I have been on a Disney kick while recharging my batteries. The missus is a theme park historian. She taught me more about Disney, and theme parks than any book ever could. If you have been listening to our
Pink Monorail Podcast then you would know that as well. Last year we had the good fortune of recording an episode with former Disney Imagineer
Joe Lanzisero. He is a creative genius, he is a writer, artist, musician, storyteller, and above all things one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.
When we met in his office I pointed out a statue on his bookshelf. I asked what the story was behind “Shiriki Utundu?” He was caught off guard. Not only did I recognize the statue, but I knew its name. You see this was a character that he helped create for Tokyo Disney Sea. The origins of which were just one of the hundreds of projects he worked on while at Disney. One of the best attractions created by the imagineers was the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Walt Disney World.
Tokyo Disney Sea was a second gate built next door to Tokyo Disneyland in 2001. The Oriental Land Company, the owners of the park wanted a thrill ride for guests. They contracted with Disney for new attractions. The imagineers had the technology, and blueprint for the Tower of Terror, and wanted to introduce it into the park. The only downside was that the Japanese guests had no point of reference for the Twilight Zone, the host Rod Serling, and the concept of a strange dimension that people could disappear into.
Mr. Lanzisero and his team created an entirely new theme, and story for the ride. This time it focused on an eccentric collector named Harrison Hightower. He had stolen an artifact named Shiriki Utundu from a small African tribe. The statue had been worshipped as a god. The tribe warned Hightower to return the statue or suffer its curse. The arrogant Hightower instead stole it away to his hotel where he displayed the countless artifacts he had stolen from all over the world. He taunted the statue, and that was when according to legend it came to life and destroyed the elevator that Hightower was riding in.
I had created a podcast episode about the Tower of Terror, Joe Lanzisero, and his role helping add new attractions to Tokyo Disney Sea, and especially Hong Kong Disneyland.. That was the reason that I knew about Shiriki, and the work of the imagineers. I asked him about the statue, and he explained that it was a retirement present from his team at the Tokyo Parks. They wanted to give him something that captured the love from the company, and also the guests. The statue was carved out of a bench that was at the park, and set to be replaced. The “spikes” on the statue were folded personalized notes from every member of his team. The staff was made up of different art tools. Instead of a knife he was holding a rubber chicken in the other hand. Around his neck were planning notes, an itinerary from the parks, and sketches.
The amount of care that went into this statue could never be surpassed. Certainly there were retired imagineers that had been given awards, plaques, and other gifts from the parks that they worked at, however I had yet to see anything with as much love as this statue. Have you ever seen anything as amazing? The wife and I hope to get another interview with Joe in the future. I look forward to that. If you plan on retiring what would you imagine the best present would be? Tell me about it in the comments section. As always if you enjoyed this blog, and would like to sponsor me
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