Saturday, September 26, 2009

Lessons In Cloning (Glendale To Tokyo)...


There are wrong ways to clone, there are right was to clone and then there's the Oriental Land Company's way to clone...

Alain, over at his always topical "Disney and More" website has posted an article with some great photos of the new "Turtle Talk with Crush" clone that will be opening up next week in the American Waterfront port of Tokyo DisneySEA.

Go over and take a look at how to blend an attraction that you would think doesn't belong and isn't needed, into Disney's most lovely theme park. My only complain is that there isn't a high-res picture of the one they showed at the "Imagineering Pixar for the Disney Parks" panel.

It shows you how you can look forward to Midway Mania and World of Color coming from WDI and OLC over the next year and a half without worrying that it'll just be wedged in. Instead, it'll be intimately woven into the fabric of the narrative that is this great park.

Also, if you really want to see the attraction's opening from a Japanese perspective then click here to watch this segment from a television morning show in Japan.

Advancing...

34 comments:

Tom said...

Love Japan,
Love Tokyo DisneySea,
Love the turtle hat ;-)

And again WDI/OLC exceeded my expectations...

Anonymous said...

I'm posting this again because I don't think you saw it in the last post since you never answered (And you usually do)...

Hi Honor,
I know this is off topic but did you happen to catch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? You often review and comment on the Disney/Pixar competition but you have barely mentioned this one when people are comparing this film to Pixar more than any other animated film released. Have you seen it? What are your thoughts? I personally thought it was incredible. Best non-Pixar animated film I have seen since Iron Giant. And that's saying A LOT!

PirateGuy 815 said...

I usually love what they do in Tokyo, but this seems a little off for me. Sure the inside is incredibly themed, but the whole thing seems a little off to me. I can't quite place my finger on why I'm not a fan.

simmy25 said...

I don't think it's off.
I mean, you're talking with a SEA creature from the inside of a ship
I think it has everything to do with DisneySEA
by the way, the themeing is AMAZING!

PirateGuy 815 said...

DisneySea is amazing, and I might be crazy, but this just seems a little odd to me, that's all.

sjwatsi said...

If it fits anywhere this is as good a place as any. Sure its in the America area when the character comes from closer to Australia. But it doesn't seem to be "Turtle Talk with Crush, so are they even using that persona for the turtle character or a generic Turtle?

Otherwise it fits better than the studio parks and Epcot.
The theming is great as well, a nice set to put this in. Its a shame there wasn't a similar area in WDW\Disneyland\DLP to put it when it came to those resorts.

Kiki's FedEx Service said...

love the clip from the japanese breakfast show. Looks so much fun, wish I could understand it.

Spokker said...

What I appreciate is the attempt to turn it into a period piece.

The signage isn't so glaring or out of place and I believe that if you had no interest in Turtle Talk, the rest of the land is not impacted in any negative way. All of the talking turtle stuff takes place far and away from the intricate American Waterfront common areas. The queue looks awesome, like the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.

It looks as authentic as an attraction about a talking turtle can be.

nojarama said...

I ♥ TDS (and, of course, TDL and OLC). Hope to visit both those wonderful parks myself. TDA could learn alot from them (and make DCA EVEN better than what they've got planned for the revisions)!

Anonymous said...

Am I alone in saying that the word "AMAZING" is overused...?

Tom said...

Nojarama: TDL really is not that wonderful a park if you ask me ;-) I think DCA is better...
TDS is great! :-)

Jonathan T said...

Spokker - "Your mind to my mind"

I really think the key to cloning is the ability to blend into the preset themeing in a way is believable to the time and place. Some work and some don't

Example: Right now people a talking about how perfectly themed the Little Mermaid at WDW will be compared to DCA. It is all about context. DCA's Victorian Worlds Fair theme would not work in WDW. They are also bringing it into Fan-Land. That give them opertunities for themeing that DCA wouldn't work in DCA.

I Ditto:

"The signage isn't so glaring or out of place ... the rest of the land is not impacted in any negative way ... It looks as authentic."

The only thing that is missing is me.

Spokker said...

"Nojarama: TDL really is not that wonderful a park if you ask me"

It's largely Magic Kingdom 2.0 but it's becoming worth a full day's visit largely because of Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Monsters Inc. plus it's just so damn well run and maintained. Don't forget TDL's Electrical Parade on steroids, Dreamlights, either.

Drew said...

so WOC for TDS?

Drew said...

So WOC for TDS????

Cory Gross said...

Sure the inside is incredibly themed, but the whole thing seems a little off to me. I can't quite place my finger on why I'm not a fan.

Because you know consciously that Turtle Talk is based on a film that takes place in the present day using the somewhat distinctive Pixar style that just doesn't mesh with an early 1900's New York-style waterfront setting, no matter how much lipstick is put on it?

At least, that's what's not meshing with me about it. I can only assume that the reason it's not in Port Discovery or Mermaid Lagoon is because of space. However, I admit that I am negatively biased because Pixar properties always stick out for me. The first reason is that I just don't like Pixar movies and the second is that Pixar movies always draw from a contemporary setting and sensibility that just doesn't mesh with the worlds of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.

I'll actually be in DisneySea this November and I think I'll skip out on this, kthx.

Nomanisan said...

So I guess Mickey Mouse stuck out for you in "The Nifty Nineties" since he's more of a modern character? He doesn't actually belong in the 19th century so Walt shouldn't have made a cartoon with him in that time period.

And not all Pixar films are contemporary. The Incredibles were set in some kind of a retro 60's which would totally fit with the Tomorrowland that Walt designed and built.

Spokker said...

"The Incredibles were set in some kind of a retro 60's"

Most of it was set during present day.

Voice of Reason said...

@ Anonymous Commenter #2:

Noone cares about Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The trailers made it look like trash, which it likely was. Discontinue trolling, please.

Voice of Reason said...

And yes, the Incredibles was set in the present day, Nomasian. It had 50's and 60's design influences.

Honor Hunter said...

I think Nomanisan is correct in his description guys...

Actually, you both are. He said it was a "Retro-60's" It's a modern day variation of that time period.

Good news, you both win...

Anonymous said...

To Voice of Reason:

There is no need to lash out so rudely like that. Anonymous #2 is asking a question to Honor, not you. Just ignore him/her if you don't like their comment.

Also, I thought Cloudy was a wonderful movie and agree with Anonymous #2. It was the best non-Pixar movie I have seen. I suggest you stop being a troll yourself and see it before you make stupid judgements.

THE ANONYMOUS said...

@ Anonymous

14. Do not argue with trolls - it means that they win.

Dan said...

Here's hoping Disneysea clones The Little Mermaid ride this well.

The Voice of Reality said...

WTF is it with people stealing my names. I'm the real Voice of Reason and I retract anything and everything that imposter has posted above. What a dumbass.

Do not. I repeat. Do not steal this name you.. you.. name stealer!

Aracuanbird said...

I think the adding this modern-day turtle into American Waterfront is a big part of the disconnect here. The theming just doesn't seem to hold up. MAAAYBE someone from WDI could rationalize that Crush, being a hundred year old turtle, was swimming through New York circa the 1920's, but it doesn't explain the anachronistic surfer-speak. Or Dory, unless she's the world's oldest Blue Tang.

(that's right, I said BLUE TANG)

Elsewhere in TDS, WDI is obsessive about matching voice in its themed areas. But here, ah, not so much. Great cloning.

Of course, the biggest lapse for me is that here you have one of TDS most iconic structures--the Columbia--and all it contains is this dorky show and a lounge? The guest experience is completely out of rhythm.

Anonymous said...

^The anachronistic surfer-speak does not exist in this attraction (the Japanese have no concept of it).

Theme Park Fan said...

I find it interesting that Tokyo Disney resort is cloning more and more . With the exception of Monsters inc which is unique except for its name, everything else in the pipeline will be a clone. Turtle Talk, Midway Mania, Mickeys Philharmagic, world of colore IT makes me wonder if the new execs at TDR are taking the easy way out as opposed to being innovative and unique..

Honor Hunter said...

So having Mickey in the American Waterfront doesn't hold up to the theming?

Oh, and it's not circa 20's theming. It's actually earlier than that in this area. It's turn of the century which is more like 1890's - 1910's, really.

I think they've worked the character in pretty well, and for a C ticket, it's a lavish attraction...

Theme Park Fan said...

TOKYO, Mar. 24, 2009 (Kyodo News International) -- Oriental Land Co. said Tuesday it has named Executive Director Kyoichiro Uenishi as its new president, effective April 1, in a shift to a younger leadership to make its company's operations more relevant and attractive amid the nation's economic slump.
The operator of Tokyo Disneyland (NYSECQ) (NYSEIS) and Tokyo DisneySea theme parks said its board of directors decided on a new executive lineup, including Uenishi's appointment.
Uenishi, 51, will officially replace Yoshiro Fukushima, 62, who will become one of the executive directors.
The incoming president previously held posts which included being in charge of administrative affairs, public relations and management strategy at the company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's First Section.
Speaking at a news conference announcing his appointment, Uenishi said, ''The Tokyo Disney Resort, which is the pillar of our company's earnings, must continue to grow under whatever circumstances.''
''At the same time, there is also a need to come up with an entirely new initiative, so I believe my mission is to strike a balance in developing both,'' he said.
The change of leadership at Oriental Land comes at a time when the company is seeing a solid performance in its earnings. Last month, the company announced an upward revision of its group sales and net profit projections for fiscal 2008 to record highs of 385.24 billion yen and 20.82 billion yen.
The company attributed the outlook to projected visitor numbers reaching a record 27.1 million during the 12-month period ending March 31 as a result of events held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in 1983

Cory Gross said...

So having Mickey in the American Waterfront doesn't hold up to the theming?

Well, not really, but I can be accustomed to it in the same way I can be accustomed to it on Main St. USA, due in no small part to the actual vintage of the character and shorts like The Nifty Nineties. Where Mickey differs from Crush that way is that he has always been versatile and can go from the 1920's farmyard to the 1890's park plaza to a giant's fairytale castle to a sorceror's workshop.

At least this thing is just sorta' tucked away in the Columbia and I don't have to see it. I'm glad I get to go before the rest of the Pixar rides come over to gum everything up.

spinter said...

^^^^
Mickey can be looked at as the actor who plays various roles in the various situations he’s in. Thus he can be just as relevant as Mickey and the Beanstock as he is as the Brave Little Tailor, Sorcerer Mickey (Fantasia), Indiana Jones Mickey, Admiral Mickey, and all the roles he plays in the comics, shorts, parks, etc.


Crush, on the other hand, IS the character in a particular situation.

Union Thug said...

And that character is well over a hundred years old. He could have easily swam into the harbor around the turn of the century.

And he doesn't speak like a surfer dude in Tokyo.

Crush said...

"Hundred and fifty, and still young, dude."

I'm not a surfer in Japan, you lots are just being picky because I'm a Pixar creation going into what is percieved a perfect 'Disney' themepark.

"Just Go with the Floooooooow."