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(Q.) WHAT IS A CHARACTER HEAD?

(A.) A CHARACTER HEAD IS PART OF THE COSTUME THAT THE ACTOR PORTRAYING THE CHARACTER THAT THE PUBLIC SEES WALKING AROUND THE DISNEY PARKS, FOR EXAMPLE; MICKEY OR MINNIE.  WEARS OVER HIS HEAD. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW.
          
            
           
             
EXAMPLE OF A CHARACTER HEAD
(Q.) HOW IS A CHARACTER HEAD MADE?

(A.) A CHARACTER HEAD IS MADE OUT OF FIBREGLASS, THE SAME MATERIAL THAT MOST NEWER CAR BODIES ARE MADE OF AND MOST ALL BOATS ARE MADE OUT OF FIBREGLASS.  YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT OF ITEMS WE PURCHASE THAT ARE MADE PARTIALY OR COMPLETELY OUT OF FIBREGLASS.  FIBREGLASS CLOTH IS USED IN THIS PROCEDURE.  (YOU CAN PURCHASE FIBREGLASS IN DIFFERENT FORMS, CLOTH IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.)  A COATING OF EPOXY RESIN IS BRUSHED ONTO A MOLD, OR "TOOLING" AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT BY.  THE FIBREGLASS CLOTH IS THEN PLACED OVER THE MOLD AND PUSHED WITH A BRUSH INTO ALL THE NOOKS AND CREVICES.  AFTER THE CLOTH HAS BEEN PROPERLY PLACED INTO THE MOLD A SECOND LAYER OF EPOXY RESIN IS BRUSHED OVER THE CLOTH UNTIL THE CLOTH IS SATURATED WITH THE RESIN.  A SECOND LAYER OF CLOTH IS THEN PLACED OVER THE MOLD, AND THE PROCEDURE IS REPEATED.  AFTER THE RESIN HAS TURNED HARD (CURED), THE  HARDENED FIBREGLASS IS THEN CAREFULLY PULLED OUT OF THE MOLD.  AFTER ALOT OF FINISH WORK, SUCH AS SANDING IS DONE, THE HEAD MOVES TO DIFFERENT OPERATIONS FOR COMPLETION.
ALL OF THE HEADS ARE CREATED USING A "FIRST ARTICLE HEAD"  WHICH IS A HEAD THAT WAS FINISHED AND APROVED BY THE ART DIRECTOR BEFORE ANY OTHER HEADS ARE MADE.  IT SERVES AS A REFERENCE TO AID IN THE COMPLETION OF ALL OF THE ORDER OF A PARTICULAR HEAD.

THE PROCEDURE JUST DISCUSSED IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR FIBREGLASS LAY-UP.  NO "TRADE" SECRETS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.  CONTACT THE WEBMASTER CONCERNING THIS PROCEDURE.
(Q.) CAN THE ACTORS BREATHE WEARING THOSE HEADS ?  ARE THEY HEAVY?  DOESN'T IT GET HOT INSIDE THOSE HEADS?

(A.) THE HEADS HAVE BUILT IN VENTILATION HOLES SO THE ACTORS CAN BREATH, AND THE HOLES HELP TO CIRCULATE THE AIR IN THE HEAD.  THE ACTORS HAVE A BREAK EVERY TWENTY MINUTES OR SO BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE HOLES, IT STILL DOES GET HOT IN THE HEAD.  ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.  AS FAR AS "ARE THE HEADS HEAVY".  THE HEADS HAVE COME ALONG WAY IN DESIGN AND MATERIAL USE.  SIX YEARS OR SO AGO THE HEADS WEIGHED 80% MORE THAN THEY DO NOW.
THE CHARACTER HEAD DEPARTMENT AT DISNEY HAS MADE MASCOTS FOR A FEW ORGANIZATIONS.  THE HEAD PICTURED HERE WAS MADE FOR THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS BY THE CHARACTER HEAD DEPARTMENT.  SOME HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE COME TO THE CHARACTER HEAD DEPARTMENT FOR MASCOT HEADS.  THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO THE CHARACTER HEAD DEPARTMENT FOR A MASCOT HEAD.  THE CHARACTER HEAD DEPARTMENT IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT LIKE IT IN THE WORLD.  THE CHARACTER HEADS FOR THE ENTIRE DISNEY ORGANIZATION ARE MADE BY THIS DEPARTMENT.  ALL OF THE DISNEY THEME PARKS ALL OVER THE WORLD RECEIVE HEADS FROM THE CHARACTER HEAD DEPARTMENT.
THIS DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE SKILLED CRAFTSPEOPLE DESERVE TO BE AKNOWLEGDED FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND FOR LENDING THEIR SKILLS TO MAKE KIDS OF ALL AGES SMILE.
"GLOBIE"
MASCOT FOR THE
HARLEM GOBETROTTERS
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