If you talk to a Disney fanatic, chances are they have a favorite character. Simba, Snow White, Stitch, Elsa, the list goes on. But if you talk to a fan of the Disney parks, then you might hear them say that their favorite character is someone completely unexpected, that someone is a purple dragon named Figment. According to Deadline, Figment is finally making the leap from parks to theaters!
The film is currently in the works with Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures; Rogen himself is also currently tagged in as producer. Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (Detective Pikachu) are both credited as writers for the film. As of yet, the plot and stars of the film have yet to be released.
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Figment was the creation of Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, Walt Disney Imagineers, in 1983. Figment made his grand debut in Epcot’s “Journey Into Imagination” dark ride. The ride introduced guests to Dream Finder, a wizard-like scientist who teaches Figment how to use his imagination.
In 1999, the ride was refurbished into “Journey Into Your Imagination” and starred Dr. Nigel Channing (Eric Idle) as he led guests through a tour of a fictional Imagination Institute. Dream Finder and Figment were demoted to mere cameos. But this wouldn’t be the last fans would see of the purple dragon.
Fans were not happy with the changes to the ride, they missed the plucky dragon! This caused the ride to undergo another remodel in 2002, now under the name “Journey Into Imagination With Figment.” The ride is now a mix of both old and new! Guests are still given a guided tour into the Imagination Institute, but this time with Figment acting as a trickster figure. As guests are guided into rooms, Figment will pop in and cause various mischief, in screen or animatronic form.
The Big Journey of a Little Dragon
Journey into Imagination with Figment by Loren Javier
Since his debut, Figment has grown to become a fan favorite among Disney fans young and old. The merchandise of the character sells like hotcakes in the parks. Earlier this year, a popcorn bucket made in the shape of the purple dragon became a hot ticket for park-goers, with lines spanning all over the place!
Like his current role in “Journey Into Imagination,” Figment has also managed to sneak his way into other feature films as well. In 2015’s Inside Out, a portrait of the plucky purple dragon can be seen in Riley’s Imagination Land. In 2019’s Toy Story 4, Figment makes another cameo appearance on a light-up game sign in the carnival at the end of the film.
After two cameos, it’s understandable that the beloved character would want to spread his wings and star in his own movie. Thanks to the rides, the lore possibilities have a ton of wiggle room for the writers to go wild and, dare I say, let their imaginations have fun! You could either go with the whimsical fantasy direction with Dream Finder, or you can go the more whacky and cartoony route with Dr. Nigel Channing. Whichever direction the team chooses, Disney fans will be keeping an eye out for what’s in store.
