imagination! pavilion atEpcot.
| Captain EO | |
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| An attraction poster for Captain EO. | |
| Epcot | |
| Land | Future World |
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| Attraction type | 3D show |
| Opening date | September 12, 1986 |
| Closing date | July 6, 1994 |
| Ride duration | 17 minutes |
| Reopening date | July 2, 2010 |
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Contents
Attraction History
Captain EO got it's beginning when Michael Jackson's adviser, David Geffen called Disney. The pop singer was coming off the blockbuster album “Thriller” and Geffen thought that Jackson (a huge Disney fan) should make a movie for the company. Geffen called his longtime friend (and head of the Disney Studio) Jeffrey Katzenberg and pitched his idea. Although Disney was interested in the idea, Katzenberg and Michael Eisner asked Jackson if he would make a movie/music video for Disneyland. Imagineer Rick Rothschild then drew up three different story lines, before both he and Jackson picked the same one to do- Captain EO.
As part of his agreement to do the attraction, Jackson insisted that either George Lucas or Steven Spielberg be involved in the project. Since George Lucas was already working with Disney to create Star Tours, he was brought in to work on the new film. Joining him, was director Francis Ford Coppola, actress Angelica Houston and Rusty Lemorande (who wrote the screenplay with Lucas). Famed composer James Horner wrote the score for the film, and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro worked the lighting and photography. Jackson also wrote two new songs for the attraction, "We Are Here to Change the World" and "Another Part of Me". The movie was shot in 3D, and in-theater effects were used to enhance guest’s experience. Because of these effects, many consider Captain EO to be the first 4D movie ever created.
The production of Captain EO was not an easy one. Although the initial budget for the film was 11 million, it ended up costing 23.7 million dollars to make. This was due to the fact that production had begun on the attraction without a firm plot. Another problem with the production was that while Coppola was there for the three weeks of principal photography, it took the rest of the production crew nearly six months to try to complete the story. Further complications then arose, when the in theater effects were not in sync with the film. The attraction finally opened on September 12, 1986.
On July, 6 1994, following a decrease in both the film and Jackson's popularity, Captain EO was replaced by a new 4D film Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Although now without a home in the Disney Parks, MTV showed the film (in regular 2D) on June 26, 1996 (the only known time the film was shown outside of Disney). On July 2, 2010, following the death of Michael Jackson, Captain EO returned to Epcot as a tribute to the late singer. The film replaced Honey, I Shrunk the Audience almost exactly 16 years after its initial closure. Although the film had returned however, many of the original in-theater effects were removed when Honey, I Shrunk the Audience was built, and thus they are not used in the current version of the attraction.
Attraction Plot
In the movie Captain EO leads his rag-tag team through space, trying to save the universe.
Preshow
The preshow for the current incarnation of the attraction, consists of the made for TV special "The Making of Captain EO". The documentary was directed by Muffett Kaufman and hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. The film show interviews with cast, crew and producers of the film.
Main Film
Captain EO begins with a male narrator setting the scene. He tells guests:
"The cosmos: a universe of good and evil where a small group struggles to bring freedom to the countless worlds of despair; a rag-tag band led by the infamous Captain EO."
A two headed alien pilot is then shown talking to itself. One head is name Idey while the other is named Odey. The two discuss how the planet they are approaching does not look dangerous, and informs guests that they are looking for a homing beacon. They then tell Hooter (a small elephant looking creature) that they have almost arrived. Hooter and a robot named Major Domo, tell the pilots not to get too close or they will trip an intruder alert. Just as Idey and Odey are saying they "won't blow it", the intruder alarm goes off. As the two try to blame Hooter for their mistake, Captain EO (Michael Jackson)rises up on a platform and tells them they are "going in". Major Domo tells the captain that their ship is not condition to fight, when Captain EO replies:
Hooter! Listen! The Command considers us a bunch of losers. But we're gonna do it right this time, 'cause we're the best. We don't we'll be drummed out of the corps.
All the members of his crew then assure them that they will not fail, but Idey and Odey inform them that an enemy patrol ship is flying by. Although Captain EO initially tries to outrun them, they are hit by the patrol ship's lasers. Captain EO asks for their map of the planet only to find that Hooter ate it. Captain EO's superior, Commander Bog, appears on a holographic screen and demands to know what is going on, as Captain EO is late checking in. When he begins to realize that Captain EO is in combat against orders, Hooter throws something that sticks to the holographic image, obscuring Bog's vision and keeping him from realizing what is going on. Hooter brings in the ship's sail just before the ship enters the tunnel, but the ship still crash lands on the planet. Captain EO discovers that they have crashed right next to the homing beacon, and is able to report this to the commander. The commander replies:
Well, so far, so good, Captain EO. But, I must admit that I am a bit surprised after the mess you made of your last mission. But now that you've found the beacon, take the map, find the Supreme Leader and give her the gift. You do have the map, don't you?
The crew to pretends to still have the map, and sets out to find the Supreme Leader despite their having no idea where she is. The crew walks through hills of garbage, with Hooter insisting on putting a trash can on his head to "disguise" himself. They are ambushed by guards, surrender, and take them to the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader, a metallic woman hanging from the ceiling by cables. The supreme leader orders the crew to be turned into trash cans, while Captain EO is to be tortured for 100 years in her deepest dungeon. An unfazed Captain EO announces that they accept these punishments, but that he sees the Supreme Leader as beautiful and it is his gift to her to unlock that beauty. EO points to his ear, cuing the crew to get ready. Music begins as Minor Domo transforms to a keyboard synthesizer, while Major Domo kicks off his leg which transforms into a guitar played by Fuzzball, and the rest of his body becomes a drum set played by Idy and Ody. However, Hooter slips and crashes into the synthesizer. The Supreme Leader sends her troops in, but Hooter fixes the synthesizer just in time and plays the keys and Captain EO is energized to push the guards away with a pulse of energy.
"We Are Here to Change the World," a song written by Michael Jackson for this ride, begins. During the introduction Captain EO transforms various minions of the Supreme Leader into dancers that join him for the song. Eventually the Supreme Leader sends in her "Whip Warriors", two soldiers who attack Captain EO with electronic whips while "We Are Here to Change the World" quietly continues in the background. Although he struggles for a while, Furball ties the two whips together, incapacitating the warriors and allowing Captain EO to use his energy powers on them, and they join him to dance although they do not transform. Captain EO does transform prisoners trapped in the walls into another group of dancers and We Are Here to Change the World continues in full force. Captain EO flies up to the Supreme Leader and transforms her into a beautiful woman, and the same energy transforms the lair into a beautiful palace with Greek columns and the sun shining down. The crew leaves the planet, now a thriving paradise, and flies off towards their next mission.
Cast and Crew
Cast
Captain EO- Michael Jackson
Supreme Leader- Anjelica Huston
Idey-Debbie Lee Carrington
Odey-Cindy Sorenson
Major Domo-Gary Depew
Hooter-Tony Cox
Commander Bog- Dick Shawn
Crew
George Lucas- Executive producer, writer
Francis Ford Coppola- Director, writer
Rusty Lemorande- Producer, writer
Rich Rothchild- Show director
Jeff Horneday- Choerography
James Horner- Musical score
Lance Anderson- Character design
Vittorio Storaro Lighting director
John Napier- Costumes
Fun Facts and Trivia
- There were 150 special effects created for Captain EO.
- At over 1 million dollars per minute, Captain EO was one of the most expensive per-minute films of all time.
- The name EO comes from the name of the Greek goddess Eo.
- It took Anjelica Huston nearly 3 hours to put her makeup on every day before shooting.
Watch the Movie!
To watch Captain EO click play below:
References
http://www.intercot.com/edc/Imagination/eo.html
http://www.mouseplanet.com/9123/More_Untold_Tales_of_Captain_EO
http://www.mouseplanet.com/9085/The_Untold_Story_of_Captain_EO
