Turtle Talk with Crush is an attraction within "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" pavilion at Epcot, one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. It opened there in November 16, 2004 and later was duplicated as part of the Disney Animation at Disney's California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort. The attraction was open in Hong Kong Disneyland from May 24 until August 10, 2008 as part of the "Nonstop Summer Fun" Celebration.
Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with Pixar, the attraction consists of an unscripted, real-time conversation between Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo, how likes to learn a little from the human world so that the guest can learn about the turtle world.
Attraction description
It is an audience participation show, where the little ones have reserve seating up front in the "green sea grass carpet", and parents and friends have "coral benches," similar to a movie theater-like room. Children are encouraged to sit up front so that they may have a better view of the "Window to the Ocean," and Crush. Crush comes down from the surface of the ocean to appear in the "Window to the Ocean." Crush actually picks on the guest with whom he will like to talk, with the help of the host. Sometimes even Dory stops by, and says, "Hi." A "Hydrophone" is used for the underwater communication with Crush. Guests, especially children, are chosen to ask Crush questions. Crush looks and moves much as he does in the movie, complete with facial expressions and subtle gestures. Crush converses freely with guests using quick wit and humor.
The "Window to the Pacific" is in reality a large rear-projection screen portraying an animated undersea environment. Sea grasses wave on the ocean floor as fish and other marine creatures swim by. The image of Crush is cinema quality 3-D animation rendered in real time. Crush's movements and lip synch is created on the fly and is projected at 60-frames-per-second so that the turtle's mouth moves in synchronization with the words of a hidden actor portraying the character. The sophistication of the animation enables the projected turtle to move about the screen, seemingly propelling himself with his flippers, doing somersaults, and hovering, in very convincing manoeuvres controlled by the actor. This breakthrough technology enables every show to be different than the one before as Crush responds uniquely to each individual audience.
When engaging a particular child or adult in conversation, Crush will move to the side of the room where the involved guest is seated. The actor expertly mimics the character voice from the film, and is extremely adept at improvising clever and amusing reactions to questions and comments of the guests, whom he often addresses as "Dude." Undoubtedly, after playing scores of performances, the actor develops -- and perhaps writers have scripted -- humorous responses and sassy comebacks to the most typical and oft-repeated audience questions and remarks. The invisible actor sees the audience via a cleverly hidden camera (or cameras) or by other means, since he refers to the appearance and behaviour of particular questioners, as well as their location in the theatre. The show is a cutting-edge blend of sophisticated computer graphic techniques, image projection and live, interactive, quick-witted improvisation with every show being different and unique.
Special Services
It has special shows every Tuesday and Friday at 10:20 AM for guests that are hearing impaired. It's Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Assistive listening available
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