Professors Revive Woody the Talking Christmas Tree for Holiday Season

University professors in Halifax have successfully restored Woody the Talking Christmas Tree, allowing the festive icon to greet visitors at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. After a mechanical malfunction threatened the tree’s traditional debut, Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science stepped in to ensure Woody awoke on schedule for the holiday season.

The mall’s owner contacted Dalhousie University for assistance after discovering that the mechanisms responsible for Woody’s animated features were not functioning properly. The urgent request came just ahead of the scheduled “Wake Up Woody” event on November 15. Assistant professors Hanieh Shakeri and Joe Malloch quickly volunteered their expertise in human-computer interaction to tackle the problem.

Shakeri, who recently relocated to Halifax, was initially unfamiliar with the local holiday tradition. “Our research space examines how humans interact with various computer systems. Woody’s wake-up routine presents an interesting challenge, allowing us to apply our research in a fun and engaging way,” she shared in a social media post.

Malloch, a Dartmouth native, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the project. “Experiencing Woody as a child adds a nostalgic element to this effort,” he noted. “Working on this project with Hanieh made it even more enjoyable.”

Over the course of two weeks, the professors made several visits to Mic Mac Mall, dedicating off-hours to avoid disrupting shoppers. While specific details of their work remain undisclosed, their efforts culminated in Woody making a successful appearance for the holiday festivities.

According to the mall’s owner, Joe Ramia of Rank Inc., the support from Dalhousie University was invaluable. “After exhausting our options to resolve the issue, we reached out to Dal and were impressed by their swift response. Our sincere gratitude goes to the Computer Science team for helping bring the spirit of the season to life this year,” he stated.

Woody has returned with enhanced features, including smoother blinking eyes and improved expressiveness, making him more engaging than ever. Visitors can interact with Woody at Mic Mac Mall until December 23, continuing a cherished holiday tradition that has delighted families for years.