The original animator behind the Yeti at Expedition Everest has spoken out following Disney’s announcement that the animatronic is getting fixed.
Ethan Reed, who worked on the figure during development, shared his reaction on Instagram, and revealed a detail fans didn’t know: he suggested the strobe effect that became “b mode.”
I’m genuinely thrilled to hear that the original Yeti figure at WDW will finally be animated again.
I was fortunate to be the animator on the figure during development and pre-programming, so I spent a lot of time with this beast. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the attraction for final installation and integration because I was busy helping get the cast of characters for Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue finished up. But the Yeti was still a pretty big part of my life for a while, and I did get to see him functioning beautifully in the attraction once.
It’s been strange for nearly 20 years, knowing that the Yeti was sitting there, essentially waiting for its chance to come back to life. I’ve also carried a little regret about suggesting the strobe effect for the B-show, which ultimately replaced the motion our team created.
So I’m really happy to see the Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Imagineering teams bringing our Yeti back to life. Huge kudos to everyone involved in making it happen.
And an even bigger shout out to whoever had the genius idea to have Gloria Gaynor sing “I Will Survive” for the big reveal.
There’s a fun little full circle moment for me in all of this. I distinctly remember sitting there in 2005 with my Sony Discman, animating this beast and listening to the Man on the Moon soundtrack, including Tony Clifton’s wonderfully bizarre version of “I Will Survive.”
I’m really looking forward to seeing the Yeti move again.
Reed was the senior show animator on the Yeti during pre-programming. He spent months working on the figure’s movement before it was installed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He said he did not make it to final installation because he was helping finish character work on Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue. He did see the Yeti running in the attraction once, before it broke down in 2007.
The “b mode” strobe effect Reed mentions has run in place of full motion since the Yeti’s structural damage in late 2007. It became the version of the Yeti most guests have known for nearly 20 years.
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