I’m sure you are getting into the holiday spirit. Halloween is around the corner and all of the stores are putting out the displays and getting people primed on the holiday. I’ve been on a Disney kick this past year and am pleased to share the changes that the park has done for the season. Some of my pictures are posted on JimHillMedia.com, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
It’s unique the approach that the parks in the USA have compared to the parks overseas, in particular the Disney parks in Japan. Each park goes through a makeover on Main Street and a major marketing push as well. Autumnal colors, pumpkins and miscellaneous ghosts and goblins can be found all over the park.
Both parks have a distinct take on the Halloween themes. If you think about it a moment, how do the Japanese view the western holiday? It’s changed a tremendous amount in the West since the Christian and Celtic traditions of All Hollow’s Eve became a candy and costume cash-cow for retailers. It’s easy to see that Japan is adapting the popular concept of Halloween for their parks rather than observing any ancient traditions. Popular characters are now presented in costumes, not so much with the Universal monsters that are recognized here (Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolf Man and Dracula) but instead shades of orange and purple in a Victorian tuxedo and top coat with a slight twinge of the mysterious.
Tokyo Disney Resort over the holidays has many of the same things featured in the parks in the USA. Such as trick-or-treating for families, where guests can show up in costume, as well as parades and events set in the holiday theme on top of changes made to certain attractions. The visual style that Japan has in contrast to the Halloween Time at Disney in the USA becomes apparent the more you go over the web sites and art direction posted in both sites.
As if the differences between Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland weren’t distinct enough, there is another layer of originality with the visual style of the holiday at Tokyo’s Disney Sea park. At that park the characters are popular characters are presented with the theme of a Victorian (almost Romantic-era) Masquerade Ball. Mickey Mouse for example is not the vampire that he is presented in the USA during the holiday nor is he dapper Halloween gentleman from Tokyo Disneyland. Instead he is a masked brother-at-arms, looking quite dashing with his cape and tri-corner hat.
The other characters are also themed accordingly, with the masquerade ball costuming being added to them, sharing nothing in common with the other Tokyo park or Disneyland and Disney World in the USA, while still respecting the legacy and design of the classic characters.
As an artist and designer I have fun taking a look at and learning from the differences between the parks and the aesthetics that they have with the familiar characters. Of course the goal is to someday be able to take the family to the various parks to experience the holidays in person (and to get some unique items as well!) and not spend so much time writing and wishing about it.
What do you enjoy best about Halloween? Are you already planning a costume choice or decorating for a haunted house or party? Tell us about it and have a great weekend. As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!
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