One job you might not have expected AI to come for is theme park mascots. But Disney—which is all-in on AI tech—has found a way, although perhaps there are still a few kinks to work out. As Polygon spotted, a new life-size Olaf animatronic robot has just been rolled out at Disney parks around the world, independently roaming the parks’ paths and chatting away with guests in Josh Gad-voiced lines. That is, unless it appears to suddenly suffer a heart attack and just drop down dead in front of a crowd of terrified children. That’s what happened in Disneyland Paris on March 29.
I cannot begin to tell you how gruesomely funny this clip is. It’s not just that Olaf’s nose pops right off as he hits the ground, although that is spectacular. For me it’s more the that moment of frozen (ha) horror on his face before he falls, accompanied by the scream of the crowd. Watch it three times in a row for yourself:
It’s like Olaf sees his death before it takes him. That sudden switch from a goofy ol’ guy having a swell ol’ time, to a transfixed stare that transcends universes as his eyes meet the infinite gaze of Azathoth. It’s too much, he’s seen the full truth of the primordial chaos, and can now only embrace oblivion.
Disney staff immediately rush in, not to help the poor little snowman back to his feet, but instead to carry his corpse away to wherever they store the bodies at Disneyland, while an Arendelle villager chuckles away at the snowy guy’s misfortune. It’s all so splendidly un-Disney, which is likely why the clip has been viewed 2.2 million times. (Although that .2 might be just me.) And kudos to the English tourist who says, “Olaf fall down!” He is the cherry on top.
If you want to see how Olaf should work, and how “AI” is involved, here’s half an hour of Disney propaganda: