The Simpsons Ride is definitely well-written
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — It's not often that one exits an amusement park attraction thinking, "That ride was really well-written." But that just might be a common response to The Simpsons Ride, which opened last year at Universal Studios theme parks here and in Orlando, Fla.
In both locations, The Simpsons Ride replaced the aging Back to the Future ride, using the same building and much of the same mechanics. The Simpsons, a simulator ride that faces a multistory movie screen, uses the same ride system as Back to the Future, albeit updated. Instead of taking a journey with Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), park guests visit Krustyland amusement park with the Simpsons.
But the characters look differently than they do on TV. They were created for the ride as 3-D renderings.
"When you blow something up that big, there's a level of realism needed," said Matt Warburton, a supervising producer on the TV show who worked on the script for the ride. "With watching a show, there is not this illusion that you're part of it. In order to make that leap, the Universal guys, who know from doing a million projects, know that there needs to be this depth."
As it begins, riders feel as if they're in a roller-coaster car just behind the Simpson family getting ready to go over the coaster's first hill. Sideshow Bob (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) is once again threatening Springfield's most famous family.
"There's nothing you can do, you're about to die!" Sideshow Bob rages.
"You sound like my doctor," Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) replies.
As the coaster careens down its path, Homer winds up running a different direction on the track, chased by a wrecking ball.
"You don't want to hurt me, ball. We're both big and round and never finished high school," Homer says.
When the roller-coaster track snakes around a corner and through a giant Krusty head, riders hear Krusty say, "Welcome to a magical journey into my mouth."
It's curious that a "Simpsons" ride would end up at Universal Studios because the franchise is owned by 20th Century Fox, a rival media company. Mike West, executive producer for Universal Creative Studios, said his company opted to license "The Simpsons" because it fit the theme parks' audience profile.
"We felt it was a very good intellectual property for our demographic," West said. "We did some surveys prior to the attraction, and we found our guests were running on the same lines as the demographic as Fox and 'Simpsons' viewers. We thought it was a real, natural fit and we're always looking to update attractions."
Recent comments
i know but does it feel like a real roller coaster
ride lover | June 25, 2009 at 12:12 a.m.
- Mormon Media Monitor 11:06 p.m.
- Woman, 98, accused of murder 11:05 p.m.
- WSU geared up for SUU 11:04 p.m.
- U.S., Japan reach flight pact 11:03 p.m.
- Draft proposal reached on climate 11:02 p.m.
- World datelines 11:02 p.m.
- U.N. official to step down 11:01 p.m.
- Troop reductions in Iraq on track 11:00 p.m.
- Oil-field auction in Iraq 11:00 p.m.
- Pope will write letter to Irish 11:00 p.m.
- Letters: Global warming a lie
277 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
195 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
169 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
143 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
138 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
130 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110 - LDS to emphasize helping needy
107 - Revive full food tax?
106 - Panel passes BCS playoff bill
105
Is Angels Landing perhaps Utah's single most dangerous hiking trail? The...
Historically, Christmas Day was but one of 365 days in the Christian...
I am a die-hard Utah fan. I hate absolutely everything abou BYU. But i will...
I agree with The Truth....Having been around Coach Cleveland in Provo and...
Ask the Utah Food Bank what % of the donations and volunteers are from the...
The Jazz are a good team and will play some good games. Right now that is the...
It was incredible, the sound was phenomenal, and Natalie's story about...
Again, you're wrong. BYU was the only undefeated team left in 1984. At the...
Selective memory | 4:50 a.m. Speaking of "Selective Memory"!!!!...
Sounds impressive, there is a good chance I will show up there sometime with...
And the IRS will audit the tax funded cell phones to make sure they are only...


