Circle-Vision 360° is a film format developed by The Walt Disney Company that uses projection screens which encircle the audience.
Circle-Vision 360° developed from the Circarama format, which uses eleven 16 mm projectors. The first Circarama film was A Tour of the West (1955). For the film Italia '61, the number of cameras was reduced to nine, and the 16 mm film was shown using 35 mm projectors. In 1965, Circle-Vision 360° made its official debut, in a nine-camera, 35 mm format. At least one reason for the renaming from Circarama was objections by the owners of Cinerama to the similarity between the two names.
In both the Circarama and Circle-Vision 360° formats, the screens are arranged in a circle around the audience, with small gaps between the screens. The number of screens (eleven or nine) being odd results in a gap being opposite of each screen in the circle. The projectors are placed in these gaps, above the heads of the viewers. Railings are sometimes provided to steady the audience members while viewing the film. The cameras and projection systems for both Circarama and Circle-Vision 360° were designed by longtime Disney animator and visual effects pioneer Ub Iwerks. Circle-Vision 360° cameras have been mounted on top of automobiles for travelog scenes. For The Timekeeper (1992), static cameras and CGI effects were used.
At one time, every one of the Disney Resorts then open had at least one Circle-Vision 360° theater. The Epcot theme park has the only two still operating as of 2025. Circarama and Circle-Vision 360° films have also been featured at various world's fairs.
Circarama and Circle-Vision 360° films A Tour of the West and the original 1958 version of America the Beautiful were shot in Circarama. Italia '61 was filmed in 16 mm and billed as a Circarama film, but was shown using nine 35 mm projectors. All other films in the table were shot in Circle-Vision 360°. Title Year Premiere location Length (minutes) Contributors Sponsor Notes A Tour of the West 1955 Disneyland 12 American Motors Aka Circarama U.S.A. America the Beautiful 1958 Expo 58 16 or 18 Producer: James AlgarWriter: James Algar Ford Italia '61 1961 Expo 61 Executive producer: Roberto de LeonardisDirector: Elio Piccon Fiat Don Iwerks, son of Ub Iwerks, trained the crew, and stayed on to assist throughout the filming. Magic of the Rails 1964 Expo 64 Designer: Ernst A. Heiniger Swiss Federal Railways Aka Magie du rail and Zauber de Schiene. America the Beautiful 1967 Disneyland 18 AT&T Reshot and expanded version of the 1958 film. Canada '67 1967 Expo 67 18 Director: Robert BarclayOfficial Expo 67 guide book, page 178. Toronto: Maclean-Hunter Publishing Co. Ltd., 1967. Telephone Association of Canada Magic Carpet 'Round the World 1974 Magic Kingdom 21 Monsanto America the Beautiful 1975 Magic Kingdom Monsanto Version of the 1958 film revised for the United States Bicentennial. O Canada! 1982 Epcot Center 18 Narrator: Corey Burton Wonders of China 1982 Epcot Center Director: Jeff BlythNarrator: Keye Luke Magic Carpet 'Round the World 1983 Tokyo Disneyland Revised version of the 1974 film. American Journeys 1984 Disneyland Pacific Southwest Airlines Portraits of Canada 1986 Expo 86 Telecom Canada Aka Images du Canada. Le Visionarium 1992 Disneyland Paris 18 Director: Jeff BlythActors include Gérard Depardieu Renault Aka Un voyage à travers le temps and From Time to Time. The Timekeeper 1994 Magic Kingdom 18 Director: Jeff BlythVoice actors: Robin Williams,Rhea PerlmanOther actors include Jeremy Irons Renault English version of Le Visionarium. Incorporates parts of Magic Carpet 'Round the World. Reflections of China 2003 Epcot 12 Director: Jeff Blyth O Canada! 2007 Epcot Narrator: Martin ShortMusical score: Bruce Broughton,featuring Eva Avila Revised and updated version of the 1982 film. Canada Far and Wide 2020 Epcot 12 Narrators: Catherine O'Hara,Eugene LevyMusical score: Andrew Lockington Wondrous China TBA Epcot
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Circarama and Circle-Vision 360° theaters The theaters at Expo 58 and Disneyland were built as Circarama theaters. The latter would be upgraded to the Circle-Vision 360° system. Although the theater at Expo 61 predated the use of the Circle-Vision 360° name, it used nine 35 mm projectors. All other theaters in the tables were built as Circle-Vision 360° theaters.
Disney theme parks Years in parentheses after a film title indicate the versions of the movie shown at the theater. Park Location in park Formal names Opened Closed Films shown Sponsors Replaced by Disneyland Tomorrowland CircaramaCircle-Vision 360°World Premiere Circle-Vision July 17, 1955 September 25, 2000 A Tour of the WestAmerica the Beautiful (1958, 1967, 1975)American JourneysWonders of China American MotorsAT&T/Bell SystemPacific Southwest AirlinesDelta Air Lines Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Circle-Vision 360°Metropolis Science Center November 25, 1971 February 26, 2006 America the Beautiful (1967, 1975)Magic Carpet 'Round the World (1974)American JourneysThe Timekeeper MonsantoBlack & Decker Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Epcot World Showcase (Canada Pavilion) October 1, 1982 n/a O Canada! (1982, 2007)Canada Far and Wide n/a World Showcase (China Pavilion) October 1, 1982 n/a Wonders of ChinaReflections of ChinaWondrous China n/a Tokyo Disneyland Tomorrowland Circle-Vision 360°Visionarium April 15, 1983 September 1, 2002 Magic Carpet 'Round the World (1983)American JourneysFrom Time to Time Fujifilm Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Disneyland Paris Discoveryland Le Visionarium April 12, 1992 September 6, 2004 Le Visionarium Renault Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
Expos Expo City Location at Expo Opened Closed Film Sponsor Expo 58 Brussels, Belgium United States Pavilion April 17, 1958 October 19, 1958 America the Beautiful Ford Expo 61 Turin, Italy Fiat Circarama Pavilion May 1, 1961 October 31, 1961 Italia '61 Fiat Expo 64 Lausanne, Switzerland Transportation Pavilion April 30, 1964 October 25, 1964 Magic of the Rails Swiss Federal Railways Expo 67 Montreal, Canada Telephone Pavilion April 28, 1967 October 29, 1967 Canada '67 Telephone Association of Canada Expo 86 Vancouver, Canada Telecom Canada Pavilion May 2, 1986 October 13, 1986 Portraits of Canada Telecom Canada
See also List of film formats Cinéorama Bell Canada Pavilion (Expo 67)
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