Lantern Attraction: Kinsey Collection at EPCOT

The exhibit Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from The Kinsey Collection was held at the American Heritage Museum at Disney/EPCOT.

Disney Imagineering commissioned the Lantern Attraction to add magic and dimension to the collection, bring to life voices of history not showcased in history books, and make the gallery exhibit a more immersive storytelling experience.

Project Scope: Concept Development, Art Direction, Effects Design, Motion Design, *Animation by Steve Guerrero

The EPCOT exhibit Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from The Kinsey Collection was a collaborative project between The Kinsey Collection of African American Art and Disney/EPCOT. The exhibit showcased optimistic and empowering stories from history not commonly seen and heard.
Designed for families and targeted toward 8 – 12 year old guests, but with a deeper dive available, the exhibit was housed in the American Heritage Museum located in the World Showcase at EPCOT. The exhibit enabled viewers to discover these voices lost to history, who by their wits, courage, and talents overcame incredible odds and still inspire us today.
However, the typical approach to a museum exhibition just wouldn't do at EPCOT. There was no Disney magic yet. No pixie dust that makes guests say, "Now that's Disney."
The team needed a creative way to add that Disney magic, bring the stories to life in a unique way, and make the experience more immersive, more Disney.
Working with Disney Imagineers, we developed concepts and prototypes for a three-dimensional interactive virtual flame. The virtual flame would be housed in a large, period-looking lantern that guests could activate by moving a lever on the lantern itself.
In this groundbreaking attraction, we wanted the lantern flame to embody the idea of timeless, magical storytelling. But it was also important for the flame to evoke the struggle and resourcefulness of the stories we were telling. Low tech, early Terry Gilliam-inspired transitions emerged from this thinking process.
Within the flame narrative itself, we wanted to further reinforce the feeling of hard-won freedoms and courage. We leaned into our low tech, hand-crafted style of animation and seasoned it with iconic Disney animation devices like pixie dust trails, starbursts, and magical Disney whooshes.
What resulted was an earnest yet whimsical virtual flame attraction that inspired guests to experience stories of hope and courage in a totally unique way.