Magic Carpet (Aladdin)
| Magic Carpet | |
|---|---|
| File:Carpet1.jpg Carpet as seen in the film | |
| First appearance | Aladdin (1992) |
| Created by | Ron Clements John Musker |
| Alias | Carpet |
Magic Carpet is a character from the 1992 film Aladdin and its sequels. The film's version was created using a CGI texture map on hand-drawn animation, while the animated series version was completely hand-drawn. As its moniker implies, it is an ancient carpet that was found by Aladdin within the Cave of Wonders' treasure room.
Characteristics
Carpet is a character without a voice, and expresses itself through pantomime and movements. He is playful, as he reacts with Abu, intelligent, as he beats Genie at chess, and helpful, as he helps Aladdin romance Princess Jasmine during the song "A Whole New World." Carpet sometimes uses his tassels as hands and feet to accentuate his feelings.[1]
Development
The unique faux-Persian design of Carpet was solely maintained through CGI.[1] Advances in CGI had progressed so much since animating the ballroom sequence in Beauty and the Beast that the texture and pattern of Carpet was much easier to accomplish, no matter which way it moved.[2]
Animator Randy Cartwright refused to resort to the anthropomorphic style of simply putting a face on a carpet. Instead, Cartwright used body language to make Carpet more flexible, and almost human.[1] Computer artist Tina Price took Cartwright's outlined form and super-imposed the Persian design that could stretch, squash, and roll up without changing.[1] According to movie critic Leonard Maltin, this made Carpet's animation one of the best collaborations between traditional and technologically-advanced animation to date.[1]
Appearances
Aladdin
It was first discovered by Abu in the film, who assumed he was seeing things, as Carpet would be playful with Abu until it was within Aladdin's line of sight, wherein it'd appear as a normal inanimate object. It is an old friend of Genie; Genie states that he hadn't seen Carpet "in a few millennia."
It assisted Aladdin and Abu in escaping the cave during the meltdown sequence triggered by Abu touching a forbidden gem. A running gag has the Carpet beating Genie at nearly every game they play, much to Genie's distress.
When Aladdin romances Princess Jasmine during the song "A Whole New World," Carpet plays a key role as it takes them on a romantic flight. It also encourages Aladdin to kiss Jasmine by nudging him.
Carpet is destroyed by Jafar in the climactic scene, but comes back to life when the villain is foiled.
The Return of Jafar
In the second film, Carpet engages in combat with Jafar once more, and is turned into glass and shattered. It is again restored when Jafar is conquered.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
In the third film, Carpet makes a brief appearance when Aladdin and Jasmine, on the Magic Carpet, pass and wave at the narrator.
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
Carpet is one of the supporting characters in the film and he allies with Princess Jasmine.
Other appearances
Carpet appears in episodes of Aladdin, the animated series, both as a means of travel and a reacting character to the events of the stories.
It also is mentioned in the Kingdom Hearts video game during play in the Agrabah world, but is not shown. However in the second installment it plays a key role.
In Disney World's Magic Kingdom, there is a ride called "The Magic Carpets of Aladdin," which simulates flight on a carpet.[3]
References
External links
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction at Walt Disney World
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