In the newly-released Discover Universal Podcast episode, Team Members have revealed several new entertainment additions to Epic Universe including talking portraits for guests to converse with in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic.
Upgraded Talking Portraits
One of the largest new announcements from Kathrynn DiGenova, a Senior Show Producer at Universal Creative, is that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic will include interactive talking portraits. The previous Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley areas have included talking portraits, but the pictures are more like recorded videos that will only interact with each other or with guests in pre-determined ways. For the new portraits coming to Epic Universe, the technology is now far more advanced. The characters in the portraits will actually respond to guests comments and create a much more personalized experience. No more details have been revealed yet, but DiGenova likened the new portraits to the more personalized experiences seen in the second generation interactive wand spell locations.
Exchange Student Characters and Street Musicians
DiGenova also teased some of the many new characters guests will be able to meet when walking down the streets of Palace Cacheé. It is now confirmed there will be a trio of exchange students coming to Wizarding Paris from international schools, including Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Illvermorny. These students will be holding a copy of The Monster Book of Monsters as they interact with guests.
Also entertaining guests on the streets of Paris will be a group of magical musicians. The group will be comprised of three humans and a magical Puffskein named Plume. Puffskeins are related to the Pygmy Puffs already seen in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and DiGenova describes Plume as having “big eyes” and being “very cute.”
New Auror Character
One new element of the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic story revealed by DiGenova is that the French Ministry of Magic is trying to determine why so many people are now trying to enter their building through the vine-covered lift seen in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” To question some of the guests near the entrance, one new character will be an Auror from the French Ministry of Magic. In addition to interrogating guests, this character will also be pointing out some of the hidden details along the street for guests to notice.
Cosme Acajor
As already revealed by Universal, Wizarding Paris will have a wand shop called Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique in Place Cachée. The store will sell several new wands, including some park-exclusive designs of the recently-released second generation interactive wands. However, it has now been confirmed that the shop’s owner, Cosme Acajor, will be a real character who will interact with guests. Acajor is seen in one of the concept art images for the new wand shop wearing a pink outfit with a feathered boa, which matches DiGenova’s description of her as “fabulous.” DiGenova goes on to explain that Acajor is like the head of a Parisian fashion house.
Le Cirque Arcanus
While DiGenova did not want to spoil the new Harry Potter stage show, she did reveal the circus-style entertainment will include an aerial act, puppetry, large set pieces, and onstage magic. While not mentioned in the episode, Universal has previously described other characters in the show will include a Demiguise, Zouwu, Kelpie, Mooncalves, and Newt Scamander.
She did go into more details of the show’s queue, which she said will try to replicate the tents seen in the “Harry Potter” films where they appear smaller on the outside and larger on the inside. She described the experience as going through multiple layers of tents, with each one getting bigger on the inside instead of smaller.
Super Nintendo World
The podcast did not announce much for new entertainment in Super Nintendo World, apart from confirming a few of the already announced character meet-and-greets. Guests in this section will be able to meet Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong.
Monsters, Musicians, and More in Dark Universe
Moving to the Dark Universe section of Epic Universe, DiGenovo confirmed the Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Invisible Man will be meeting and interacting with guests. She did not go into more detail for how meeting the Invisible Man will work, but described him as having a “big personality.”
For music in Dark Universe, the village of Darkmoor will have a traveling violinist who, in addition to playing songs, will tell stories of the village’s history. The village entertainment scene will also be populated by a group of monster hunters known as The Hounds, who will regale guests with stories of their “close calls.”
Finally DeGenova mentioned Ygor will be seen as the assistant to Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the granddaughter of the original Dr. Frankenstein and current resident of Frankenstein Manor. Ygor is described as having “quite a lot of different pieces” from both humans and monsters. Unlike some of the area’s more sinister residents, Ygor will have a fun, quirky personality and is set to have an important role in the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment attraction.
Dragons Wandering in Isle of Berk
DiGenova confirms Toothless will “not be the only dragon” guests come face-to-face with in the Isle of Berk. Stormfly, Astrid’s dragon, will be making an appearance alongside Grump, Gobber’s dragon. In the case of Gobber and Grump, the two will be located inside Gobber’s forge. While not confirmed in this latest episode, there have also been leaked images of an animatronic shaped like Dart, one of Toothless’ children.
The Untrainable Dragon
As we long suspected, this version of the “How To Train Your Dragon” stage show will have similarities to the show of the same name currently running in Universal Studios Beijing. The show is described as “Broadway caliber” and will include the scene of Toothless flying over the audience. DiGenova also confirmed the show will have a run time of roughly 20 minutes, which is also similar to the Beijing version.
Celestians in Celestial Park
One new entertainment offering revealed by DiGenova for Celestial Park is a performance venue called the Hemisphere Stage. In this space, guests will be able to watch as traveling characters who have gone through several of the portals tell stories of their adventures and create a “musical moment” using some of the artifacts they have brought back. While not named, the podcast also mentioned an original character in Celestial Park who is collecting sound to create energy and will in some way interact with guests.
What new entertainment experience in Epic Universe are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.
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