Per custom, new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro was requested about the way forward for Figment through the 2026 Annual Assembly of Shareholders. Though it was the query that concluded the decision (ending on a not-so-high observe), some may say it was the true passing of the baton from Bob Iger to D’Amaro, not the movies that performed at the start.
A ultimate shareholder query requested whether or not Disney would make a brand new Figment characteristic movie or whether or not there are any plans to deliver extra Figment to the theme parks. (Good phrasing, leaves the door open for Figment to go world, not simply be confined to EPCOT or Walt Disney World!)
D’Amaro responded with a chuckle and “there it’s,” earlier than persevering with that he embraces the Figment query, which has grow to be a practice of the annual assembly of shareholders. “I like the truth that there’s a lot adoration for Figment,” D’Amaro shared. He continued by acknowledging that Figment “has clearly stood the check of time as a fan favourite and continues to spark creativity and creativeness throughout generations.”
He then pivoted to the latest animated brief “How To not Draw with Figment,” which was narrated by Neil Patrick Harris and has been massively well-liked since its launch. He pointed to this as an indication that Figment stays an energetic character in Disney’s inventive pipeline.
D’Amaro concluded by saying that he had nothing to announce at this time (emphasis on at this time?!), however that the Walt Disney Firm is “all the time exploring new methods for company to have interaction with Figment and different characters that followers love.”
I’ve gotta be trustworthy–I didn’t catch the complete second half of the quote as a result of my coronary heart skipped a beat when D’Amaro switched gears to the “How To not Draw with Figment” reference, as a result of it initially appeared like he was on the brink of make a substantive announcement (“Effectively, on condition that this query is arising…”). He was not.
Not that we anticipated that sort of stories throughout at this time’s shareholder assembly. It could’ve been a giant and daring strategy to come out swinging from day one and actually prolong that honeymoon with followers, but it surely is sensible to avoid wasting any theoretical Figment information for D23. Right now’s information is the passing of the torch from Bob Iger to Josh D’Amaro, Dana Walden & co.
Amusingly, this was not the one Journey into Creativeness query through the 2026 Annual Assembly of Shareholders. The Q&A was kicked off with an inquiry about switching out the movies within the Disney & Pixar Brief Movie Pageant, which is what changed Captain EO when that revival ended a very long time in the past and is principally one thing you could possibly watch at residence on Disney+.
D’Amaro started his reply to that query with a reference to reference to Bao, earlier than pivoting. I believed perhaps he was laying the inspiration to start out the assembly with a bang, by saying that the latest Figment brief was solely the beginning, and the EPCOT fan-favorite character would quickly by taking up that venue.
As a substitute, the reply was basically the identical as the ultimate query: no additional plans presently. Though a part of me is barely grateful, as a result of saying solely a Figment brief movie and never a fully-fledged attraction is my concern concerning the eventual final result right here. {That a} massive IP goes to the journey, and a “new” Figment & Dreamfinder “attraction” goes to the theater as an olive department or try and placate followers. (Honest warning: I can’t be placated by that.)
Bookending the Q&A with questions on Journey into Creativeness feels like a tease to me. (Doesn’t it–or am I simply loopy?!)
Take into account that these questions are usually not dwell, so Disney may’ve chosen and ordered them in any method they so desired. They didn’t have to have two Journey into Creativeness questions (that’s some severe overrepresentation given the scope and scale of the corporate!), and so they didn’t want to return at the start and finish.
All of that is to say you can count on to listen to much more from me about all issues Figment as I embark on my (continued) grassroots marketing campaign forward of the 2026 D23 Expo. I’ve taken a sacred oath to advocate for Journey into Creativeness 4.0 at any time when the chance presents itself, so I’m going to satisfy that as usually as potential within the coming months.
In case you missed it, this was principally a follow-up to final yr’s annual assembly, when then-CEO Bob Iger was requested through the Q&A about the way forward for Figment. Throughout that, he was requested whether or not the corporate would think about using Figment in different areas of the corporate exterior of theme parks, comparable to a film based mostly on the character? Right here was Bob Iger’s response:
“That is my twenty fourth shareholder name, my 18th as CEO…and I believe the query of Figment has been requested about 15 instances. I name him ‘good ‘ole Figment.’ We all know that Figment is well-liked with shareholders due to the truth that they ask questions on him on a regular basis.
However we additionally know that he’s well-liked at EPCOT, the place you’ll be able to meet him and expertise Journey Into Creativeness. I’m going to ask our inventive groups to make some type of sequence or short-form movies of Figment. Clearly he’s extra well-liked than only a walk-around character.”
Disney fulfilled Iger’s promise with a brand new Disney Channel brief that includes Figment on Disney+ and YouTube.
For no matter it’s price, the “How NOT To Draw” that includes Figment is performing strongly. On YouTube, the brief has already racked up over 170,000 views. Extra impressively, it was trending on Disney+, climbing as excessive because the #2 spot!
If you happen to haven’t seen it already, we extremely advocate watching the “How NOT To Draw” Figment video for your self a time or two dozen. Perhaps simply put it on loop within the background to assist pump up its stats and present Disney how enormous of a fanbase Figment nonetheless has. Right here’s the brief:
As famous by D’Amaro, the brief is narrated by Disney superfan Neil Patrick Harris, who talks to Figment about creativeness whereas the pair draw totally different scenes utilizing inspiration from peculiar objects across the room.
Figment is voiced by A.J. LoCascio on this video, who began voicing the character with the Disney Speedstorm recreation. This could seemingly counsel he’s taking up the position from Dave Goelz, which is truthfully high-quality by me. I nonetheless consider Gonzo at any time when I hear Figment within the present attraction.
A.J. LoCascio’s model has grown on me, even when it’s nonetheless a bit too raspy and grownup. It’s undoubtedly a step in the precise route, and I believe he may nail it in a future model of the attraction. (Figment was initially voiced by the late Billy Barty.)
If well-liked sufficient, maybe this “How NOT To Draw” Figment video will persuade Disney to proceed with the Figment characteristic movie by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The movie was introduced again in 2022, but it surely appears to caught in growth purgatory.
Our hope is and has been that Rogen’s ongoing relationship with Disney ends in the Figment characteristic movie getting greenlit and shifting ahead. Perhaps Disney already has determined to push ahead with that after the shock success of The Muppet Present revival by the duo.
After Rogen’s pitch-perfect dealing with of the Muppets, with the revival being directly a nostalgic love letter and timeless reboot, we’re additional satisfied he’d be an awesome option to helm a Figment characteristic. There additionally (appears to be) the truth that Figment wants one thing massive to show the character right into a severe model or franchise for Disney.
A characteristic movie will not be essential to “show” Figment’s recognition. The previous few many years of the character’s enduring attraction and merchandising potential regardless of an underwhelming attraction have already completed that.
It’s no secret that at the same time as diehard Figment devoted, we don’t love the present incarnation of the journey. It made our lists of the 10 Worst Attraction Replacements at Walt Disney World and 10 Points of interest That Have Aged Poorly at Walt Disney World.
We did defend Journey into Creativeness as one in all a number of sights at EPCOT that it’s best to not skip, which is a “controversial” opinion as a result of the attraction really is divisive. Because it exists now, Journey into Creativeness will not be objectively good, however it’s a lovable loser. And we’ve heard from loads of mother and father whose youngsters nonetheless latched onto Figment (ours included, though which may be a particular case).
Except you’re a baby of the Nineteen Eighties or 90s who skilled the unique attraction–which has been gone for much longer than it existed!–or are a voracious client of Disney historical past movies, you probably have zero affinity for Figment and may even be confused by why the present character has such a powerful fan following. (He doesn’t! It’s the previous Figment we love!)
The present attraction and Creativeness pavilion as an entire are underutilized. The journey routinely is a walk-on or has an precise wait time of beneath 5 minutes. Visitor satisfaction scores are usually not nice, to place it mildly.
On a number of events, Disney management has expressed a need to extend capability of the parks by reimagining areas which are presently underused. There are a number of such spots in EPCOT, however few have as a lot potential for absorbing extra crowds because the Creativeness Pavilion. There’s a lot unrealized creativeness in that area.
The success of Check Monitor 3.0 since its reimagining has demonstrated the fruits of this method. Related methods are presently being undertaken with Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin, and Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets.
An analogous technique must be used with Journey into Creativeness. Nothing new has been introduced for EPCOT, which means the following all-new attraction isn’t coming till someday within the 2030s. Journey into Creativeness 4.0 might be fast-tracked to debut this decade, together with a reimagined Spaceship Earth and the Wonders of Life pavilion lastly being put to make use of once more. All of those initiatives would meaningfully develop efficient park capability with none precise growth.
Enter new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro.
As mentioned in 11 Nice Modifications Josh D’Amaro Might Make for Huge Wins as New CEO, it’s frequent for brand spanking new management at Disney to make numerous bulletins and modifications early of their tenure to set the tone. We’re absolutely anticipating a pair waves of bulletins, probably with an preliminary set of visitor expertise wins this spring and summer season, adopted by extra substantive information on the 2026 D23 Expo in August.
I can’t consider any greater and bolder transfer that Josh D’Amaro may make throughout his tenure as CEO to win over alienated followers than saying Journey into Creativeness 4.0. (Besides greenlighting a full Creativeness pavilion, full with MuppetVision 3D taking up the theater!)
Bringing again Figment and Dreamfinder is a surefire method of undoing numerous the injury from controversial modifications of the previous few years, quieting complaints and criticism. There isn’t any different constructive announcement that may outweigh so many prior negatives ones.
It could be the surest method for D’Amaro to distance himself from Iger and Chapek, unloading the damaging baggage onto them. Rivers of America, MuppetVision, DINOSAUR, visitor expertise cutbacks–all of it–could be forgiven by followers within the blink of a watch. Or blamed on another person.
It could ship a robust message that there’s a brand new sheriff on the town, and one who “will get” followers and is attentive to suggestions. It could set up the Disney Parks as their very own mental property (one thing that ought to already be apparent), and never simply dumping grounds for film IP. It could be a giant win for legacy constructing.
I’ve been advocating for a brand new Journey into Creativeness for longer than this web site has existed. Figment was my entry level into the fandom within the first place, and was far and away my favourite attraction when visiting EPCOT Middle as a baby within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties.
There’s actually no information that may be as significant for me as a reimagined Journey into Creativeness. Walt Disney World may announce that unbelievable fifth gate on the 2026 D23 Expo, and I’d nonetheless be asking about Figment. It’s the information I’ve been anxiously awaiting for the final decade-plus.
And though I’ve wished this for a protracted, very long time, there’s a brand new sense of urgency for me: we now have a daughter who’s getting into her adolescence when this attraction may actually resonate. She’s already outgrown her lovable Figment costume (nobody tells you time begins shifting quicker once you grow to be a dad or mum), and is getting into the ‘candy spot’ for Journey into Creativeness to spark her curiosity.
Setting apart my very own motivations and nostalgia, Figment is extra well-liked than ever. He sells popcorn buckets, sweaters, and all the things else. It could generate goodwill amongst WDW diehards and forge new followers within the course of. Figment would grow to be the face and mascot of the new-look EPCOT, elevating the in any other case underwhelming central backbone within the course of. It’d be a license to print cash on extra new merchandise, too.
Recapturing that misplaced magic and spirit of creativeness would have the identical impression at this time because it did many years in the past, which is why so many people are nonetheless Figment followers. Walt Disney World has completed sufficient dipping its toes into the pool to check the recognition of Figment. It’s past time for a redone journey. It simply is sensible to reimagine Journey into Creativeness.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the questions bookending the Q&A through the 2026 Annual Assembly of Shareholders? Coincidence, or purposeful tease? Might this be a precursor to Journey into Creativeness 4.0? Or is that this simply extra false hope for followers? Hoping that Josh D’Amaro does the precise factor and declares a journey reimagining or pavilion overhaul on the 2026 D23 Expo? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas within the feedback!
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