While The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic may not be a smash hit, there is one nighttime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that is now getting a standing ovation nightly: the Tree of Life Awakenings.
This projection show takes place only on the very front of the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom after night falls and runs continuously until sometime after park close. The show is similar in technology to “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” and Celebrate the Magic presented at the Magic Kingdom, but that’s really where the similarities end.
This show doesn’t stop. The Tree is alive throughout the evening changing colors and coming to life with short silent vignettes and longer, music-filled segments. Some of the segments are absolutely amazing, such as this one that pays homage to a number of Disney animated films (and AVATAR):
Others are more on the artistic side (less IP driven), but present beautiful stories on the giant canvas of the Tree of Life:
The longer vignettes happen every 15-20 minutes or so, but there is always some sort of movement happening on the Tree of Life, from a slight animal move, to the presence of falling leaves or snow.
Everything about this show is pretty much perfect: the music, the imagery, and the use of technology effectively. If there is any reason to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom at night, this is it.
