The Rukh (also spelled as Roc) is a bird that is popular in Middle Eastern mythology. It is most notable in being featured in the story of Sindbad the Sailor which in turn inspired the Sindbad's Storybook Voyage attraction at Tokyo DisneySea.
History[]
Background[]
The Rukhs featured in the Sindbad's Storybook Voyage attraction are based on the creatures from Middle Eastern folklore of the same name. They are shown to inhabit a faraway land known as Rukh Island, a sacred land where Rukhs live. The Rukhs consist of a trio of Rukh hatchlings as well as one adult female. The mother Rukh herself is very protective of her hatchlings and is shown to be territorial to those who steal the eggs of her hatchlings.
Development History[]
When the Sindbad's Storybook Voyage attraction opened as Sindbad's Seven Voyages, the attraction was very unpopular to guests due to its scary theme featuring the Rukhs being a threat to Sindbad and his crew. After the attraction closed in 2006 and reopened in 2007, the theme was toned down and features Sindbad and Chandu working together to fight off the pirates attacking the Rukhs of Rukh Island to which they were able to protect them, albeit the animatronics using the same design as in the previous incarnation.
Role in the attraction[]
Pre-2007 revamp[]
In the Rukh Island scene, Sindbad's crew is seen stealing the eggs of the Rukh hatchlings throughout Sindbad's adventures while the mother Rukh is seen angrily grabbing one of the crewmen. Unlike in the current incarnation of the attraction, Sindbad is not present in the scene.
Post-2007 revamp[]
When the attraction reopened as Sindbad's Storybook Voyage, a painting depicting a group of pirates roping the mother Rukh is displayed with Sindbad and Chandu facing them at Rukh Island. The Mother Rukh and two of her hatchlings are later displayed on a map on an area labeled as "Rukh Island".
In the ride, the Rukhs are encountered on Rukh where the Rukhs themselves are under attack by the pirates in the Sindbad's Storybook Voyage attraction. As Sindbad and Chandu are working together in protecting the hatchlings and fighting off the pirates, the mother Rukh can be seen flying in the sky grabbing a pirate helping Sindbad and Chandu fight off the pirates. In the Cave of the Giant, Sindbad then uses a Rukh's feather as a key to help free the Giant who was imprisoned to which Sindbad was able to rescue him.
At the end of the attraction, the Mother Rukh and two of her hatchlings are depicted with the other characters on a mural where she and her two chicks are seen bidding a farewell to Sindbad and Chandu which is seen just before boats stop at the loading zone where the guests exit the attraction.
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Rukh/Roc on Wikipedia.