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Disney's new Lincoln cyborg: the first Terminator? (video)
Visitors to any of the Disney theme parks may fondly remember spending "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln," based on the world's first "audio-animatronic" figure: a primitive robot version of the 16th president of the United States.
Well, Disney "imagineers" have been redesigning old Abe, using state-of-the-art technology, and today the DisneyParks Blog unveiled the first test video of Mr. Lincoln's new face, which you can view below. (And, yes, we know, technically a cyborg is a cybernetic organism, mixing biological components with robot technology blah blah blah. But indulge us.)
Here's how the blog describes the new attraction:
Today's video gives a first glimpse of the new Abraham Lincoln figure that will be the main attraction in the returning "The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" show. The new, advanced figure features Disney's most sophisticated Audio-Animatronics technology, with incredibly lifelike facial features and expressions.The new, fully-electric head allowed Imagineers to add new technology and functionality to a figure that has entertained Disneyland guests since 1965. The previous Lincoln head and face had seven functions, and the new and improved head and face has a total of 20 functions. Lincoln can now purse his lips, smile, grimace and form an "O" with his lips.
So ... kinda creepy, no? Kudos to the Disney imagineers for pushing the ball forward, but is this our first glimpse of the face of the cyborgs who will eventually wipe out humankind? Maybe it's those dead, blue eyes, like a killer machine from the future ...
What do you think of Mr. Lincoln's new face?
By captainwhat at 5:00 PM ON 11/17/09
True Story: I named my laptop Skynet. Now anytime I end up in a screen that lists my desktop's name, I freak out. At the same time I like to worry the masses when they see Skynet is in their network. It's a double-edged sword but is it ever worth it
By IronOre at 5:23 PM ON 11/17/09
That so reminds me of Itchy and Scratchy Land from The Simpsons. Truthfully, the robot actors have always freaked me out a little.
By jdmimic at 5:31 PM ON 11/17/09
the eyes always seem to be the hardest part and wind up creeping people out. I wonder if they replaced the hard plastic/ceramic/whatever they are made of eyeballs with a liquid filled ball. Normal eyes look natural at least partially because they are not solid motionless objects. There is depth to them. Shouldn't be hard to do, I think.
By MUADIB at 5:34 PM ON 11/17/09
Looks like ol'abe has a drooping eyelid.Could he be .....stoned!!
By Mandy at 6:13 PM ON 11/17/09
That Itchy and Scratchy land episode of Simpsons was a spoof on the Scifi film West World, about a theme park full of animatronic robots that turn against the guests.
A lot of myths surround the Lincoln figure in Disney. When he was first made he sprang a leak. Someone mistakenly thought Walt was trying to reenact the assassination since the hydrolic fluid was red. Walt quickly had him repaired and adjusted to run on clear hydrolic fluid. Then he had a mulfunction some time later where he started to seriously glitche but a myth was born from that malfunction and it turned into an urban legend that the figure had attacked people.
As for Abe's drooping eyelid, haven't you ever seen pictures of the guy? He had a drooping eyelid. Not everything is drug related.
By jolinar at 11:22 PM ON 11/17/09
@ captainwhat:
I named my laptop "Book of Shadows" (you know from Charmed).
By Uh... at 11:29 PM ON 11/17/09
West World was originally made in 1973 starring Yul Brynner. Same story, but I'm guessing that wasn't an original Scifi film.
By Alverant at 12:00 AM ON 11/18/09
I remember the "Abe Lincoln Must Die" chapter in Sam & Max Season 1 game. Does this one have hypnobeam eyes?
By Mandy at 4:50 AM ON 11/18/09
'West World was originally made in 1973 starring Yul Brynner. Same story, but I'm guessing that wasn't an original Scifi film.'
By scifi I mean the genre term science fiction, NOT a production of the channel. We're talking about the same film.
By Mandy at 4:51 AM ON 11/18/09
When I say a scifi I mean the genre term science fiction, and not a production of the channel. We're talking about the same film.
By Keddren at 11:44 AM ON 11/18/09
That man is baked, sirs.
By Mandy at 3:02 PM ON 11/18/09
I hate when people assume if you have an eye problem you must be stoned. I have optic atrophy. My left eye is blind and my eyes don't respond to light very well. And every time a cop has shown a light into them they either assume I'm stoned or ask the person I'm with if there's anything wrong with my eyes as if I can't answer for myself.
Lincoln had a droopy eye. Get over it.
By MUADIB at 3:35 PM ON 11/18/09
JESUS E FN' CHRIST MANDY! Get over your self! it's called SARCASM" UNDERSTAND!?aND AS FAR AS A DROOPY EYELID BEING A SIGN OF A STONER .TRY LOOKIN IN THE MIRROR NEXT TIME ! JEEEZ! NO SENSE OF HUMOR FROM THAT ONE!
By Suicidy at 4:46 PM ON 11/18/09
I miss the holographic Evil Lincoln
By Roadking at 8:24 PM ON 11/18/09
Well, speaking from a purely historic point of view the REAL Lincoln was the first "Terminator"....look how many people he's responsible for killing so that the "union" could be reassembled by force.
By Photoprinter at 12:58 PM ON 11/19/09
With all the M$'s that the Disney corp has, and that is the best they could do? I have seen better faces from robots that University students have created.
By richlee1 at 3:50 AM ON 11/24/09
That is absolutely fantastic what a bunch of clever guys you all are Abe looks great his eyes are spot on brilliant !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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richlee1:
That is absolutely fantastic what a bunch of clever guys you all are Abe looks great his eyes are spot on brilliant...More »