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The current show stars Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye 'The Science Guy,' Alex Trebek, and Jamie Lee Curtis. It deals with energy, how energy is produced, the history of energy sources, and the search for new resources. In particular it focuses on the origins of fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. The entire pavilion building itself is an innovation in energy use, as the entire roof is covered in photovoltaic solar panels that partially power the ride system. Visitors travel in large battery-powered "Traveling Theater" vehicles that forego conventional tracks and instead follow guide wires embedded in the floor.
Original Attraction
The original Universe of Energy attraction used the same traveling theater system that is currently used by Ellen's Energy Adventure. The original films presented similar information but in a more serious fashion. The main attraction used essentially the same scenes and audio-animatronic dinosaurs as Ellen's Energy Adventure, though the latter attraction added a few figures to tie it to the new films.
- Preshow Theater Film (audience standing) - The original preshow was a unique "kinetic mosaic" invented by Czech film director Emil Radok (see link below for video). It consisted of 100 triangular units (reminiscent of those on the classic game show Concentration), arranged in a 25 wide by 4 high array. These units rotated under computer control and were synchronized to a movie projected onto their surface. These units were white on two sides, and matte black on the third. The combination of the film and the units' rotation created undulating, sometimes three-dimensional-appearing images. During the conclusion of the pre-show, the song "Energy (You Make The World Go Round)" was played.
- Theater I Film (audience seated) - Guests viewed an animated film that depicted the beginning of life on earth and the formation of fossil fuels.
- The Ride (audience seated) - At the conclusion of the film, the theater seating breaks up into six multi-passenger vehicles. The vehicles travel through primeval dioramas, populated with audio-animatronic dinosaurs.
- Theater II Film (audience seated) - The lengthiest portion of the show, a live-action film took guests on an in-depth look at various current and future sources of energy.
- Theater I Finale Film (audience seated) - The ride vehicles return to Theater I where guests saw a computer generated film of laser-like images that were reflected off of mirrored walls within the theater. The film was accompanied by the upbeat song "Universe of Energy."
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