Learn About The Authentic Culturally Inspired Visuals Seen Throughout “Harmonious” At Epcot!

Harmonious arrived to Epcot this year to bring us magic and celebrate the power of Disney music and the world we live in.

This stunning nighttime spectacular illuminates the World Showcase with amazing projections and a beautiful ensemble of musical artists from all over the world reinterpreting familiar Disney songs in their own voice, honoring their respective cultures. The show draws inspiration from diverse cultures to present a unique look and style in each sequence throughout the show.

• 

• 

For example Harmonious starts in the Middle East with “Arabian Nights” a famous tune from Aladdin! The music is accompanied with imagery inspired by Arabic calligraphy and geometric designs.

Then we will see traditional Indian shadow puppets, handcrafted for the show by a multi-generational family of Tholu Bommalata artists form India and music from The Jungle Book.

After that, we start to hear “Reflection” featuring Chinese ink painting with significant contributions by a graphic artist from China. For these sequences, motion capture techniques were used to accurately convey the movement of Chinese martial artists in the Mulan scenes, as well as, the Mexican folk dancers from the “Coco” sequence.

In the Mexico tribute part of the show, you will see original art of Mexican sugar skulls provided by Pixar Animation Studios artist Ana Ramirez, and of course the amazing music from the movie! Without a doubt this part of Harmonious is one of the most stunning parts of the show.

• 

• 

We will then be transported to Africa! Songs from The Lion King will fill Epcot and feature art style inspired by bold and colorful African textiles. After that, it will be time for the European sequence with a stained glass including a nod to the famed Rose Window of Notre Dame Cathedral and the music of “Out There”, followed by Scottish woven tapestries for “Touch the Sky” from Brave!

Towards the end will move the North America sequence with songs like “Dig a Little Deeper” from The Princess and The Frog.

Related – More Information about Epcot’s new ‘Harmonious’ Nighttime Spectacular

Disney Live Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering worked closely with a broad range of cultural consultants and artists, including individuals from the National Museum of African Art and Kennedy Center International Programs, as well as, independent advisors representing each of the cultures and countries depicted in the show.

In striving for accuracy and authenticity, teams also connected with the filmmakers and cultural consultants at Pixar, Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering from all over the world making this project a labor of love for everyone involved.

Want to know more about Harmonious? Check out the Disney+ original series “Disney Insider” for a behind the scenes look at the development of the show!

Credit: Disney Parks

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started Now for your FREE No Obligation Quote.