Epic Universe ‘Homework’ Thread

[GA-MBIT]

It's something I like to do before every HHN event, which is try to experience as much of the media that a theme park attraction is based off of before I experience it in person! It's honestly been a good bit of fun and always lets me appreciate the use of the property much more than going in blind. Here we have a full brand new theme park to prep for, so I want to make as close to a definitive list of Homework materials as I can for each of the attractions and lands!

I have not been following construction or details incredibly closely for risk of total spoilers, so I may miss certain elements or things that originate from a film, TV series, book, or game not listed here. I'd appreciate if you were able to throw in some suggestions to help fill this list out if you see any holes!

I will probably also not include every single thing in a franchise, and lean more towards the things that have actually influenced the park itself. I don't think playing Super Mario Bros 2 is essential for getting the idea of Super Nintendo World haha. Where necessary, I'll place Bold Formatting on media that directly connects the parks, and Italicized Formatting on material that exists if you want to dig deeper, may have minor references within the land or ride, but is largely inessential.

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The (eventually) Definitive Epic Universe homework list!​

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Super Nintendo World​

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Game, Nintendo Switch, 2017) (Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge)
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Game, Nintendo Switch, 2021) (General land aesthetics, Bowser Jr's Shadow Showdown)
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Game, SNES, 1995) (Yoshi's Adventure)
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Game, Nintendo Switch, 2018) (Yoshi's Adventure)
• Super Mario Galaxy (Game, Nintendo Wii/Nintendo Switch, 2007/2020) (Cosmic Observatory Land Cameo)
• Pikmin (Game Series, Nintendo Switch, 2001-2023) (Land Cameos)
• Super Mario Bros Movie (Film. 2023) (General land aesthetics)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns (Game, 2010) (General land aesthetics, Mine Kart Madness)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic​

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Film, 2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Film, 2002)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Film, 2004)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Film, 2005)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Film, 2007)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Film, 2009)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Film, 2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Film, 2011)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Film, 2016)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Film, 2018)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (Film, 2022)

Dark Universe​

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Film, 1923) (Might not appear in land.)
• Dracula (Film, 1931) (Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment)
• Frankenstein (Film, 1931) (General land aesthetics, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment)
• The Mummy (Film, 1931)
• The Invisible Man (Film, 1933) (Might not appear in land.)
• Bride of Frankenstein (Film, 1935) (Might not appear in land.)
• The Wolf Man (Film, 1941) (The Curse of the Werewolf)
• Phantom of the Opera (Film, 1943) (Might not appear in land.)
• Creature From The Black Lagoon (Film, 1954)

How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk​

• How to Train Your Dragon (Film, 2010) (General land aesthetics)
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Film, 2014) (General land aesthetics, Dragon Racer's Rally)
• How to Train Your Dragon 3 (Film, 2019)

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I think Potter and Dragons are my biggest missing chunks currently, but if you notice anything else please lmk! I'll add to this as I watch/play all of this media for myself and as more details drop about the new park!

 

[mccgavin]

For Super Nintendo World, you could also include Captain Toad Treasure Tracker. Captain Toad and Toadette both play a role in the story of the Yoshi's Adventure attraction.

 

[Mad Dog]

Kudos on all that work. Plus...."The Invisible Man might not appear in the land". nice unintentional humor

 

[GA-MBIT]

For Super Nintendo World, you could also include Captain Toad Treasure Tracker. Captain Toad and Toadette both play a role in the story of the Yoshi's Adventure attraction.

I figured 3D World + Bowser's Fury hitting Captain Toad's levels would represent everything, but you're right! While Captain Toadette appears in Bowser's Fury, it's only as a minor cameo, no actual levels. Since Captain Toadette first showed up and is only playable in Treasure Tracker, on the list it goes!

 

[BigRed98]

It's something I like to do before every HHN event, which is try to experience as much of the media that a theme park attraction is based off of before I experience it in person! It's honestly been a good bit of fun and always lets me appreciate the use of the property much more than going in blind. Here we have a full brand new theme park to prep for, so I want to make as close to a definitive list of Homework materials as I can for each of the attractions and lands!

I have not been following construction or details incredibly closely for risk of total spoilers, so I may miss certain elements or things that originate from a film, TV series, book, or game not listed here. I'd appreciate if you were able to throw in some suggestions to help fill this list out if you see any holes!

I will probably also not include every single thing in a franchise, and lean more towards the things that have actually influenced the park itself. I don't think playing Super Mario Bros 2 is essential for getting the idea of Super Nintendo World haha. Where necessary, I'll place Bold Formatting on media that directly connects the parks, and Italicized Formatting on material that exists if you want to dig deeper, may have minor references within the land or ride, but is largely inessential.

---

​

The (eventually) Definitive Epic Universe homework list!​

​

Super Nintendo World​

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Game, Nintendo Switch, 2017) (Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge)
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Game, Nintendo Switch, 2021) (General land aesthetics, Bowser Jr's Shadow Showdown)
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (Game, SNES, 1995) (Yoshi's Adventure)
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Game, Nintendo Switch, 2018) (Yoshi's Adventure)
• Pikmin (Game Series, Nintendo Switch, 2001-2023) (Land Cameos)
• Super Mario Bros Movie (Film. 2023) (General land aesthetics)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns (Game, 2010) (General land aesthetics, Mine Kart Madness)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic​

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Film, 2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Film, 2002)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Film, 2004)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Film, 2005)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Film, 2007)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Film, 2009)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Film, 2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Film, 2011)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Film, 2016)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Film, 2018)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (Film, 2022)

Dark Universe​

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Film, 1923) (Might not appear in land.)
• Dracula (Film, 1931) (Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment)
• Frankenstein (Film, 1931) (General land aesthetics, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment)
• The Mummy (Film, 1931)
• The Invisible Man (Film, 1933) (Might not appear in land.)
• Bride of Frankenstein (Film, 1935) (Might not appear in land.)
• The Wolf Man (Film, 1941) (The Curse of the Werewolf)
• Phantom of the Opera (Film, 1943) (Might not appear in land.)
• Creature From The Black Lagoon (Film, 1954)

How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk​

• How to Train Your Dragon (Film, 2010) (General land aesthetics)
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Film, 2014) (General land aesthetics, Dragon Racer's Rally)
• How to Train Your Dragon 3 (Film, 2019)

---

I think Potter and Dragons are my biggest missing chunks currently, but if you notice anything else please lmk! I'll add to this as I watch/play all of this media for myself and as more details drop about the new park!

How to Train Your Dragon is currently on Amazon Prime and How to Train Your Dragon 2 is currently on Netflix but leaves Netflix on April 30th.

 

[GAcoaster]

HTTYD3 is the only one I haven't seen, and knowing that the land is set between the two movies I guess I should see it.

Funny how the land is HTTYD 2 1/2-- wasn't the old Shrek attraction Shrek 2 1/2?

 

[mccgavin]

HTTYD3 is the only one I haven't seen, and knowing that the land is set between the two movies I guess I should see it.

Funny how the land is HTTYD 2 1/2-- wasn't the old Shrek attraction Shrek 2 1/2?

Shrek 4D was set directly after the first film, and before the second one.

 

[IzzyB]

HTTYD3 is the only one I haven't seen, and knowing that the land is set between the two movies I guess I should see it.

Funny how the land is HTTYD 2 1/2-- wasn't the old Shrek attraction Shrek 2 1/2?

2.5 was the most logical place to put any theme park land for HTTYD. It gives them the most options.

 

[HHN Maddux]

Super Mario Galaxy, as there's a telescope in the land that lets you view the Comet Observatory.

Also because it's an amazing game.

 

[TheGentTrent]

2.5 was the most logical place to put any theme park land for HTTYD. It gives them the most options.

And even then it’s a loose-timeline since promo art for the shop shows Toothless’s children from the end of the third film.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Dark Universe​

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Film, 1923) (Might not appear in land.)
• Dracula (Film, 1931) (Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment)
• Frankenstein (Film, 1931) (General land aesthetics, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment)
• The Mummy (Film, 1931)
• The Invisible Man (Film, 1933)
• Bride of Frankenstein (Film, 1935)
• The Wolf Man (Film, 1941) (The Curse of the Werewolf)
• Phantom of the Opera (Film, 1943)
• Creature From The Black Lagoon (Film, 1954)

I remembered this thread after reading through the NYCC announcements.

The only one NOT confirmed for this land is the Hunchback of Notre Dame - which isn't a huge surprise.

I'm also seeing that The Mummy has been mentioned in previous marketing but is missing from the list of meet-n-greet characters in the land on the new articles - not sure if that is intentional or not because of the ride over at USF - but it was seen/mentioned in previous material...

Let's also give YGOR some love, cause he was mentioned on the meet-n-greet list too!

Edit: Not seeing Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde listed anywhere, which is a shame cause he was just at Horror Nights in 2023 and PRE-DATES The Hunchback.

 

[ParadoxPortals]

POSSIBLE SMALL UNCHAINED SPOILER BELOW, BEWARE:
(Apologies, IDK how to spoiler text so it's blacked-out until clicked-on).

I'm pretty sure the Phantom of the Opera was officially announced to be part of the land, as one of Unchained's marketed special effects was the Phantom's piano shooting fire 15ft into the air.

Fantastic Beats 2 should be bolded because that is the introduction of Wizarding Paris that the land is based-on.

Order of the Phoenix should be bolded too as it's the first time we visit the UK Ministry, even though previous films mentioned its existence / did short flashbacks to it. This film also introduced the ride's antagonist, Dolores Umbridge!

 

[velocicoasterswife]

Obviously it won't be directly referenced but Van Helsing (2004) is clearly a major aesthetic influence for Dark Universe and probably the best example of a modern "Monster Mash" movie. House of Frankenstein (1944) is a good classic-era Monster Mash film in continuity with the other classics on the list. Also, Phantom of the Opera (1923) is the much more iconic and enduring version of the story. It's technically not a part of the wider Universal Monster canon but the 1943 version is pretty isolated from the rest of the franchise anyways, and it's also not very good.

Edited to add: I'd also definitely bold Bride of Frankenstein (1935), not just because of the character's appearance in the parks but also because it's kind of the introduction to the "Universal Monsters aesthetic" as we understand it today - whirring machinery, giant contraptions in opulent castles, quaint cottages dotting the European countryside. Very much a Dark Universe Movie.