Universal Studios Japan General Discussion

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I think it's a great choice to eliminate BTTF. (1) outdated franchise, (2) larger real-estate for a larger IP, (3) similarity in ride systems. T2 can wait for something else that comes along further down the line. They also didn't get rid of it for Simpsons due to issues with the demographic that don't exist with DM.

 

[Steve]

BTTF will never be "outdated". Everyone at one point wants to meet their parents when they went to high school. BTTF is going through a second surge right now and even Universal is acknowledging it. 

 

[Maurice2029]

But at the same time, T2 also has a very outdated preshow.  The only thing we don't have are butterflies which run on batteries!  LOL

That's true. I don't know if this remark was meant for me, but what I was trying to say with outdate is that the main feature (the film in which we chase Biff) looks old. I'm not saying T23D has a very good quality, but in my opinion BTTFs' film looks less sharp than T23D's. At least from what I saw in Japan.

Don't get me wrong, I like both attractions.

edit:

Speaking of T23D in Japan. Does someone know if the this rumour is true:

I've read that Terminator 2 3D was originally not planned to appear in Universal Studios Japan, but instead Kongfrontation and Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies were planned. However during the planned stage of construction works, this idea was cancelled and Terminator 2 3D was created in a haste.

Anyone knows if this is true?

 

[Freak]

I have to say, I'm VERY interested in seeing how it pans out in the OMNIMAX buildings.

 

[Jon Fu]

I'm not sure how they can retrofit the Back to the Future building unless they intend on creating a completely new experience. It seems like an inflexible design that doesn't cater well to extensive modifications.

 

[William]

My thoughts as well. The Omnimax domes wrap around the guests, while the Despicable Me projections are simply displayed on a large rectangular screen. Unless they want to letterbox the current projections on the Omnimax domes (not sure if/how that's possible), the projections would have to be scaled up. Doing the latter, however, would make things pixelated and blurry. I'm no projector guru, but I know that they've got an issue on their hands here.

 

[Allen The Actor]

^ They can always go back to the original working files, "zoom out" and format it for an omnimax screen and rerender it in a higher resolution. Unlike a regular movie, you can go back to an animated movie file, and get a different angle, etc.

For example, that's what Pixar used to do when they had to do a "pan and scan" version (non wide screen) of some of their films. Same thing when they redid Finding Nemo in 3D, they were able to go into the original working files, and get the "other eye" angle for 3D.

With Despicable Me, I can imagine them doing something similar.

As for the queue, yeah, it's difficult to change the awkward BTTF queue, but I'm sure they could figure it out and they could make it different than our stateside versions. Not impossible. It'll be cool to see what they can do.

 

[techmaniac16]

Take this with a grain of salt, but i think that Japan's version might be superior.

The screen is not that curved. So I think 3d couLd absolutely work. 3d on an omnimax screen would look gorgeous.

The BTTF vehicles seem to be capable of more movement. Despicable me's simulators seem alot more stiff. IMO, Jimmy Neutron technology from orlando really didn't translate well to Despicable Me.

Also since you are in your own vehivle, the experience is not ruined by the sides of the screen.

 

[Jon Fu]

With Despicable Me, I can imagine them doing something similar.

The sizing and proportions would be completely off. I don't see how they can accommodate three levels at once while keeping the entire show in motion. They'd need to scrap the small preshow rooms but somehow get guests to the ride vehicles.

 

[William]

It's a major change in infrastructure for sure. Not quite sure that this would be easy to pull off.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Take this with a grain of salt, but i think that Japan's version might be superior.

The screen is not that curved. So I think 3d couLd absolutely work. 3d on an omnimax screen would look gorgeous.

The BTTF vehicles seem to be capable of more movement. Despicable me's simulators seem alot more stiff. IMO, Jimmy Neutron technology from orlando really didn't translate well to Despicable Me.

Also since you are in your own vehivle, the experience is not ruined by the sides of the screen.

Actually, no...3D does not work well on an Omnimax screen. It's actually quite curved.

The sizing and proportions would be completely off. I don't see how they can accommodate three levels at once while keeping the entire show in motion. They'd need to scrap the small preshow rooms but somehow get guests to the ride vehicles.

If they significantly zoom out and alter the footage a but, the proportions won't be too off, trust me. It's all in the formatting, and would depend on how extensive it would be.

As for the queue/loading, etc? No clue how they'd make that work....the flow would be off.

Then again, this is Japan. Maybe they'll be able to make it work and make it even more unique. Hey, for all we know, maybe this will be an all new Minion Mayhem, or they'll just at least create an all new queue. I wouldn't be surprised, Japan knows how to improve everything.

If it was strictly based on the current layout, I'd make the first part of the queue the "house" tour, with all the different monitors playing the preshow video we see in the living room over in USH/USF, and then as soon as the guests are being split into the 3 levels, that's when the rest of the queue will become Gru's lab.

They can then make the "midway" queue holding rooms the room where we "meet" Gru and the girls, etc etc.

It'll be interesting to see what they can come up with.

 

[Jon Fu]

If they significantly zoom out and alter the footage a but, the proportions won't be too off, trust me. It's all in the formatting, and would depend on how extensive it would be.

You can only do so much before you're practically redoing the entire animation. Pixar uses re-framing, but only on a limited scale. We're literally talking about a screen that is almost double in size and scope. You can't "zoom out" to that extent to make everything proportional. With that much added real estate, you'd need to essentially reanimate the entire film.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Which, again, as I've said, is also a possibility if that's the route Japan wants to take.

 

[Alexshow.]

...Universals Second park for Japan won't be on the main island but on Okinawa. This comes from Hollywood Reporter.

 

[b4ben24]

I hope Japan gets Diagon Alley in the 2nd park! They said the park should be smaller...

 

[Allen The Actor]

This is a quote from the article:

"The Okinawa park will be based on local themes from the tropical island rather than Hollywood and Japanese movie franchises, said USJ CEO Glenn Gumpel, talking to the media in Osaka."

If that is true, I believe it won't have anything to do with "Universal Studios" branding but will simply be a new park by the USJ owners who are licensing Universal properties.

Unless of course they integrate Hollywood characters with the local themes, similar to what Shanghai Disney plans.

 

[Jon Fu]

http://www.usj.co.jp/minions/?utm_source=officialogp_tw&utm_medium=ogp&utm_content=15001&utm_campaign=minions


Anyone read Japanese?

 

[Maurice2029]

http://www.usj.co.jp/minions/?utm_source=officialogp_tw&utm_medium=ogp&utm_content=15001&utm_campaign=minions

Anyone read Japanese?

These are all images, so google translate won't see them.

You can try use a translate app on your phone, that's how I sometimes translate Japanese sites. They can take a photo of the text (even an image) and it will spot the Japanese characters, then translate them to English. Thought the result may be not smooth, it might create a least some understanding of the text.

 

[Ryan]

From the looks of it, BTTF being replaced with Minion Mayhem is not confirmed, however the giant Minion playland they're building to advertising the release of "Minions" tips its hand rather heavily to something in the future.

 

[William]

I've used Google Translate's new camera scanning feature like HopeOfTheFuture suggested, and I think I have a basic understanding of the event.

As Brover mentioned above, this is a celebration being held in an area of the park to celebrate the release of "Minions" (though in my eyes, it's an excuse to wreak minion havoc). The "Play Land" will include the Super Silly Space Killer carnival game that's also seen in our park at SSFL. The "Street Show" will, if translated correctly, be called "Minion Fever"  (translation is too unclear to decipher what it is exactly, though it's evident that the minion in-park characters will be everywhere). The information I got from the "Food" section was that they'll be serving minionized treats and drinks at the "Minion Happy Kitchen", as well as more of USJ's infamous popcorn at "Minion Popcorn Cart". The "Goods" section seemingly consists of a store dubbed "Minion Mart" (just like Singapore's) that will, obviously, be selling Despicable Me merchandise. This is what took over the BTTF gift shop.

Again, as mentioned above, this all seems too coincidental to just be a one-time thing. What I found interesting is that the event is being held in the San Francisco area, right in front of the entrance path to Back to the Future: The Ride.