Cranium Command at Epcot (2005)

See the workings of the human brain through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy.
Cranium Command was an audio-animatronic theatre show in Wonders of Life at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. It was a humorous, educational presentation on the importance of the human brai... Read all. It was a humorous, educational presentation on the importance of the human brain and its relationship with the body.
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[@WDWNT]

Do you remember Cranium Command?

[@sonicmoviefan9889]

Yes

[@trident2981]

Where's buzzy? He's been stolen.

[@kadedoesanimation]

I wasn’t even born until 2011 lol

[@kadedoesanimation]

@@trident2981 that’s the thing nobody knows where our boy is he was stolen for sure because they cut his hydraulics and oil spewed everywhere he is stolen for sure. Nobody knows who stole him or where he is

[@Kiwikid-zy7rg]

I was born in 2007 so I did not

[@drewsquickfix]

glad the employee let you film as silly as this Disney attraction was its now history and you preserved it. thanks

[@Teamcurtisbjj]

I’m Scott Curtis. I am Buzzy and the 12 yr old boy. I cannot thank you enough for filming this. I wish I could take my kids to see this... so having this video is as close as it gets. You were all in my head ;-)

[@bartsimpson4305]

Did you also do Buzzy's voice in the pre show? If so then how come your voice sounds different between that and the main show?

[@pepepepinazo9694]

I'm sorry to say this... (You probably know this already) Your animatronic got stolen..?

[@danacantu6714]

🙏🏻♥️

[@lukeburbank5208]

Bart Simpson he did a interview online very recently and it 100% confirmed that it’s is not his voice in the pre show

[@Pastshelfdate]

Hi, Scott, I just heard about this, today, on a podcast, and wanted to check it out. It's sad that Disney didn't use their wonderful production resources to record this ride. This video isn't bad, but It was occasionally difficult to follow. I'm glad you have this to show your own children. :)

[@rosestrife1498]

who else is here because they stole buzzy

[@willtheman2223]

Rose Strife14 yes

[@ideal_gaming1379]

Me

[@ryemcgowen5302]

Me

[@cecdenverspersonalaccount5933]

Me

[@G3arsandc0gs]

me

[@jasobres]

The preshow animation is a work of genius. Disney originally outsourced the animation to (Colossal) Pictures, but were not satisfied with the results, so they just used the animation studio at the then Disney-MGM Studios. Originally it was to be directed by Rob Minkoff (future director of _The Lion King),_ but he left to work on the Roger Rabbit short _Roller Coaster Rabbit._ So the directing job was given to two newbies named Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. Of course, those two newbies would go on to direct such films as _Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame,_ and _Atlantis: The Lost Empire._ Another fun fact: One of the animators on the preshow was a graduate of CalArts named Pete Docter. Later in life, Docter would acknowledge that this attraction played a part in inspiring the concept for the Pixar film _Inside Out._

[@ryanimaniac]

I think seeing as Inside Out is doing so well right now, this ride could see a comeback in an Inside Out theme!

[@AdamNerland]

Ryanimaniac I hope so. This was a great attraction. Body Wars, too. The problem is that the whole Wonders Of Life area is basically closed off now. They use the building seasonally for the Food & Wine Festival, but they've basically gotten rid of all of the attractions inside. (Apparently some of them still exist behind the walls, but they're non-functional)

[@ryanimaniac]

Yeah I've heard that. That would be super creepy to go inside and see all the stuff still there

[@forrestdupre5812]

Ryanimaniac The guy who worked on inside out also designed cranium command.

[@rckblzr]

Ryanimaniac I've heard that Inside Out is being considered for the Imagination pavilion.

[@saramcconnell8817]

Ikr

[@elainewithintention2920]

Thank you so much. I used to work this attraction 1993-97. I desperately hoped one day to take my children to see it but it closed before they were old enough to see it. Thank you because I was able to show them this video.

[@kadedoesanimation]

Now buzzy has been stolen! He’s completely gone nobody knows where he is

[@bobfrankenstein707]

That's cool she let you still videotape it. Being that its gone now its something great to watch again remembering the golden age of WDW

[@QuentrixMovies]

I can imagine the entire Wonders of Life pavilion being re-themed as Riley's mind from Inside Out, each area being a different part of her mind eg: Imagination Land, Dream Productions. Then Cranium Command will be re-themed as Headquarters from the movie and will be the main attraction.

[@laurenjanfeshan4670]

QuentrixMovies YES!

[@RCCrawlerz209]

Disney are you listening?!?!

[@kenny3001]

If Inside Out becomes a success maybe Cranium Command could be revived based off the film.

[@roboguy75]

With the original Enchanted Tiki Room, Captain EO, etc., returning from the grave, then that might as well be possible

[@SonofMrPeanut]

So many things make sense about that. Swapping out the characters here for the emotions in Inside Out is easy enough, the theater's already inside the girl's head w/ eyeholes, it already has a cast of comedians like in Cranium Command (with SNL alums, like here), and Pete Docter (Director/Story for Inside Out) even makes a cameo in the Pre-Show here. He's the head w/ the curly hair on the left side around 4:09. To put it another way, making the old CC theater an Inside Out attraction is...a no-brainer. That does beg the question of what to do with the rest of the Wonders of Life Pavilion attractions if that Inside Out attraction were made. With Nimoy's recent passing it might be a good sign of respect to reopen Body Wars, but I'd wonder what should show in the Making of Me theater (aside from the HGTV that screens there now). I suspect that wouldn't be the first thing Disney would bring back (despite being a great educational film on reproduction), and Martin Short's already got a nice home in the Canada film. Speaking of Body Wars, it might be a good move for Anaheim to make Star Tours a California Adventure ride, accompanied by other Star Wars attractions, and then convert the old Star Tours into a Body Wars for the West Coast. It might make sense to convert the old Honey, I Shrunk the Audience theater as well into the head theater for Inside Out, but I think that's the one location Disneyland can still have Captain EO.

[@PCCphoenix]

5:53--"Hey, you goldbricks, this ain't a spectator sport! Where do you think you are, Disney World?!!" (Nice inside joke.)

[@redrasegarden]

Daniel Pippenger I do like me some meta humor

[@mimisargent766]

The irony is that this ride is (or was) in Disney world

[@PCCphoenix]

@@mimisargent766 my point exactly! 👍

[@ausername5410]

Rip Buzzy. he will be missed

[@ReverendSyn]

The Buzzy animatronic has been stolen recently after sitting there with a lone spotlight trained on him for 11 years.

[@annecorrie_]

I saw that on WDWNT. I'm really upset....cant believe someone would do something like that. I wonder where is is now?

[@funnycomedymaster]

@@annecorrie_ It was probably done by disney. They figured there was no use for it, so they got rid of it.

[@Wig4]

@@funnycomedymaster They often recycle the whole puppet, or just the inner mechanics, when somewhere a figurant animatronic is needed in a new attraction... :-) ... You are probably right, Emily, the "theft" could be a fan's hoax ! :-)

[@Wig4]

@@annecorrie_ I actually do not believe a word about the rumours spread by WDWNT. They tell a lot, but cannot show one bit of evidence !

[@annecorrie_]

@@Wig4 there are pictures of 2 animatronics missing from the stange. There is a video about it on KZbin where they show the pictures.

[@RobJYeo]

That music at the beginning is pure Epcot, just wish I could find it somewhere.

[@EPCOTFan82]

Rob Yeo There is a great website called epcot legacy and they are working on restoring old epcot music and they have all the music for Journey into Imagination, The Land, Universe of Energy, Wonders of Life and The Living Seas. So far.

[@CuseGirl87]

It's called Behind the Waterfall by Paul Speer :)

[@_AllisonRae_]

Poor Buzzy. At least he was fine in 2005.

[@brentboswell1294]

Just realized that I saw this in Spring 1990, when my high school band played in the Walt Disney World Main Street Parade...The memories of Hanz and Franz as the heart sticks out in my memories 🤣

[@X_Star_Sprinklez_X]

*I wonder what fucked up crew I have in my brain*

[@laurenjanfeshan4670]

That song playing while he walked through the queue really brought back the childhood nostalgia! Thank you!

[@David-sr3tz]

I had the same reaction.

[@melissadarkstalker]

I teared up watching this. It was a fun way to convey a good message about being in control of yourself and making the right decisions.

[@SaraHouck461]

IKR? It's no wonder my mom firmly reminded me and my sister on how we should've learned a valuable lesson from that attraction when we unknowingly misbehaved at one point after coming home from a vacation that included an experience of that particular attraction! It's no wonder many people are lamenting on how today's kids are naughtier than Satan! They could've benefited from that attraction if it kept running permanently!

[@PyroGothNerd]

Is it just me or does Buzzy sounds way different in the animated part than as an animatronic?

[@cassiewebb865]

Someone else did his voice for the animation part

[@imagineyoshi4469]

this ride definitely explains the comparison of how the brain works. Also it defines the work of how the brain sends messages to aother parts of the body also it defines of how we people have stress.

[@SImmons3128]

Imagine yoshi except the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere are not separated and cover the same system

[@kieracollins3490]

It's sad that poor Buzzy has been stolen, I hope that they find him and can fix him and Hypothalamus! It was speculated that they may have been bringing him back for a bit!

[@garrettcarter2959]

The unseen conversation oddly makes this video seem more personal.

[@bowmaj8666]

I saw that someone had posted a picture online of the Buzzy Animatronic, which from what I understand was still there at the pavilion long after it shut down. I work at an arcade that I used to visit as a kid, and I was checking out the back room and came across some old games that didn't work anymore. Many of them were ones that I used to play all those years ago; it was such a surreal experience. So I can just imagine someone going to see this show back in the day, and years later getting a job as an engineer or something at Disney World and actually seeing that animatronic; no longer operational and covered in dust! I don't know if it's been removed yet, but taking stuff like that out must be weird if you remember seeing this show as a kid!

[@cecdenverspersonalaccount5933]

The Buzzy animatronic was sadly recently stolen so this may never happen

[@Kerplunk_]

Bowmaj 86 why can’t they make another one instead of shutting it down 😥😰 I wanna go there than just see it please please PLEASE PLEASE PPLLEEAASSEE

[@Jedimichael]

Such good memories. Sometime in 1994, had just rode Body Wars, which completely freaked me out and made me feel nauseous, (which I've read was quite a regular thing for people). Family then went and watched this, which being a comedy, totally helped calm me down. Being 13/14 at the time, I could relate.

[@benster5]

It made me nauseous also!

[@jrob5465]

Hey... amazing fact: Look at 4:10. The guy on the left side on the screen with the curly hair.... that is Pete Doctor. He was an intern at Disney in1989 and he worked on this project. Just found out from someone on the inside.

[@SaraHouck461]

Hmm...I'm guessing that inspired Pixar for its upcoming Inside Out film.

[@SonofMrPeanut]

It's the perfect excuse for an Inside Out conversion of this attraction, among other things. I'm just incredibly pleased to find so many people having the same idea about Cranium Command.

[@kenny3001]

SonofMrPeanut it happened with Subs in Disneyland too being revived after Finding Nemo's Success.

[@SonofMrPeanut]

Complete with references to the previous ride! With CC, though, EPCOT has a whole pavilion to think about if they decide to renovate that theater. They could easily do an updated Body Wars, in tribute to Leonard Nimoy, though I'm not sure if The Making of Me would be the first thing they'd try to bring back. Even if they did, they've already got Martin Short in the Canada film. Still,it's a great reproductive education film.

[@roboguy75]

SonofMrPeanut I doubt the Making of Me would come back (even if it was a great short about human reproduction), but yes, Body Wars should come back or at least an updated one in honor of Leonard Nimoy (if they did a tribute to Michael Jackson then that can work too), and have Cranium Command be based around Inside Out.

[@Kerplunk_]

6:47 buzzy: god help me it’s dark and I’m crowded by freaking people) :steals: Also btw....... BUZZYS VOICE IS SO CUTE IN MOVIE AND REAL LIFE SHOW

[@southparkboyproductions6040]

I’d like to see this come to the imagination pavilion’s magic eye theater

[@AlyKatKitty]

Geez, that cast member giving him the third degree.

[@thekingofthefat6424]

Buzzy has been kidnapped!

[@metroid1223]

Yo did anyone else find the theater itself to be really eerie and creepy looking? Because I sure did.

[@245thegreat]

Compared with earlier footage, buzzy seems to be moving a lot faster from left to right, which made the whole thing look a lot more animated. I'm not sure if they purposely slowed the movement down to save on maintenance, or it was just in need of calibration, or a worn out part. The lighting and smoke effects were also looking lack lustre compared with the first 10 years of operation. Looks to me like it was ran without any passion by the time this was recorded, which really is a shame seeing that it was a Disney attraction. Ah well, thanks for the video anyway 🙂

[@FrozenHaxor]

It's sadly been abandoned by Disney and someone actually cut the hydraulic lines and stole Buzzy altogether, sad state of affairs.

[@beanybabyrabie]

Back when Disney had morals and society VALUED morals and lessons for children

[@minespatch]

I hope disney shows the animation sometime on DVD. Needs to be seen with quality.

[@That2WDGuy]

So. I'm here from Annual Pass podcast with Jack and Geoff. Hearing them talk about I didn't remember this. Watching your video however legitimately brought me back. I was young but I remember it now. Appreciate the video

[@ntexas100]

Thanks for sharing this video. The family and I would always see it and we always loved it from the very first time we went to Disney World (1992). We were saddened when it was only opened seasonally because we knew it was coming to it's end.

[@madden8021]

Where do you think you are... DISNEY WORLD????

[@JoshuaOrro-MustangPrinceOR-YTB]

Lol

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

madden8021 uuhhhh yeeessss?

[@saramcconnell8817]

I don't know... good question

[@nikilynn0707]

The you tuber is at Disney world allreddy

[@Tenny_RW]

Me:well no but actually ye- The commander:GET DOWN AND DO 500 PUSH-UPS!

[@RichardServello]

This video is probably about to see some traffic.

[@plutokitty3386]

Suspicious..

[@nurgle269]

I remember watching this back when I was a kid, they need to open the pavilion back up!

[@rlaump3]

Great Video. It is great to see the comedy stars of the past. Good to see Hanz and Franz as the heart. I do miss this attraction as well.

[@ReverendSyn]

So how was the boy operating for 12 years if Buzzy is just now assigned to operate him?

[@just_a_mollusk]

The world may never know...

[@stonesbones4789]

Rip Buzzy Sorry it had to end this way, my son.

[@endoheartcookie5343]

It sucks that it’s closed

[@seanpatrickcain2]

5:53 Sir, yes, sir! lol

[@dhthenomad6076]

Rip buzzy

[@dhthenomad6076]

Also #lookforbuzzy

[@notmyrealname6150]

I miss this attraction.

[@BBDoll17]

I wish I could've seen this show before it closed :( I was 5 when it closed. If it was still open (we'd have to have Buzzy for that) I'd drag my family to the Wonders of Life Pavillion just to see this.

[@pigtailsboy]

This looked pretty nostalgic. Shame these old things don't see a reintroduction. Suppose it's the trouble of having such a large and expanding park. Things need to go and be replaced in order to keep it jumping. Little park that wasn't to far from where I was born kept it's base old structure for a very long time, being the only local amusement park in the Chicago area and the oldest at 80 years. I'm not sure how much was ever torn out and replaced... added to it yes but not sure replacing was a habit. Kept it's wings till the land owning part of the family sold out the park owning side of the family in favor of leasing/selling to a Costco instead. Here's hoping the city as well as the mayor are long from now remembered as the folks who gave up a one of the only features of their sprawling suburban wasteland.

[@rockerthegengar]

The short that played before Moana in theaters brought me here.

[@drdremd]

I really appreciate you posting this. It was one of my favorite pares of Epcot for sure.

[@awkwarddrawings]

I was a born a year before this ride early 2000s aesthetic has such a nostalgic look to it

[@kuluke2002]

In case anyone's wondering, the song at 12:17 is "Venus" by Frankie Avalon.

[@fredyrodriguez8881]

I like the general He reminds me of the Soldier (R.I.P Rick May)

[@louiswright8282]

You were real good, son, real good, maybe even the best...

[@peacecookie34]

Bring Buzzy home!!

[@PrimeStoneToons]

I wish I could of experience this

[@SaraHouck461]

I'm glad you do. I firmly believe an experience like that would make for a pretty good Caillou episode!

[@zedc6072]

I would pay to see this as a movie

[@Viliatheshark]

Well, you may be in luck (somewhat). Disney is currently making a movie called Inside Out, dealing with the emotions debating amongst each other inside the mind of a young girl named Riley as her life goes through a rough period.

[@zedc6072]

Viliatheshark Sounds cool. I still want Captain Cranium though

[@MikeJehmszClassic]

Viliatheshark Specifically, Pixar is making it.

[@saramcconnell8817]

Well that depends on if you think inside out is this ride as a movie...

[@MomoShirochan]

I actually remember this when I went to Disney World back in 2000.

[@BoRnMuSh]

sad to see how much disneyworld has declined since the good old days. now they just cram in any disney or pixar movie that is somewhat successful . it's depressing to see epcot and MGM in such terrible shape compared to the horizons era.

[@TralfazConstruction]

Excellent quality video circa 2005. Nice presentation. It looks like it would have been a good place to go to cool off.

[@philipbabb]

Looking back on this, I think this might have been a bit complicated for my age when I first viewed this. But still a good message for the kids.

[@SaraHouck461]

Yeah...this attraction was helpful enough to rid children of any inner ugliness they might've had!

[@planetpihl660]

this animation reminds me of the brave little toaster!

[@thecrazydisneyparksfanatic921]

Never got to see it but I have been in the wonders of life pavilion before it closed. I so miss the old days, the old Disney parks

[@thatdudeinthehoodie]

Remember Folks the people that did this also did Beauty and the Beast

[@roboguy75]

Talk about going from great to amazing

[@OceanbornAngel]

Thankfully they allowed you to film this before closing it permanently.

[@JeremiahsFiles]

I remember Cranium Command, I’ve been there when I was 8.

[@InitiallyCameraShy]

Aww wish that was still there :(

[@SaraHouck461]

Yes! It should make a permanent comeback for future generations so they could live more wholesome lifestyles!

[@InitiallyCameraShy]

tubedweeb Harsh!

[@hamursh]

If this were to tie in to any of the shows of Disney's One Saturday Morning it would be complete!

[@LawnBunny777]

"If I say something will they hear it?" "Probably" - great job on shutting down that annoying woman. I would hate to hear her comments all through the video lol

[@SaraHouck461]

You took the words right out of my mouth! My parents dragged me over there once, regardless of how reluctant I was, and they took it into consideration well enough for me to drag me over there a SECOND time on another trip because of how concerned they were about my NAUGHTINESS to the point where my sister asked me, "are you nice now?" as soon as we left! I'm glad there were attractions that convince guests to live more WHOLESOME lifestyles besides just let them have fun! MORALS RULE!!

[@charlottevicarage2092]

Sara Houck You poor girl. If ever you want to talk, I'm here.

[@tbohrer01]

This was always such a fun show to watch. And see Chris Farley is the bully! Wow!

[@KaitlinsDisneyExperience]

When Robin Lopez has Buzzy's clothes...

[@EPCOTFan82]

What a great ride!

[@Joseph_harpist]

his is so similar to "Inside Out" The new Pixar movie coming in 2015 

[@graciray2838]

"Inside out" was based off this the director of "inside out" worked on this there for "inside out's" idea was born

[@The-epcot-nerd]

BUZZY WHERE ARE YOUUUU!!!!

[@memebuilders4739]

Where do you think you are Disney world🤣🤣🤣

[@Robman92]

Weird but interesting

[@Gracesacchieri]

I miss Cranium command so much good times but the good thing I am bring that place back soon I will be working at the Walt disney copney

[@stephenvarela8172]

I was born in 1990 and The first time I rode this in 1992 and I loved it

[@abbyginge03]

Reminds me a lot about inside out XD

[@TheFattyKarate]

Inside Out was based partly on Cranium Command.

[@abbyginge03]

aaaaaaaaaaa

[@miasinbela9609]

thats because the movie was inspired by it watch 107 facts about inside out you'll learn

[@SalocinDotTEN]

Yes, I think 1 of the lead consultants for Inside Out was the ride designer for Cranium Command.

[@unrellated]

Lead consultant nothing, Pete Doctor, the creator and director of Inside Out was an animator on this ride. He even got his head to appear in the hangar in the preshow.

[@crdbaby]

I really miss this show.

[@ericahorn2422]

I do remember this one and if I have to be honest I didn’t like because I guess of how loud it was because I was probably little back then but I find it very informative of how the human brain works and I preferred to see food rocks or ride at the human body which was similar to the Star Wars ride.

[@melissadarkstalker]

I enjoyed it so much It stuck with me. Now adays you go on a ride it only teaches you EXPLOSIONS ARE AWESOME!!!

[@ellacoleman4204]

A fun remaster of this ride would be a inside out theme!

[@Tomsonic41]

Did Cranium Command use video projectors, or did they have actual films running?

[@tiffanismith9240]

Buzzy is so cute 😂

[@jonnyboy4289]

A. Cadet Bennie is 24 years old. Bennie is twice as old as Cadet Ann was when Bennie was as old as Ann is now. How old is Cadet Ann. Answer-Cadet Ann is 12 Years Old since 24 (Bennie's Age) divided by 2 (twice as old as Ann) is 12. B. Two Cranium Commandos sat down to have lunch together. The first was the second's son. The second was not the first's father. What was the second Cranium Commando? Answer-The Second Cranium Commando is the first commando's "adoptive step" father. Not his "original birth" father. C. Why did the kid cross the road? Answer- I have no idea. Why?

[@cosmiccove1272]

B could also be that it's his mother.

[@realar]

Hey! No dissing Jim Varney!

[@jonathanakerele8006]

He was funny on those old Cerritos Auto Square commercials in the 90's and he did the voice of Slinky, the dog shaped slinky toy from the 1995 film Toy Story. I remember seeing the trailer for that movie and being impressed by how realistic the cars looked during the scene when Woody and Buzz are escaping from Scud. =)

[@Da-vid-content]

I am here because I am going to Epcot tomorrow and I am going to watch this video in front of the pavilion

[@daviddavenport1485]

Riley's Cranium Command

[@toyotamarshall]

2:43 it's revealed that Ernest doesn't use his brain

[@Lafalot54]

lol, that lady thought you were a CM. I remember watching that in epcot when I was little. The video looks so old haha

[@secondaryactons]

How come the voice for buzzy in the cartoon is different from the live show?

[@SalocinDotTEN]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@QuentrixMovies]

I think he's voiced by the 12-year-old boy in the show so he sounds like the kid's thoughts.

[@saramcconnell8817]

There was a live show?!

[@Teamcurtisbjj]

I’m Scott Curtis. I’m Buzzy and the 12 yr old boy. You were all inside my head. I’m not sure why I didn’t voice it in the preview room. I think it’s because we made it in LA and it was sent to Florida slightly unfinished.

[@nikilynn0707]

Yum it is corn with chicken

[@SaraHouck461]

Tell me about it! That attraction served as an awesome morality tale for guests!!

[@beanybabyrabie]

Interesting how inclusive this animation is…. I’ve been noticing how PREVALENT POC are in old things despite us being told otherwise

[@blasphemylord6663]

i want buzzy even though i’m scared of him

[@bensstuff4363]

“WHERE DO YOU THINK YOURE AT?, DISNEY WORLD!!!

[@jerryhorn4697]

Hypothalamus sounds like it could be related to Marvin, the terminally depressed, paranoid android from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". "Life. Don't talk to me about life. Sounds awful."

[@bluboid5616]

is this videod recorded years agi then just posted this year

[@PetaHatingChris42]

The cast member he's talking to sounds like she's from Minnesota.