True Colors – A Song, A Preshow, and A Lasting Inspiration
One of my all-time favorite songs is True Colors, and I first encountered it during a visit to Epcot. It wasn’t at a concert or during a fireworks display, but as part of the preshow for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. This wasn’t just filler content before the main attraction—it was a beautifully crafted, emotionally stirring piece of storytelling.
Presented by Kodak, the preshow combined powerful imagery with a moving rendition of True Colors, creating a message that has stuck with me ever since. As a kid, I may not have fully understood the depth of what I was seeing, but even then, it struck me as something special. Looking back now, I realize just how much of an impact it had on me. It was a reminder—then and now—to get out, explore the world, and truly live.
The Preshow: Kodak’s True Colors Presentation
From 1994 to 2010, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience was a major attraction in Epcot’s Imagination! Pavilion. Before entering the 3D theater for the main show, guests were treated to a preshow film presented by Kodak. This short film wasn’t about shrinking technology or the fictional world of Wayne Szalinski. Instead, it was about something deeply human: the power of memories, the beauty of the world, and the importance of capturing moments.
Set to a soulful cover of True Colors, the preshow featured a montage of stunning photographs—families, friendships, adventure, love, and moments of pure joy. Accompanying these images were words of inspiration, encouraging guests to embrace life and see the beauty in the world around them. Kodak’s message was clear: life is precious, and photography helps us hold onto the moments that matter.
At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate how rare it was to have a theme park preshow that wasn’t focused on hyping up the main attraction but instead delivering a heartfelt message. The combination of the song, the imagery, and the messaging left a lasting impression. It encouraged me then, and even more so now, to get out and experience life—to create and cherish memories.
