155. Imagineering Roundtable with Ethan Reed and Joe Lanzisero

Joe Lanzisero and Ethan Reed work together on Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland.

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What makes a theme park attraction connect with us emotionally? How do characters stand out when we’re zooming by them in a fast-paced dark ride? There’s no easy answer to these questions, so I’ve brought in two experts to help. Ethan Reed and Joe Lanzisero are back for an Imagineering Roundtable on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast. We tackle these questions and a lot more about the world of theme parks during this fun chat. Joe and Ethan both studied character animation at CalArts and worked closely on classic attractions for Disney around the world.

We delve into why the characters of Mystic Manor connect with us as brand-new characters at Hong Kong Disneyland. Joe led this excellent project, and Ethan animated Lord Henry Mystic and Albert throughout the attraction. Joe describes the ways that we bond with these characters and understand their emotions as chaos ensues. It’s the perfect example of a theme park experience that shines on its own merits. Ethan also explains how the Monsters, Inc. characters were set up well inside the DCA and Tokyo attractions.

Looking beyond their own work, Joe and Ethan also give examples of recent attractions from Universal that have used effective character animation. The industry has expanded well beyond Disney, and that shift should continue based on changes during the pandemic. We conclude the roundtable by looking to exciting trends we should see in upcoming years. I really enjoyed talking with Joe and Ethan again on the podcast. Both are very talented artists who have accomplished so much during their careers at Imagineering and beyond.