Captain EO
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Captain EO (alternately, Captain Eo) was a 3-D film shown in Disney theme parks. Its runs were:
- Epcot from September 12, 1986 until July 6, 1994
- Disneyland from September 18, 1986 until April 7, 1997
- Tokyo Disneyland from March 20, 1987 until September 1996
- Disneyland Paris from April 12, 1992 until August 17, 1998
The story
The film tells the story of Captain EO and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to a wicked alien queen, the Supreme Leader on her home world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents. Captain EO's alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzball, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idee and Odee, robotic security officer Major Domo, a small, unamed robot who fits like a module into Major Domo, and the clumsy elephantlike shipmate Hooter who always manages to blunder the crew's missions.
Upon arriving on the planet, the crew is captured and sentenced to be tortured. Before being sent away, EO tells the Queen that he sees the beauty hidden within her, and that he brings her the key to unlock it: his song.
The two robot members of the crew transform into music instruments and the crew members begin to play the various instruments. As Hooter runs toward his instrument, he trips over EO's cape and breaks his instrument, stopping the music. The spell broken, the Queen orders her guards to capture Captain EO and his crew.
Hooter manages to repair his instrument and sends out a blast of music, providing EO with the power to throw off the guards. He uses his power to transform the dark hulking guards into agile dancers who fall into step behind him for a dance number. As EO presses forward toward the Supreme Leader she unleashes her Whip Warriors, two cybernetic defenders each with a whip and shield that can deflect EO's power.
The others all run away leaving Captain EO to fight the whip warriors alone. EO is trapped by a closing gate and is preparing for a last stand as both the whip warriors draw their whips back for a final blow. Fuzzball drops his instrument and speedily flies over to tie the two whips together, causing the whip warriors to be thrown off balance giving EO an opportunity to transform them as well. With no further obstacles, EO uses his power to transform the Queen into a beautiful woman, her lair into a peaceful Greek temple and the planet into a verdant paradise.
A celebration breaks out as EO and his crew triumphantly exit and fly off into space.
Special effects
Captain EO was unique in that the actions on the screen extended into the audience. Theaters were specially constructed or modified to show the film.Effects included lasers that shot over the audience's head, laser impacts appearing on the wall, smoke effects, and starfields that filled the theater.
Lasting just 17 minutes but with cost estimates between U.S. $17 million and $30 million, Captain EO was at the time the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis due to the advanced 3-D film techniques and the interactive theaters.
Merchandising
The story was adapted in the comic book Eclipse 3-D Special #18.External links
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