The Timekeeper

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The Timekeeper/Le Visionarium
Land Tomorrowland
Theme Parks Walt Disney Parks
Locations and Opening Dates
Disneyland Paris April 12, 1992
Tokyo Disneyland November 1993
Magic Kingdom November 21, 1994

The Timekeeper (also known as "From Time to Time" and "De Temps en Temps") was a 1992 Circle-Vision 360° film that was performed at three Disney parks around the world. Unlike previous films, it was the first show that was arranged and filmed with an actual plot and not just visions of landscapes, and the first to utilize Audio-Animatronics. The film features a cast of European film actors of France, Italy, Belgium, and England. The film was shown in highly stylized circular theaters, and featured historic and futuristic details both on the interior and exterior.

The Timekeeper and its original French counterpart Le Visionarium, formerly at Disneyland Paris, marked the first time that the Circle-Vision film process was used to deliver a narrative story line. This required a concept to explain the unusual visual characteristics of the theater, hence the character 9-Eye. 9-Eye is sent through time by The Timekeeper, so that she can send back the surrounding images as she records them in whichever era she finds herself in.[1]

The French attraction was also known by its film name as: "De Temps en Temps", while the Japanese attraction was simply "Visionarium", with the caption "From Time to Time" on the poster, respectively. The American film theater was known as "Transportarium" for a period of six months after it debuted, but the name was later dropped in lieu of "Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center", or formally "The Timekeeper".

Contents

[edit] History

"Le Visionarium" (the original title) was not just an ordinary Circle-Vision 360° film, but was important in the fact that for the first time in a Circle-Vision film, that creators at Walt Disney Imagineering wanted to tell an immersive story and attempt a light-hearted dialog without just switching between scenes of landscapes, as had been done in all of the previous Circle-Vision films.

The original concept for the film had included Jules Verne and the culture of past and present European history and events, and new inventions. Along with the previous elements, the story had to do with the idea of time travel with one concept including a child that explored the story of the great European scientists of the past on a computer. However to keep the audience focused and use imagination to depict situations and places that do not cater to the average person, the number of visions of the past and extreme situations of the plot kept increasing all the time for the project.

The Timekeeper
Enlarge
The Timekeeper

The film first premiered in Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris on April 12, 1992 as Le Visionarium. It was an extravagant attraction and was touted by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner as the showcase of the land at the time. The next year, the third incarnation of the ride opened at Tokyo Disneyland. The attraction had long been on the 'Discoveryland' proposal for the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. However when financial difficulties arose because of the EuroDisney Project, the Discoveryland Project was canceled.

However, the film was named "From Time to Time" and opened in the Magic Kingdom's Circle-Vision theater rechristened "Transportarium" on November 21, 1994 as part of the New Tomorrowland expansion. Six months later the attraction under went some name changes. The theater was called "Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center" and the film was formally known as The Timekeeper, which is the most known and remembered name.

In 2001, the attraction was moved to the seasonal list of attractions along with Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. In February 2006, the Walt Disney World Resort reported that The Timekeeper was to be closed on February 26, 2006. Walt Disney World's version was the last version of the attraction to be closed. Both the Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris "Visionarium" films had closed in 2002 and 2004, respectively.

[edit] Pre-Show Synopsis

[edit] French Pre Show

Guests are introduced to Timekeeper, who tells guests that they will join him in an experimentation by viewing his last and greatest invention. The invention is his extraordinary machine to explore time. Before he introduces his invention, he gives a short speech on how his machine will change the world just as the ones that surround the guests in the pre-show theater. After he gets tied up rambling about ideas and famous inventors, he introduces the crowd to "9-Eye" and explains what she can do.

[edit] American Pre Show

Before the actual show, we are introduced to the invention of the show, "Circumvisual PhotoDroid", more commonly known as "9-Eye". The nine eyes she has represents the nine cameras used in filming the show in the round, thus showing the view from one of her "eyes" on each of the nine movie screens. She is the latest development from The Timekeeper, the keeper of the time machine. Guests are invited to be witnesses of the first ever use of the newly invented Time Machine.


[edit] Show Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After guests enter the theater, Timekeeper comes to life and has "9-Eye" prepare for the journey through time. Timekeeper then turns on the Machine for its first use, then watches from his control panel as 9-Eye is thrust back to the Jurassic age period in Earth's history. She narrowly escapes hungry dinosaurs as Timekeeper sends her to the last great ice age about 12,000 years ago. As she starts to freeze up Timekeeper sends her to 1450, for what is to be demonstration of Johann Gutenberg's printing press.

However, Timekeeper has yet again messed up and sent her to a Scottish battle field in which one warrior comes after her, but is saved by Timekeeper. Finally working the kinks out of the time machine, Timekeeper sends 9-Eye to the year 1503, at the height of the Renaissance. The machine has placed right in the middle of Leonardo da Vinci's workshop where he is painting the Mona Lisa. 9-Eye, being curious starts to pick up some of the painting supplies and is noticed by Leonardo, who becomes fascinated by the strange machine.

Poster used in Le Visionarium
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Poster used in Le Visionarium

However the meeting between 9-Eye and DaVinci is cut short as her next stop in time is 1763, where Mozart is giving a performance to a crowd, which includes Louis the Sixteenth. However the meeting is again short as she is noticed by the people who begin to chase her through a house. Timekeeper decides to send her to the Exposition Universelle (1878) but the machine is stuck on fast forward with a skyline of Paris in such a motion that the progress of the Eiffel Tower, symbol of the Exposition Universelle (1889), is shown in the background. Finally Timekeeper has the machine stop in 1900, just in time for the Exposition Universelle (1900).

Timekeeper announces that guests are in time for a meeting between H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. 9-Eye hides from the fair-goers but not so that Verne and Wells are hidden. After a brief meeting, Wells walks away leaving with Verne a model of his time machine, which Verne had just criticized to him as impossible. After a sarcastic comment about time travel from Verne, 9-Eye rebuts his claim, and Verne notices her. Jules Verne decides to take a closer look at 9-Eye and tries to grab her. Timekeeper seeing this tries to bring her back to the present but brings not only her back but Verne.

Timekeeper and 9-Eye realizing their mistake try to send him back, but he refuses after discovering he is finally in the future and begs for them to show him the world of today in 10 minutes or less, so he can return to 1900 and deliver his speech. They agree and Timekeeper sets the machine for today. He sends Verne and 9-Eye to a dark tunnel, which Verne believes to be a dark future, however they are unaware they are standing in a railroad tunnel. The next thing to happen is a collision between Jules Verne and a French TGV train, and Verne becomes a new hood ornament.

From the train, Jules Verne and 9-Eye explore the modern roads of Paris with cars, which leads Verne, curious, to try driving. However Timekeeper puts him in the front seat of a race car, and Verne takes off, albeit in the wrong direction. From race car driving, Verne then enjoys a bobsled run. After the bobsled run, Timekeeper sends Verne and 9-Eye to the bottom of the sea, to show Verne how his novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has come to life.

The scene changes and going from under water to flying. The screen now shows a flight through the air above the European countrysides featuring castles and mountains. Vernes is shown in a helicopter, sitting dangerously close to its open door. After a view of English countrysides and New York skylines, Verne requests to go even higher. They take him to space to show that another one of his ideas, space travel, has come true from his books, this time, From the Earth to the Moon.

Time is running out so Timekeeper and 9-Eye return Verne to the site of the Grand Palais of Exposition Universelle (1900); however, Timekeeper makes one mistake in the wrong year, and Verne is in the right place, but at the wrong time. When they finally return Verne to his right place, H.G. Wells happens to return to the site of his discussion with Verne and sees all that is going on with the Timekeeper.. Wells is flabbergasted, and Verne and 9-Eye exchange goodbyes as Wells tries to understand what is happening. 9-Eye returns to the present time, and now that the guests have witnessed a "flawless" demonstration of his time machine, Timekeeper decides he wants to see the future.

Finale Scene from Timekeeper
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Finale Scene from Timekeeper

Timekeeper sends 9-Eye to 2189, 300 years after Exposition Universelle of 1889 and the completion of the Eiffel Tower. As they explore a futuristic Paris, they see many flying cars. The flying family car was built by Renault, original sponsor of the French version, "Le Visionarium" from 1992 until 2002; and called a Renault Reinastella. Then Jules Verne and H.G. Wells appear in what looks like a model of Well's time machine from 1900. After they jet off the show ends, and Timekeeper wishes everyone well. As guest leave, Timekeeper makes plans to see other important events during history and in the future with his machine and 9-Eye.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Voice Cast

Character Voice Actor (American) Voice Actor (French) Voice Actor (Japanese)
Timekeeper Robin Williams Michel Leeb George Tokoro
9-Eye Rhea Perlman Myriam Boyer Yuki Saito

[edit] Film Cast

[edit] Filming Locations

[edit] Variations of the Film

Red Square Scene
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Red Square Scene

The original French version was quite different than the American version. A certain number of scenes were cut including a hot air balloon scene, more European coastlines, and a dialogue between ground crew and Jules Verne at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport in front of an Air France Concorde and a UTA DC-10 nearby. The only addition to the American version was a New York City skyline scene. The hot air balloon scene that was cut from the American version was filmed over Red Square in Moscow. It was taken under intense conditions by Walt Disney Productions in the then-Soviet Union.

French Scene Order American Scene Order
Jurassic Period (Same)
Ice Age (Same)
The Anglo-Scot Wars (Same)
Da Vinci's (Italian Renaissance) (Same)
Motzart (Concert in Paris of 1763) (Same)
The Construction of the Eiffle Tower (Same)
Futurist's Fair/The Accidental Tourist (Exposition Universelle of 1900) (Same)
Futurist Meets Future (Verne in no time) (Same)
Verne's Voyage (Collision with TGV in French countryside) (Same)
Traffic (Paris, near Arc de Triumph) (Same)
Bobsled Run (Innsbruck, Austria) (Same)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (deep-sea exploration) (Same)
Up in the Air (Red Square) (Omitted)
Flying (Charles De Gaulle Airport) (Omitted)
Over Europe (fly-overs of various countries) (Same; American Version goes from under the sea to flying over Europe)
" The Big Apple (New York skyline)
Up and Out (outer space) From the Earth to the Moon (outer space)
Same Place, Wrong Time (Paris, today) Same Place, Wrong Time (Paris, today)
Goodbye (Paris, 1900) Goodbye (Paris, 1900)
The Journey Ends (Paris of 2189) The Journey Ends (Paris of 2189)
End End

[edit] Aftermath and the effects of September 11, 2001

See also Films affected by the events of September 11, 2001

After being placed on a seasonal schedule in April of 2001, The Timekeeper was open on a sporadic schedule during the busy seasons. Some attribute it to criticisms by larger or elderly guests finding it hard to stand or strainful on the eyes. Problems that the overseas versions of the attraction had not been faced with. After the events of September 11, 2001 the attraction faced even harder times. Due to the downfall of tourism due to the terrorist acts in the United States and the fact the film featured a scene of New York that still included the now-destroyed World Trade Center Towers, the attraction's demise was only certain.

However it managed to last five more years. During the time when construction was occurring on Stitch's Great Escape, it was open more frequently along with Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. On days when the show was not opened, the queue was a meet-and-greet for such Disney characters as Stitch and Pixar characters Buzz Lightyear and The Incredibles. The Timekeeper attraction in Walt Disney World Resort was the last Timekeeper still entertaining guests, as the Tokyo Disneyland version closed in 2002 and was replaced with Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters in 2004 and the Disneyland Paris version closed in 2004 and was replaced by Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast in 2006, respectively.

As for the abandoned show building, several rumors are abound on Disney-fan sites as to what the new attraction might have been. A strong possibility was that the new show or ride will be based on popular Pixar films. One plan was that a ride with a plot revolving around the film, The Incredibles was rumored to be replacing The Timekeeper. However, some sites reported that a remake of the ill-fated 1960s attraction from Disneyland, "Flying Saucers", might be rebuilt indoors with a theme featuring the little green aliens from Toy Story.

A more well-known proposal which later was proven to be actual replacement, was a dark ride or show featuring characters from the film Monsters, Inc.. A plan in works entitled "The Laugh Floor" made its way around some Disney-fan websites. Whether it's similar to the "Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!" dark ride at Disney's California Adventure or the pending "Monsters, Inc.: Ride and Go Seek!" attraction currently under construction at Tokyo Disneyland is yet to be seen. With the announcement of 400 seats being installed in the theater, some enthusiasts are speculating that the attraction will be similar to Epcot's audience-interactive Finding Nemo-based show Turtle Talk with Crush.

As of Summer 2006, all rumors were put to rest with the announcement of "Monsters, Inc.: The Laugh Floor Comedy Club". Its debut at the Magic Kingdom is slated for sometime in early 2007, possibly part of the worldwide "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion with new rides. The idea for this ride has already met skepticism and criticism from some Disney enthusiasts, as the final straw of Tomorrowland becoming a haven for rides based on Pixar and/or recent Disney films and more of a quasi-futuristic Fantasyland than the science-fiction/science-factual haven it once was.

[edit] Failed Proposal for Disneyland

During the early 1990s, former Disney-Executive, Michael Eisner released ambitious plans for changes to the parks. "Tomorrowland 2055" was plan for a remake of Tomorrowland and the Disneyland Resort in California. The Timekeeper, along with ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter and Plectu's Fantastic Intergalactic Revue, was to be a showcase attraction. One promotional brochure had Delta Air Lines sponsoring the film. But the plans were later scrapped due to financial difficulties within the Parks & Resorts division, most stemming from the billion dollar losses incurred with the EuroDisney project.

When the new Tomorrowland finally reopened after being renovated in 1998, the plan for The Timekeeper to be part of the new land had already been obviously dropped from the plan. As the theater it was to be showcased inside of had already become the new queue area for the ill-fated Rocket Rods attraction. Former Park Managers, Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harris, who were infamously known for their mismanagement, along with company president, Michael Eisner, who balked at the large price tag for many of the plans; implemented cuts in the renovation, which led partly to The Timekeeper never making it to Disneyland.

Other information placed "Visionarium" as an opening day attraction at the unbuilt park next to Disneyland, WestCOT. The show would have been housed in a European Renaissance building in a European section of the WestCOT version of World Showcase. However, like the New Tomorrowland plan, this also did not occur.

[edit] Attraction Facts

[edit] Magic Kingdom attraction facts

[edit] Disneyland Paris attraction facts

[edit] Tokyo Disneyland attraction facts

[edit] Technical Aspects

  • Film negative format (mm/video inches)
    • 9 x 35 mm
  • Cinematographic process
    • Circle-Vision 360
  • Printed film format
    • 9 x 35 mm
  • Aspect ratio
    • 12.00 : 1

[edit] Soundtrack Notes

[edit] Audio Dialog

The three versions of the attractions featured an soundtrack of dialogue in each park's country's native tongue (French, Japanese, and English)

  • Both The Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris version featured guest-selectable translations on headset.
    • Languages included
      • Mandarin Chinese (Tokyo Only)
      • German (Paris Only)
      • Italian (Paris Only)
      • English (Both Tokyo and Paris)
        • Since both opened before the U.S. version was created, the voicecast and dialogue are completely different. The comedic and American style humor was not present in these versions, and was probably a close translation of the more serious original French dialog.

[edit] Featured Music

  • While both the American and French version received different soundtracks, they were both composed by the acclaimed Bruce Broughton
  • During the scene of a conversation between Verne and Wells at the Exposition Universal 1900, the song being played in the background is called Estudiantina, or Band of Students Waltz. It was composed in 1883 by Emile Waldteufel.
  • When you come back to the exhibition building, you hear "Motownphilly" by Boyz II Men. It was meant to represent popular music at the time of filming.

[edit] Foreign Language Titles

  • French: Le Visionarium
  • Japanese: ビジョナリアム - Visionarium

[edit] Renault's Involvement with the Film

  • The French automobile company, Renault, is heavily featured throughout the film.
    • In the scene where Jules Verne steps off the curb into a busy street in front of the Arc de Triumpe, the car that almost hits him is a 5-door hatchback, Renault Clio, at the time of filming the newest model in Renault's fleet of cars.
    • In the Formula 1 scene, where Jules Verne drives a race car, he is seated and drives the Renault F1 vehicle.
    • The flying car carrying a family from the scene of Paris in the future was made by Renault and called a "Reinastella".
    • The Reinastella was removed from the attraction in 2002, however it remained in the film. The prototype car was then seen around Europe in auto shows, most recently it has been seen on display at Renault's showroom on the Champs-Élysées.
      • When the prop sat outside the theater at Disneyland Paris during the years, 1992 to 2002, when the attraction was sponsored by Renault, a plaque beneath the prop read:

Blast into the future by checking out the Renault Reinastella! The Reinastella's futuristic design features a vocal command system that makes steering wheels and accelerators a thing of the past. With a cruising height that ranges from 15cm to 150m above surfaces, the Reinastella flies up to 300km/h. The next time you're traveling through time, stop into the 24th century and test drive a Renault Reinastella!

[edit] Trivia

The mini-sub that Jules Verne (played by Michel Piccoli) uses in the film.
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The mini-sub that Jules Verne (played by Michel Piccoli) uses in the film.
  • The futuristic scene was created by Rhythm & Hues Studios [2]
  • The only Circle-Vision film to utilize Audio-Animatronics.
  • The arctic scene in the film was taken from an old Circle-Vision film, "Magic Carpet ‘Round the World", and shadows from helicopters were digitally removed
  • During the scene of a conversation between Verne and Wells at the Exposition Universal 1900, a man stands between the two men. In the French Version, he acts as a translator between the two men, however when the film was dubbed into English his lines were dubbed over, and left with one line of dialog.
  • The submarine in the film is called the Johnson-Sea Link and is a research submarine at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

[edit] Sources

[edit] Notes

  1. ↑ Walt Disney Imagineers (2005), The Timekeeper, In The Imagineers', The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom (1st ed.), pp. 124–125. New York: Disney Editions. ISBN 0-7868-5553-3

[edit] Links

[edit] English Information

[edit] Attraction History

[edit] Editorials

[edit] Media

[edit] French Information


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