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The idea was born out of a desire to bring aquatic animals to life in water parks through realistic and dynamic animatronics. Walt Holzberg, then a Vice President and Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, spearheaded the initiative. He envisioned a next-generation attraction that would blur the line between animatronic figures and living creatures, providing visitors with an immersive experience.
Holzberg reached out to Walt Disney himself, posing a fundamental question: Could the motion and behavior of real animals be replicated using animatronic figures? This challenge was not merely mechanical but also artistic—creating movements that felt authentic and convincing.