Key: False bottom. The dimensions and thickness can easily hidden 4 persons side by side in pairs.
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### How Antonio Diaz's "Impossible Teleportation" Magic Trick Works
The YouTube video is a repost of a famous illusion performed by Spanish magician **Antonio Diaz** (stage name **El Mago Pop**) during his U.S. TV debut on NBC's **TODAY Show** on July 31, 2023, at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The original clip (from the official TODAY channel) has millions of views, and this version by uploader "Ujjvalam" (a magic compilation channel) has ~2.7k views with low engagement, likely due to being a non-official upload. The trick, titled "Impossible Magic by Antonio Diaz, Teleportation Right in Front of Eyes," involves "teleporting" four volunteers across the plaza using two identical glass boxes (rotating crystal platforms). It's a stunning live performance watched by ~7 million viewers, blending misdirection, pre-planning, and stagecraft—but no actual teleportation, of course.
Based on detailed breakdowns from magic experts (e.g., forums like Reddit's r/Magic and r/Damnthatsinteresting), illusion analyses, and the trick's classic roots, here's **how it's pulled off**. This is a modern twist on 19th-century illusions like those by John Nevil Maskelyne or David Devant's "Expansible Lady" (using false compartments). Diaz's version is "impossible" due to the live, outdoor setting with crowds, but it's achievable through layered deception. I'll break it down step-by-step, matching the video's sequence (from the provided transcription and official clip details).
#### **Setup & Preparation (Pre-Show Misdirection)**
- **The Props**: Two transparent glass boxes (~2m tall, rotating on platforms) are placed ~50-100m apart across the plaza. They're identical to build symmetry and trust—viewers assume "nothing can hide inside." But each box has **built-in false floors** (raised black platforms or trapdoors, visible as "black bumps" in high-res footage) and **concealed compartments** in the sides/base. These allow people to enter/exit unseen during covers. The rotation adds flair but also hides seams.
- **Volunteer "Selection"**: From ~24 audience members (TODAY fans in color-coded t-shirts), a host spins a **rigged wheel** that "randomly" lands on black (the volunteers' color). This isn't chance—magnets or weights ensure it. The four chosen are **pre-vetted look-alikes or twins** (or actors planted as fans). They wear identical black outfits for easy swaps. Real volunteers might be dismissed animatedly if they interfere.
- **Why It Feels Random**: The plaza crowd (hundreds) creates chaos, distracting from plants. Diaz chats casually pre-trick to build rapport.
#### **Execution Sequence (Matching the Video)**
Using the transcription ("okay it's like a carnival ride... put your hands on the glass... don't move... come with me live from New York...") and official footage:
1. **Entry & Instructions (0:00-0:30)**: The four "volunteers" enter Box A (near the hosts). Diaz says it's "like a carnival ride" to relax them, then: "Put your hands on the glass... no matter what happens, don't move—even if you feel deaf or anything." This is **key misdirection**:
- Hands on glass block sightlines (hiding swaps inside).
- "Don't move" prevents peeking or fidgeting.
- Blindfolds (mentioned in reports) are added last, covering eyes while hands stay put.
- **Secret Action**: As they pose, the real volunteers **duck into false compartments** (via trapdoors or side panels). Pre-planted duplicates (look-alikes) emerge from hiding spots in Box B (e.g., under false floors or behind temporary barriers during setup). The boxes' transparency is illusory—angled glass or one-way mirrors (from certain angles) aid concealment.
2. **The "Teleport" Moment (0:30-1:00)**: Diaz covers both boxes with large black drapes (or cloths) simultaneously—live TV timing is tight, but assistants (off-camera) coordinate via cues. Under the cover:
- In Box A: Real volunteers are fully hidden/extracted via underground tunnels or side exits (plaza has service access). Empty box revealed.
- In Box B: Duplicates "appear" by stepping out from compartments, posing identically (hands on glass, blindfolds on).
- Drapes drop: "Come with me... live from New York from Rockefeller Plaza... over here!" The "teleported" group is unveiled in Box B amid applause. The rotation spins for drama, masking any floor inconsistencies.
3. **Reveal & Aftermath (1:00+)**: Blindfolds removed; "volunteers" act shocked. Hosts (e.g., Hoda Kotb) gasp: "Mind-blowing!" Diaz bows, plugging his Broadway show. The real originals rejoin the crowd casually (e.g., "walking back" off-camera) to avoid suspicion.
#### **Core Deceptions & Why It Works**
| **Element** | **How It Deceives** | **Classic Magic Principle** |
|-------------|---------------------|-----------------------------|
| **Look-Alikes/Twins** | Identical stand-ins fool the eye; quick swap under cover. | **Substitution** (e.g., like Criss Angel's street illusions). |
| **False Compartments/Mirrors** | Boxes have hidden spaces; mirrors reflect "emptiness" or block views. Hands on glass prevent peeking inside. | **Misdirection & Apparatus** (old "box illusions" use angled mirrors for "vanishing"). |
| **Covers & Blindfolds** | 5-10 seconds of "blackout" for swaps; blindfolds limit volunteer awareness. | **Time Misdirection**—audience focuses on drape drop, not logistics. |
| **Live TV Constraints** | No edits (it's broadcast live), but pre-rigged props and planted helpers make it feasible. Crowd noise hides assistant movements. | **Environmental Control**—plaza layout allows hidden paths. |
| **Psychological Hooks** | "Don't move" builds tension; "random" selection feels fair. | **Suggestion & Expectation**—viewers want to believe the impossible. |
- **No CGI/Editing**: Confirmed live (TODAY archives verify no post-production). Diaz's team preps boxes days ahead with NBC crew complicity.
- **Risks & Flubs**: If a volunteer moves, it could expose the floor—hence the strict instructions. Weather (outdoor) adds challenge, but calm day helped.
This trick wowed because it's **scaled up** (plaza-sized) and volunteer-focused, tying into Diaz's "close-up impossible" style (e.g., his Netflix specials). It's not supernatural—just masterful engineering.
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