Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Electric State.
SinceThe Electric State’s opening sequence suggests that Walt Disney was the first to create robots, many viewers may be curious whether this is an actual fact. Based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel of the same name, theRusso brothers’The Electric Statepresents a fantastical alternate timeline where humanity’s unchecked ambition leads to a brutal war between humans and robots. Although the humans eventually emerge victorious, and the surviving robots are forced to live in an enclosed area, the war leads to an unfair distribution of power in the world.
Before the movie jumps to the present timeline to highlight how this power distribution impacts the masses, it walks through the history of how humans developed nearly sentient robot beings. During this exploration of the alternate history,The Electric Stateclaims that Walt Disney invented robots. TheNetflix sci-fi movie’s opening Walt Disney detail demands a fact check because it is hard not to be curious whether it is an accurate historical claim or a fictional addition to the narrative.
The Electric State Makes Up Walt Disney Inventing Robots
The Opening Sequence Is Purely Fictional
In reality, Walt Disney did not invent robots. Since the beginning, Disney has been heavily invested in developing technology and innovation that promotes animation. However, it makes sense thatThe Electric Stateincludes this fictional detail because many robots in the movie’s narrative are visually inspired by popular animated figures and mascots from the 80s and 90s.
With a whopping budget of $320 million,The Electric Stateis Netflix’s most expensivemovie ever.
By suggesting that Walt Disney was a robotics pioneer,The Electric Statejustifies why its robot characters look so familiar and evocative. It must be noted that there is a semblance of truth in the Disney story suggestion. While Walt Disney may not have invented robotics, the media conglomerate has made many significant contributions to the technology.
Disney Did Push Some Robot Technology Forward
Disney Has Contributed A Lot To Animatronics
Disney may not have been the leader in robotics but has contributed to the technology in several ways. For instance,Audio-Animatronics, which is a form of mechatronic puppetry, was created by Walt Disney Imagineering. The technology has also often been used in Disney theme parks and attractions. Unlike robots and androids, mechatronic puppets have pre-recorded movements, which are synchronized with external sources of sound.
The Electric State Live-Action & Voice Cast And Character Guide
Apart from walking through an enthralling sci-fi adventure, Netflix’s The Electric State also features memorable performances from a talented cast.
Audio-Animatronics are considered to be significantly different from robots and androids because they lack the ability to respond to external stimuli. Since the robots inThe Electric Stateare somewhat sentient and have the ability to respond to their surroundings with almost human-like emotions, associating them with Walt Disney’s Audio-Animatronics would be a bit of a stretch. However, sinceThe Electric Stateis a fictional movie targeted primarily toward younger audiences, it makes sense that it uses the Disney connection to instill a sense of familiarity and nostalgia in audiences.
The Electric State
Michelle, an orphan in a robot-filled alternate 1990s, discovers her brother may still be alive after a mysterious robot visit. Teaming up with a smuggler and his sidekick, she ventures into the Exclusion Zone, only to uncover sinister forces behind her brother’s fate.
