Here’s How Disney’s Turtle Talk With Crush Attraction Works

Turtle Talk with Crush is one of the best shows at Disney which is offered both at Disney California Adventure and EPCOT in Disney World that enables you to chat live with the laid-back sea turtle from Finding Nemo. It's impossible to experience this great show without smiling or laughing, and its improvised elements keep it fresh and exciting every time you see it!

When an audience member asks a question, Crush reacts in real time and answers, and you see him react and move on the screen in front of you. Crush can call out what a person is wearing in the audience and move naturally in response to what he is saying or hearing throughout the show. The ability to chat with this favorite Disney character live is one of the most magical experiences offered at the parks, and many visitors wonder how such a feat is possible.

Keep reading for a glimpse into how Disney's Turtle Talk with Crush works at Disney!

How Does Turtle Talk With Crush Work?

During each show, audience members can ask Crush questions about anything, and he will give you his best answers. Kids often ask some pretty funny questions about Crush and his life as a turtle, and Crush's responses will often leave the room in hysterical laughter. During the show, you may also see favorite characters from the Finding Nemo and Finding Dory films like Dory, Nemo, Marlin, and more.

While there are some scripted elements to the show, a good portion of it is Crush spontaneously interacting with the audience. As he answers your live questions, Crush is able to see the audience to know who he's interacting with and respond with movement, so it really feels as if you are speaking to the character. This leads us to the question: how does this show work?

Turtle Talk With Crush utilizes digital puppetry, which enables a backstage voice actor/puppeteer backstage to control the motions of the animated character that are rendered in real time in a virtual environment. The “Window to the Pacific” that you see in front of you is a large rear-projection screen that portrays Crush's undersea environment.

The puppeteer's performance of Crush is digitalized in real time, with movements including voice-activated lip synch rendered on the fly and projected at a rate of 60 frames per second so that Crush's mouth moves in synchronization with the actor's words.

There are also cameras in the theater that allow the actor to see and engage with the audience member they are speaking to, which is how Crush can call people out from the audience by what they are wearing. This amazing technology allows Crush to seamlessly interact with the audience members in the room, speaking and reacting to them during the show!

Digital puppetry is also used in other Disney Parks shows that feature live interaction with the audience, including Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Magic Kingdom and Stitch Encounter in Hong Kong Disneyland (and the version of the attraction “Stitch Live!” at Disneyland Paris).

This technology is really amazing, and paired with the incredible improvisation skills and talent of the puppeteer, it makes Turtle Talk With Crush one of the best shows at the parks. If you haven't seen Turtle Talk with Crush, it is a must-see during your next visit!

See a funny moment from the Turtle Talk with Crush show shared via Instagram by thedisneydnapodcast below:

 

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A post shared by The Disney DNA Podcast (@thedisneydnapodcast)

The Animation Building is one of our overall favorite secret spots at Disneyland. While you're visiting to see the Turtle Talk with Crush show, be sure to also check out Animation Academy, where you can draw a Disney character under the guidance of a Disney animator. Afterwards, you can take home your artwork as a free Disneyland “souvenir!” 

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