There was a time when you were most likely riveted to the safety presentation given by flight attendants before take-off. But after your fifth flight or so you were probably already sleeping or kept your eyes on your reading material, feeling that you knew everything there was to know about airplane emergency information.
In an effort to get its travelers paying attention again, Air New Zealand has released “An Unexpected Briefing.” Instead of the usual pre-recorded safety clip one might try to tune out, eyes might just leave books and magazines to look up at hobbits and other mythical characters traveling on a flight in Middle Earth.
Made in partnership with WETA Workshop, the new “Hobbit-inspired Safety Video” shows all the usual precautionary messages, except the flight attendant is an elf, hobbits, dwarfs and orcs are the passengers, and a wizard the pilot.
“Welcome aboard this Air Middle Earth flight,” the female elf stewardess says. “Before we set out on our journey, I would like to impart this story of safety. Even if you fly with us often, be sure to keep a sharp eye on the briefing.”
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
The clip within a day of its posting has more than 800,000 views on YouTube. Check it out for yourself:
The theme for this safety video was chosen as the new feature film based on JRR Tolkien’s classic tale — The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – makes its world premier later this month and on Dec. 14 in the United States.
As Wired pointed out, this isn’t the first move Air New Zealand has made to catch its passengers’ attention during air safety presentations. In previous stints, it has showed only the “bare essentials” of flight attendances (they were “wearing” only body paint) and has included guest cameos by celebrities like Richard Simmons.
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loneindividual
Nov. 2, 2012 at 7:59pmWill they fly over Mount Doom so I can drop the Ring of Power into it? It’s got a name that looks like…Karl Marx? Anybody know who that is?
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dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Nov. 2, 2012 at 4:06pmwhat a bunch of party poopers around here. they took something dreary and made it bearable so freakin lay off.
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Ballot_Box_Revolution
Nov. 3, 2012 at 11:50amAgreed…this more entertaining and creative, but it isn’t going to help much…once everyone has seen it a dozen times it will go the way of the attendants….
I propose hiring good looking attendants like they did back in the day….at least this way there would be something new on each flight….I know….so sexist, and wrong….but it’s true….
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elrond3737
Nov. 2, 2012 at 3:22pmI thought this was awesome. What fun. It is a bright spot in a bleak word. Hopefully God will bless us with a some rest(a worry free night sleep would be nice) on Tuesday. We need 4 to 8 years of peace and justice.
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Dismayed Veteran
Nov. 2, 2012 at 1:13pmI was 22 when I found out I was not invincible. I was in a Huey that was hit and went down.
I always look for the nearest emergency exit and how many people will be there before me.
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mildot rider
Nov. 2, 2012 at 12:57pmHa! Maybe we would fly if we didn’t have a filthy Nazi regime ready to pat us down if they please. Forget the presentation. We would rather walk thanks.
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woodyee
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:04amIt speaks much to the level of education in our society, when we have to resort to cartoon-like features to attract people’s attention to safety instructions, PRIOR to being lifted 35,000ft off the ground.
On the other hand, I’ve never been to New Zealand…are their female flight attendants really that pretty, and do they still go up and down the aisles in body paint?
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THX-1138
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:03amNo one is safe as long as the TSA is in operation.
Thanks, I’ll drive.
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randy
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:24amI will not fly until the TSa is history…..
Had a beautiful vacation in Texas Hill Country a few months back.
1750 miles and loved every minute of the drive…..
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burnteye86
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:46amI’ll hop across the country on one foot before submitting to TSA gestapo tactics again.
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Mia Cav
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:01amA now defunct airline I can’t remember used to have creative safety too. They did a jazz version, a Jamacian theme, even a sci-fi. It got my attention again.
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midnightsun
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:59amThis is pretty cute. Something different and light for a change. Nothing wrong with articles that make one laugh once in a while—something other than politics!!! The Biden articles make me laugh every day because he’s such an idiot!
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Libermerican
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:24pmI enjoyed it too. Clever, and well done. Fly you fools! :)
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Bo_Plenty
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:53am“…..the safety presentation given by flight attendants before take-off.”…and remember, IN THE CASE OF AN IMPENDING CRASH, be sure to LEAN FORWARD and put your head between your knees…
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kickagrandma
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:48amI HATE to fly, but I would do it again if I could fly with that crew!
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Duuuuh
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:11amHighly unlikey that will happen then. They still won’t allow smoking… and that means anything. Besides… how do you expect to get it past TSA… dress in a burqa or something?
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KIWL-DA-WABBIT
Nov. 2, 2012 at 3:23pmYou are right DUUUUH, If you want to avoid the TSA Dress like an ARAB!
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floridareader
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:42amNice!
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copatriots
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:42amI think it’s rude to not listen when the Flying Waiter is doing their safety speech. (I apologize if I offend anyone but I seriously doubt they can or would save a life if the plane is going down.) But….why do I have to listen when i’ve heard the same speech 100+ times and could recite it if necessary?
Just sayin’
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Edohiguma
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:49amLook at incidents where the cabin crew was essential of getting the people out of the plane. For example US Airways Flight 1549. The cabin crew got everyone out, in order, without problems, except when one panicking passenger opened a door he wasn’t supposed to open. Because then the bird took more water.
So what would you do if the bird goes down? Everyone for himself? Sounds like it. The cabin crew is there for several reasons. One is to maintain order in cases of emergency.
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kickagrandma
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:58amOut of respect?
That any good teacher knows for a student to really “get something” it needs to repeated over and over again until it sticks?
There may be some on your 100th flight who have never flown before?
Just sayin….
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copatriots
Nov. 2, 2012 at 1:39pmSorry, guys, but I credit Capt Sully for getting the folks off the plane…..not the crew. I would be of more use during an emergency than the vast majority of Flying Waiters I have flown with.
Not saying they shouldn’t recite the safety, KICK…..just forgive me for not paying attention.
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Rowgue
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:41amPeople ignore the safety briefing because they’ve heard it a hundred times. Getting them to listen to it the hundred and first time isn’t going to make them any safer. People new to flying will listen to it. It’s not like they are constantly introducing new safety features that people need to be aware of.
Exit rows, seat is a flotation device, air pressure loss masks drop, stay seated when light is on…yeah yeah yeah. Get back to me when you’ve actually got something new.
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Edohiguma
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:50amAnd when the SHTF you’ll be one of those endangering everybody else. All those high and mighty “we already know it, get on with it” are usually the first ones to break and panic.
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RaydocX
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:41amcute, but once you’re in your seat and know where the exits are related to your position, it’s all uneccesary if you’ve flown before, and the airlines or government acting otherwise is nannystatism at its finest… just like the prohibition on ipods, kindles, etc ‘during take off and landing’
if those WERE a risk to the flight, nobody would be allowed to have them on their person or in the cabin throughout the flight. It’s either intended to make us think they’re looking out for us, or to ‘assure we are listening.’ the former is ridiculous, and the latter moot.
maybe chain mail and morning star on the flight would keep your neighbor from hogging the armrest, though…
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Edohiguma
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:52amHow many passengers actively pay attention to where the exits and other safety measures are? Next time you fly look around. The vast majority I see when I fly are mindless zombies. So the cabin crew has to repeat the same old a bazillion times because maybe then today’s “fun society” might eventually catch a part of it and remember it longer than 5 seconds.
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RaydocX
Nov. 2, 2012 at 11:01ami won’t argue with you.
the same passengers aren’t paying attention to the flight attendants, either, though.
it’s a wasted presentation repeated ad nauseum, and treating everyone like children.
guess it gets you ready for the kid sized portion of pretzels and the half can drink.
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Tri-ox
Nov. 2, 2012 at 10:41amThis would make me much less likely to watch – it’s completely unbearable.
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