The Ogre sometimes referred to as Rasputin is one of the ghosts haunting the Haunted Mansion.
Description
Final
Nothing is known about the ogre's mortal life but his portrait depicts him as a large, stern man with a long white beard, short unruly white hair, and a red/orange coat worn over a shite shirt.
Unused
Originally the ogre was intended to be based on the real life early 20th century occult Russian Mad Monk, Grigori Rasputin. Rasputin was famous for his alleged supernatural powers from a young age as well as the more deviant social life which he developed in his adult years.
Rasputin was eventually killed in an assassination attempt in which he allegedly survived multiple poisoning without any affects, resurrected himself after being shot in the chest, and finally was shot once more and dumped into a frozen over river before he finally died.
When the artist behind the portrait, Marc Davis showed the concept art to Walt Disney he told him to change the likeness as Grigori still had living descendants and Walt didn't want them to sue the company for using his likeness.
Effects
Much like the other Sinister 11 portraits the Ogre's portrait features the "staring-eyes" effect which was accomplished by painting pupils on ping-pong balls cut in half. The eyes were cut out and the balls were set behind the portrait and lit, giving guests the impression that they are moving.
Originally he was going to be a changing portrait where his eyes would expand and combine taking up his entire head as one all seeing eye. This would likely have been in reference not only to the mysticism of Rasputin, but to how he was often noted by those who met him as having uncannily shiny bright blue eyes.
Trivia
- The unofficial identification of the character as the Ogre is in reference to a monster from French Fairytales which are large ugly creatures which primarily eat human children and infants. Sometimes they are shown to have shapeshifting powers and the character of Bluebeard has sometimes been identified with it.
- Much like the Witch of Walpurgis, Count Dracula and the Arsonist originally his portrait was going to be a changing portrait.