We'll start the week with a great article about the Epcot World Showcase Russia pavilion that never was. As you know several additional pavilions were envisioned for Epcot, including an Africa pavilion - i will re-post the great previous D&M article about it soon - but also Switzerland, Venezuela, Philippines, Denmark, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Israel pavilions , and... a Russia pavilion. Recently a never-seen-before video appeared on Youtube - you have it at the end of this article - providing for the first time details and artworks about this Russia pavilion that never was. As usual i did screen captures of almost each shot of it and for the first time you're going to have a closer look at what Epcot guests will have experienced if it had been built. Please note that the video was really in low-res so i did my best to have as good as possible screen captures. Note that the description below is a transcript of the video commentary, so it can't be more accurate.
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The Russia pavilion was envisioned to be built in the north west corner of World Showcase where, next to Germany pavilion, five acres of land were available for the newest pavilion of World Showcase.
Condensing this giant country in a single pavilion was the task of Walt Disney Imagineering. Working from intensive researchs and consultations with Russian artists and advisers WDI imagineers were crafting a pavilion that would give Epcot audience a brief journey into the heart of the Russian experience.
And among them someone who will become years later the creative leader for Disney's Animal Kingdom, Imagineer Joe Rhode, here with WDI Imagineer Marty Sklar on his left ( on the right on the picture ).
And among them someone who will become years later the creative leader for Disney's Animal Kingdom, Imagineer Joe Rhode, here with WDI Imagineer Marty Sklar on his left ( on the right on the picture ).
From the ancient past to the ever changing present, the famous domes and spires of St Basil's cathedral will rise over the red brick walls of Moscow's Kremlin.
Beyond the walls lies rustic logs buildings carved and decorated in Russian style.
Statues and famous monuments set on a wide plaza evoke the genius of Russian art and poetry.
The main attraction of the pavilion will be a 800 seats theatre presenting a show entitled "Russia".
To create this attraction Disney is combining forces with Europe premier theatre designers to produce an innovative state-of-the-art theatre to tell Russia's epic stories.
Peasants and Tsars, poets and revolutionaries, common men and extraordinary heroes fill the tale of Russia's never ending quest for herself.
From the days of old Kiev to revolutionary barricades in modern Moscow the continuing evolution of a great people becomes the focus of this dynamic show.
The giant theatre itself would have come to life with epic scenes of Russia history...
The coronation of a Tsar or the revolution of 1917, or the launch of a Soviet spaceship are all part of an extraordinary journey filled with a cast of epic figures across the centuries... in a setting unlike any other at Walt Disney World.
Spectacular set pieces, film montage, a cast of Audio-Animatronics figures and a sweeping musical score will bring to life the songs, the triumphs and the passion of people of Russia.
In addition to the main show the pavilion will also figure a ride based on a classic Russian folk tale: Ivan and the magic pike where guests will board a magic troika to the enchanted colorful world of slavik fairy tales.
There, they will follow the adventures of lazy Ivan, a good heart which an encounter with a magical fish will send him on a quest in landscapes of medieval Russia.
Strolling to the rest of the pavilion guests may start to dine on traditional food...
...shop for crafts...
...or visit a gallery displaying Russian art and cultural artifacts.
In the center of the pavilion, an open square where guests will find traditional Russian dances and the immortal melodies that composers have given to the world.
Music, history, drama, the treasures of Russian genius and the warmth of a people, a nation's story that enforce the world in its timeliness, all here at Walt Disney World newest World Showcase pavilion.
As we know the Russia pavilion never became a reality at Epcot World Showcase and if you want to learn more about why, check this previous article from Jim Hill HERE.
All-right, and now i suppose that you're dying to see the video from where these screen captures are coming from, so here it is and jump directly to 3.40 minutes as the part about the Russia pavilion starts at that time.
Disney and more needs your support, so if you enjoyed this article thanks by advance for your donation that you can send through Paypal RIGHT HERE.
Disney and more needs your support, so if you enjoyed this article thanks by advance for your donation that you can send through Paypal RIGHT HERE.
Artworks and pictures: copyright Disney
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