As some of you may be aware, I recently joined the team of contributors on the official Disney Parks Blog. My first post there, which went up earlier this month, celebrated the 10
th anniversary of
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Taking another look at the parade after all these years gave me new appreciation for the details and craftsmanship found throughout the show.
Rafiki leads the way on this Jammin' Jungle Expedition through the Discovery Island section of the park. His Adventure Rover, like those carrying each of the featured characters, is a highly-customized Jeep with lots of fun details, from the Anandapur stickers on the luggage to the vanity plate on the back of the vehicle.
The original procession which debuted with the park in 1998 was entitled March of the
ARTimals. Following that rather esoteric display, one of the key goals for Mickey's
Jammin' Jungle Parade was to introduce more Disney DNA and characters into the park. The show definitely maintains its own identity, though, unique to Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The parade becomes a celebration of animals, with designs inspired by the color and craftsmanship of the Discovery Island villagers. The Party Animals (stilt walkers) each give the impression of a distinct species, such as the tiger and crocodile pictured above, without being literal translations.
Larger creatures, like the elephant and giraffe below, are suggested by the forms of giant rolling drum units and elaborate puppet contraptions. The puppets for the parade were created in partnership with Michael Curry, the designer who produced the pieces for "The Lion King" on Broadway. That same type of artistry is in evidence here.
One of the most special aspects of Mickey's
Jammin' Jungle Parade is the level of Guest involvement. Rather than a single Grand Marshall family, several groups of Guests get to ride along and join in the celebration throughout the parade. Some of the VIP Guests are carried in spectacular rickshaw taxis, which are among my favorite elements of the show. In the example below, the carriage for the Guests is formed by a series of canopy trees and their root system, while out front the whole works is pulled along by a depiction of a hippopotamus. Even the performer/driver gets into the act, dressed as an
oxpecker bird on the back of the hippo!
Check back tomorrow. We'll explore more delightful details from Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade.
TAND
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Related Posts