SPECIAL EFFECTS SYSTEM PROVIDING A WALKING CHARACTER

Number: 20210306573
Published: 2021-09-30
Filed: 2020-03-25
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Gutierrez; Jose A., Larena; John Sebastian, Joseph; Daniel M., Torres; Sean Paul
CPC: G03B15/06; G03B21/145; H04N5/262; H04N9/3141; H04N9/3179; H04N23/56; H04N5/2224; H04N5/2625
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Special-effects show system producing a walking-character illusion.

Abstract

A special effects system for creating a unique walking character effect or illusion. The character appears to the observer to be a physical character or to have dimensionality rather than being two dimensional. The illusion or effect is achieved by mounting a projector and a thin, vertical, flat screen onto an automated cart or sled. The cart is adapted to roll on a track positioned to run from a backdrop or backwall toward a viewing space in which one or more observers or viewers may be located during system operations. The media (or video file) of the character walking is projected on the projection surface of the screen element with the projector. The sled or cart is triggered to roll forward toward the viewing space as the media is playing so that the projected image appears to be moving and getting closer to the viewer.

Background

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description

The present description relates, in general, to special effects and display system systems designed to provide effects in a repeatable manner. More particularly, the present description relates to a special effects system adapted to provide the effect of a physical or three-dimensional (3D) character walking relative to an observer at a known location or in a viewing space. 2. Relevant Background

In theme and amusement parks and other settings, there are many situations where it is desirable to provide a special effect or illusion to entertain and excite visitors or observers. Further, each of these special effects or illusions needs to be provided over-and-over or in a repeated manner over the day and, often, the time between presenting the special effect or illusion is relatively short (e.g., a minute or less). These design requirements can present design challenges to those in the special effects industry beyond simply generating an effect successfully and in a manner that is believable to the observer. For example, theme and amusement park rides and attractions often include special effects that need to be produced with high quality to be believed and enjoyed by ride and attraction participants and in a quickly repeatable manner to support the flow of participants through such rides and attractions.

A particularly challenging effect is how to provide a walking character without the use of human actors. For exampl

Claims

1. A system for providing a walking character special effect, comprising: a physical set with a platform with an upper surface adjacent a viewing space; a cart with a support platform and a drive mechanism operable, during an operating time period, to move the cart on a path on the upper surface between first and second positions relative to the viewing space; a screen element mounted on the support platform, wherein the screen element is substantially vertical and rigid and includes a projection surface facing the viewing space; and a video projector mounted on the support platform, wherein the video projector, during the operating time period, projects images of a character walking onto the projection surface. || 11. A system for providing a walking character special effect, comprising: a track defining a travel path from a first position distal to a viewing space to second position proximate to the viewing space; a cart comprising a drive mechanism driving the cart between the first and second positions during an operating time period; a screen element supported on the cart with a vertical orientation, wherein the screen element includes a projection surface facing the viewing space; a backdrop with a black surface positioned behind the cart and the screen element; and a video projector supported on the cart and oriented to project onto the projection surface, wherein the video projector, during the operating time period, plays a video file comprising footage of a character walking. || 19. A method of presenting a walking character special effect, comprising: projecting video imagery of a character onto a projection screen, wherein the character in the video imagery is walking and facing forward; concurrently with the projecting, moving the projection screen from a first position distal to a viewing space to a second position proximate to the viewing space; and prior to the projecting, positioning a black backdrop behind the projection screen, wherein the moving of the projection screen is at a speed matching the walking of the character in the video imagery, and wherein the projection screen includes a central region that is lighter in color than the black backdrop and a framing region extending about the periphery of the central region that fades in color to black at an outer edge of the projection screen.