We’re lower than one week into 2024, and it’s already been a very good 12 months for Figment. No, there nonetheless has NOT been an announcement of Journey Into Creativeness 4.0, however we’re on file saying it’s time to reimagine Creativeness. Quite, due to a few a lot smaller-scale wins.
It isn’t simply the 2024 calendar 12 months that’s been a very good one for Figment, both–it’s the final twelve months which have been good. It began nearly one 12 months in the past presently when EPCOT’s Pageant of the Arts debuted Figment’s Inspiration Station on the Odyssey: Artwork, Meals, and Little Sparks of Magic together with the second model of the character’s popcorn bucket.
It continued with the meet & greet character making his triumphant return to the Journey Into Creativeness pavilion final fall, leading to among the longest strains at Walt Disney World upon return. In between, there’s been new merchandise, competition tie-ins, and extra. There was even an ‘attention-grabbing’ journey to Burbank that appeared to tease a brand new trip, the upcoming movie, or each.
Let’s begin with the latest growth, which is that the 2024 EPCOT Pageant of the Arts is getting much more imaginative, with Figment’s Inspiration Station on the Odyssey: Artwork, Meals, and Little Sparks of Magic returning for a second 12 months. This was already mentioned in our Full Meals Studios Sales space Menus for that occasion, however I believe a lot of you skipped that if you happen to’re not visiting between mid-January and February.
The large information there may be the brand-new Journey into Creativeness Pavilion Popcorn Bucket. This limited-edition bucket options Figment inside on a rainbow diving into rainbow coloured popcorn. It follows up on two consecutive years of the Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket, which final 12 months had a EPCOT fortieth Anniversary strap.
The primary 12 months of this Figment popcorn bucket, Pageant of the Arts was dominated by headlines that EPCOT’s Longest Line Is For Figment Popcorn Buckets. It took some time, however Walt Disney World finally solved that drawback by streamlining the method with Cellular Order. (Walt Disney World has confirmed that the brand new 2024 popcorn bucket may even use Cellular Order.
I’m not the most important fan of popcorn buckets, however I completely adore this Creativeness Pavilion Popcorn Bucket. Whereas it’s nonetheless early and I haven’t seen this in individual, I’m fairly certain that I like this extra than the earlier Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket. What pushes this excessive for me is that it leans into being a popcorn bucket, reasonably than simply being a plastic factor that occurs to carry popcorn (if that is smart).
All the pieces in regards to the design is absolutely intelligent, from utilizing the clear glass pyramids to showcase the rainbow popcorn inside to Figment diving into the popcorn prefer it’s a ball pit at McDonald’s (they don’t nonetheless have these–however they did in my day!). That is simply top-notch via and thru, with creativity really befitting Figment. I hope it’s as superior in individual because it seems to be within the inventory picture beneath. Enormous kudos to the Disney Design workforce on this!
Whereas the cool new design for the Pageant of the Arts popcorn bucket is thrilling, this 12 months’s first Figment furor was the long-awaited launch of the Figment Little Golden Guide.
We ordered two copies the moment this was introduced: one for Megatron, one for the Bricker Household Figment Archives. After seeing this present up at EPCOT round Christmas, I hoped our orders from Amazon would additionally arrive early, however they didn’t. Regardless of, as this was the proper method to flip the web page on a brand new 12 months.
The Figment Little Golden Guide is written by Walt Disney Imagineer Jason Grandt and impressed by the lyrics to “One Little Spark” by the legendary Sherman Brothers. The e-book is illustrated by Grandt, Scott Tilley, and Nick Balian.
A few of you could acknowledge Jason Grandt because the creator of the fan-favorite Orange Fowl Little Golden Guide and the Magic Kingdom Storybook earlier than that. Even earlier than each of these books, he turned a family title within the Walt Disney World fan neighborhood as a frequent fixture at D23 shows and on social media, sharing sketches, historical past and extra.
Many Walt Disney World diehards are followers of Grandt as a result of he’s among the many present crop of Imagineers who’re the true deal–ones who each care about and respect the artistic legacy of the Walt Disney Firm and Imagineering, and constructing upon each. This weblog is usually essential of people within the group who don’t “get” Disney or have a condescending angle in direction of theme parks, and the purpose is that he’s the other of that.
Even if you happen to didn’t know all of that background earlier than, it might be instantly apparent upon opening the Figment Little Golden Guide. The opening two-page unfold is gorgeous paintings of Dreamfinder flying via the universe looking for new concepts on his Dream Catcher. The primary six phrases are, “Oh, whats up! I’m the Dreamfinder!” It’s a gap so chills-inducing that it’ll go down with “Name me Ishmael,” as among the many biggest of all-time.
Figment Little Golden Guide is stuffed with web page after web page of attractive paintings that reimagines the unique Journey Into Creativeness in a whimsical and gorgeous type. Whereas I respect artist’s reinterpreting topics and icons, placing a contemporary spin on issues, I’ll admit that I haven’t been favored a variety of up to date seems to be for Figment and Dreamfinder, because the edginess isn’t all the time in step with the spirit of the unique.
Fortunately, the Figment Little Golden Guide brings its personal visible id to the desk whereas holding the center of the trip’s type. It’s without delay previous and new–completely lovely, web page after web page. The paintings combined with a singsong story is all the things I wanted from this e-book and extra. The cherry on prime is the many nods to different previous EPCOT Heart sights, and even Easter Eggs from Magic Kingdom’s previous. The Figment Little Golden Guide is actually one thing particular.
I’ve learn a variety of books in my day, a few of which have even had phrases (humblebrag). It’s true. If I’m being goal, I’m placing the Figment Little Golden Guide proper up there with the very best of them: This Facet of Paradise, Catch-22, The Depend of Monte Cristo, and Typically a Nice Notion. It’s undoubtedly higher than Ulysses, which I did learn however didn’t perceive. As an added bonus, you possibly can learn the Figment Little Golden Guide 1,352 occasions earlier than ending Battle and Peace even as soon as. Additionally true!
And you already know I’m being goal on this evaluation of the Figment Little Golden Guide as a result of it already has the next rating (an ideal 5/5!) than all the aforementioned titles on GoodReads. Suffice to say, Figment Little Golden Guide is properly on its method to cementing its place because the definitive twenty first century Nice American Novel. I get why critics are giving it unanimously excellent scores, rating it as the best e-book of all time.
They’re in all probability lifelong Figment followers who learn it to their daughter (or son). These reviewers doubtless did the voices for Dreamfinder and Figment (poorly) and she or he smiled and laughed in amusement. They in all probability noticed a youthful model of themselves mirrored in her eyes, having a brand new perspective on that childlike surprise and curiosity that made their dad and mom additionally love Figment and Dreamfinder. These critics’ hearts had been crammed by even this little sliver of recapturing the previous and introducing their youngster to one thing that made an indelible impression on them. Or one thing like that, I’m simply spitballing.
It’s mentioned that the very best literature can transport you to a special time and place. This e-book actually was like stepping again into the mid-Nineteen Nineties and taking a trip on Journey Into Creativeness. I’ve seen ride-throughs and tribute movies, however none of them conveyed the essence and emotion of being there just like the Figment Little Golden Guide. Studying it actually did fire up lengthy misplaced emotions, and took me proper again. I may see the Audio Animatronics and present scenes in my thoughts’s eye–it was unbelievable.
In fact, I additionally did this with our daughter on my lap. I’ve imagined introducing her to Figment and Dreamfinder for the higher a part of a decade, and this was my first alternative to do this. And her reactions had been priceless. Though, if I’m being sincere…her reactions are about the identical to any e-book that includes me doing duck or Muppet voice (I’m not good at voices; there’s little or no daylight between Figment, Muppets, or Donald and his nephews.)
Regardless, the Figment Little Golden Guide is an early contender for the very best e-book of 2024. I can solely assume the Vegas oddsmakers have it as a favourite for the Nationwide Guide Awards.
After my preliminary read-through of the Figment Little Golden Guide, I used to be inclined to effusively suggest it to those that by no means skilled the golden age incarnation of Journey Into Creativeness, saying–that is it, in e-book type! Taking a step again from my preliminary pleasure of being in that second, I do surprise if it might resonate the identical manner.
The e-book would nonetheless be lovable, after all. However would the story move as lyrics of “One Little Spark” from the unique? Would the wide-eyed wonderment of Figment or Professor Santa-like joviality and encouragement of Dreamfinder be as evident from the textual content? Would the magic of the paintings hit fairly the identical?
I’m inclined to say that the Figment Little Golden Guide wouldn’t be as significant to those that by no means skilled the unique attraction, nevertheless it’d nonetheless be superb. One of the best and most trustworthy adaptation of media since The Muppet Christmas Carol.
As we’ve identified repeatedly, in case your solely publicity to Figment is the present incarnation of Journey into Creativeness, you is perhaps questioning what’s so particular about that character. (You’re proper–there may be nothing really magical in regards to the present model of Figment until you’re bringing nostalgia to the combination.)
The Figment Little Golden Guide is one of the simplest ways of getting what made the unique attraction and its characters so particular to “click on,” absent a time machine. I’m not essentially saying it’ll give you the results you want, nevertheless it actually has quite a bit higher likelihood than a popcorn bucket, stuffed animal, or no matter. I’d suggest watching Martin’s Final Tribute to Journey Into Creativeness first for background context, after which studying the Figment Little Golden Guide. It’s as shut as you possibly can probably are available 2024 to capturing the essence of the unique.
It’s in all probability obvious from all the above, however in case not, I’ll say it bluntly: this isn’t an unbiased evaluation of the Figment Little Golden Guide. From the second I noticed the duvet artwork and Jason Grandt’s title hooked up, I knew this was going to be an all-timer for me, personally.
As very long time readers little question know, Figment is my favourite Disney character. Has been because the Eighties, and all the time will. Not due to the present attraction or his persona right this moment, however due to what he was within the authentic Journey into Creativeness from 1983 via mid-Nineteen Nineties. He was whimsical and inquisitive, humorous and endearing.
Figment symbolized the very best issues about childhood curiosity and creativeness, and deeply appealed to adults who noticed a little bit little bit of their children in Figment (or vice versa), and each children and adults who noticed qualities of themselves within the character. The explanation for the unique Figment’s success is profoundly easy: he confirmed us all the very best of ourselves.
Greater than some other character, Figment embodies what it means to be a child at coronary heart. In a world that’s so polarized, on edge, and bursting with negativity, Figment is an antidote to all of that. The character is arguably “wanted” greater than ever, and resonates more and more with every passing 12 months due to the best he represents.
Even in any case these years, Figment nonetheless stirs up my feelings. Regardless of how cynical I is perhaps about anything associated to Walt Disney World, that melts away in terms of Figment and Journey into Creativeness. I’m immediately 8 years previous once more, seeing the character for the primary time once we each shared comparable senses of childlike surprise and innocence. I really can not clarify what it’s–because it defies logic or goal reasoning.
Along with transporting me to my childhood and seeing the story via the eyes of our daughter, studying the Figment Little Golden Guide served as yet one more reminder that Megatron will probably be assembly Figment this 12 months and using Journey Into Creativeness for the primary time!!! Yeah, it’ll be the present model as an alternative of the 1983 authentic, however that’ll nonetheless be fairly particular to see and expertise.
In the end, my honest hope is that every one issues Figment we’ve seen lately from Walt Disney World and the corporate as an entire are immensely profitable. I hope this turns into the best-selling e-book of all-time (sorry, Harry Potter). I hope the digital queue for the brand new popcorn bucket fills up sooner than Cosmic Rewind. I hope the meet & greet has larger visitor satisfaction scores than Mirabel or Mando.
Greater than something, I wish to preserve demonstrating to Walt Disney World that Figment nonetheless has critical reputation, drawing energy, and merchandising potential. I’m not naive sufficient to assume {that a} new e-book or lengthy strains for merchandise or meet & greets would be the one little spark that it takes to get a brand new Journey into Creativeness greenlit imminently (I’ve gotten my hopes up for nothing too many occasions prior to now), nevertheless it’s actually a constructive for the longevity of the character and his future prospects!
A technique or one other, the present incarnation of Journey into Creativeness is on life help. It’s not well-liked with friends, doesn’t rating properly in satisfaction surveys, and is lengthy overdue for a reimagining. The trip being redone once more is an inevitability, and Figment demonstrating his endurance and recognition despite his present trip’s lack of high quality may go a great distance. It is perhaps the distinction between Journey Into Creativeness 4.0 with Figment as an alternative of with Bing Bong.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever already picked up your copy of the Figment Little Golden Guide? What did you consider the paintings, Easter Eggs, or story itself? Was it like a visit down reminiscence lane for you, too? Ideas on Figment or anything mentioned right here? Agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas within the feedback!
