EPCOT Center Graphics

I'd like to share a few custom graphics I recently did that feature some of the great retro-futuristic stylings of EPCOT Center's Future World.

If I'm not working on this silly blog or reading some Disneyland souvenir book or digging through boxes of dusty old memorabilia or day-dreaming of my days of climbing through the Jungle Cruise, I'm often doing free-lance design for Disney. As fun as that might sound, it ain't all peaches and cream. I mean it's great and I wanted to do it since childhood and it pays the bills... but they don't always give you all the artistic freedom in the world (and rightfully so). Sometimes (possible always) the project manager has no creative sense whatsoever. Sometimes it is loads of fun and the approval processes (plural) don't take too too long. But sometimes, possibly to free up some clogged artistic part of my brain, I do something for myself for no real reason. 

Humor me while I share my study of some of the fantastic structures of EPCOT Center that too often goes unnoticed. Sometimes they cannot be fully noticed because of that pesky habit Disney has of slapping a bunch of clutter over pieces of world-class architecture ruining the entire viewing experience (Nemo cutouts, Test Track roof thing, Imagination banners, MouseGear cogs, Spaceship Earth wand, etc.). I call it "design by clutter". But that's another story. Let's focus on what really matters: The cool angles and shapes of early 80s theme park awnings and such. Just look at these forms. And shapes. And great use of concrete.

Enjoy.

Related posts:

THEN AND NOW: Epcot Future World [Part 1]
EPCOT Center Poster Art
Daredevil Circus Spectaculars at Epcot Are Just Not What They Used To Be
HORIZONS MURAL, "The Prologue and the Promise" [ High Res ]
HORIZONS the way you wish you knew it
EPCOT Center Construction Photos: Future World

Expo 67

It was like a big World Showcase but with architecture similar to Future World. Was Expo 67 a major influence on the design of EPCOT Center? Indubitably. Was it as fantastic as the '64-'65 New York World's Fair? Hmm... Close. Did Walt Disney (the company) have a presence at the Expo? Yep, a little.

Today:

The 1967 International and Universal Exposition (or Expo 67) in Montreal, Canada was the "most successful World's Fair of the 20th Century". The total visit count: 50,306,648. This, contrasted with Canada's resident population of only 20 million, landed the 6 month fair with a per-capita attendance record. On the third day of the fair a single-day World's Fair attendance record was set with 569,000 visitors. 

The 1970 Osaka Expo welcomed 70 million+ visitors and recently Shanghai reported 70.45 million visitors to their fair. Additionally Shanghai 2010 recorded that in its last day of honoring "standard tickets" 748,300 people attended. 

Keep in mind Epcot hosts, say, 70,000 guests on a super busy peak day.

Pavilions

The Expo boasted 90 pavilions. Here we look at a few.

Canada Pavilion

Killer view atop an inverted pyramid. It appears pyramids were a structure of choice at this fair.

Canada Pulp and Paper Pavilion (model)

Great Britian Pavilion

Friendship Boat?

France Pavilion

Looks like a cross between a monorail and a peoplemover, eh?

Today (Casino de Montreal):

Morocco Pavilion

I am loving this Morocco diorama. The figures were animated but don't they look like regular old store mannequins in fancy clothing?  

Japan Pavilion

United States Pavilion

The Biosphere still stands today!:

Fire

You'll notice the clear acrylic panels no longer cover the surface of the dome. In 1976 a welding torch set the structure on fire leaving only the metal framework behind. The Biosphere remained closed until it was purchased by Environment Canada in 1990 and later opened as a museum.

Italy Pavilion

Federal Republic of Germany Pavilion (model)

China Pavilion

Thailand Pavilion (model)

Soviet Union Pavilion

La Ronde

Today (La Ronde Six Flags Amusement Park):

Alcan Pavilion

Today:

Kaleidoscope Pavilion

Quebec Pavilion

Today:

Habitat 67

Today:

Telephone Association of Canada Pavilion (with Circle-Vision 360°, produced by The Walt Disney Company)

"Canada 67" Circle-Vision Film: Description from the Expo 67 guide book: 

"You're on centre stage for the RCMP Musical Ride... on centre ice for hockey... on the track at the Stampede! CIRCLE-VISION 360^o surrounds you with all the fun and excitement of Canada's most thrilling events and its scenic beauty. And then, take your chldren to the Enchanted Forest...see exciting new communication services for the future... all in the Telephone Pavilion!" 

The film is said to be a major inspiration to the original "O Canada" film at EPCOT Center.

The film has reportedly not been seen since the closing of Expo 67. This could be false. Any bit of the film you find out there, let us know.

Side note: Ever notice how FANTASTIC themed entertainment design was in 1967?? If you read this blog, you know how we feel.

Related posts:

THEN AND NOW: Epcot Future World [Part 1]
THEN AND NOW: Epcot World Showcase [Part 1]
THEN AND NOW: Epcot World Showcase [Part 2]
Disneyland Meets EPCOT Center
1967 "New Tomorrowland" Broadcast

Thank you alamedainfo.com and Bing Maps.

Imagineering Disney Tumblr Feed

We’d like to introduce our new photo feed on Tumblr. We add a new post to the blog about once a week and we add to our Twitter feed several times a day but we were looking for something in-between.  And we wanted a place to post amazing finds that may or may not be directly related to Disney. Tumblr is a perfect forum for such a thing. Check it out. (For future access, use the Imagineering Disney Tumblr link in right side bar under Links >>>).

Related posts:

EYE CANDY: National Geographic Aug '63
EYE CANDY: National Geographic Aug '63 [Part 2]