I've always found the gesticulations ridiculous. What's more, I've directed character cast members in theatrical productions, and they habitually do the same kinds of moves, both in everday life and when performing in a non plastic head play. It's a hard habit for them to break.

I do it a lot IRL and I have never even worked for the Mouse

how does that even work?

Well, eighteenth street, Kevy just waves his arms around a lot when talking.

I'm thinking it's done by remote. Someone needs to work the mouth other than the person in the suit.
I've seen it done for the Bear in the Big Blue House. Someone works the mouth with a hand puppet thingy...

The scary thing is I WATCHED that show and don't recall that!

It's about time.



I've been thinking Disney should have been on to this decades ago. And not just in stage shows ... but for the characters that interact directly with guests.



If you look back at the characters circa opening day, it's a wonder they didn't scare the bejesus out of kids. They were primitive and pathetic.

Great progress was made with the characters through the 1960's ... and that's where state of the art has basically stalled (though there were design improvements until the 80's). No technological progress, however, has been made in 40 years. I think the video clip demonstates some real progress that should have hit the Parks at least a decade ago.


(and I think the ability to blink is just as important as the mouth movement in creating a wonderful illusion of life for these characters)







.

I'm with iSm - it's awesome. I'm glad they finally achieved this. I also thought of the older versions of the rubber heads while watching this.

I've often thought about this, but the voice would need to be recorded, making it very awkward to carry on a conversation.

Little Billy- "Mickey, were you born in Toontown?"

Mickey- "Hey pal, having a good time at Disneyland?"

Billy to mommy with tears in his eyes- "Why didn't Mickey answer me?"

Unless they get to the point that the motorized mouth works by the movement of the CMs lips, and the voice is done the way they do Turtle Talk With Crush, I don't see this happening in a non-structured setting.

But this is a really cool step in between!

I'll third that. This is a major step and it can only get better. This is a new beginning.:)