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All things Universal Studios Hollywood
- Thread starter Darkbeer1
- Start date
Professortango1
Well-Known Member
I know I'm not the target demographic, but sounds like a land based around the Hide and Seek Monsters Inc Ride. Or a really low budget Kilimanjaro Safari with random cartoon animals chilling. Until we poach them with our poach-e-balls.
As for battling, not sure how that works as a ride. And even still, I would prefer to be in the action rather than controlling an Augmented Reality animal that's fighting a screen.
Pokemon, for me, is franchise that makes sense in the media it is in (games and product-pushing cartoons), but works only in a limited way for a theme park ride and even worse as a land.
TragicMike
Well-Known Member
Again, the appeal are the creatures. Dark ride for the family with “cute” Pokémon.
Make a coaster with “cool” Pokémon for older demographic.
Race with a Dragonite. Escape from Lavender town with Ghost Pokémon. Take a trackless ride as you weave in and out of action as the best Pokémon trainers in the world battle it out at the Indigo Plateau.
I’m not even putting much thought into these ideas. The point is that there’s plenty to be done with the Pokémon IP. You and I aren’t imagineers so we may not be able to create feasible solutions but that isn’t our job.
Professortango1
Well-Known Member
I get that it isn't our job, but it just sounds like SLoP with different show scenes. Not bad, but nothing demanding a whole land. I think they could add a Pokemon ride to the already existing World of Nintendo since Pokemon is a Nintendo property and considering the land is limited in attractions. Maybe instead of the Yoshi ride, they just have a Pokemon ride where you see random cartoon animals.
October82
Well-Known Member
Pokemon is a bit like Harry Potter in that a theme park translation won't be primarily about replicating the 'core mechanic' of the games, but about recreating environments from the games and the rest of the world, 'Pokemon centers' for example.
A lot of the game lore is also based on Japanese culture, myths, and history. Lots of potential for attractions that build on those ideas without limiting things to a 'Pokemon safari'.
Professortango1
Well-Known Member
Gotcha. The locales in the cartoon never looked too distinct or elaborate to me, which is why I have a disconnect with it as a theme park concept.
Plus, being a wizard is something I can immediately buy into and presents a ton of possibilities. Flying, shooting things with wands, seeing classic fantasy creatures, etc. I am doing things. For Pokemon, I get stuck in the mindset that I am cheering on my animal that I put into a fighting pit. I'm not really doing much.
Professortango1
Well-Known Member
I'd love to see Springfield become 80's NYC. Have a Ninja Turtles ride, Spiderman, Ghostbusters.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
As others have mentioned, the big concept that instantly comes to mind is the photography-safari-on-a-ride game “Pokemon Snap.”
Nearly everyone who plays this simulated ride experience instantly says, “This would make such a great ride at a park!”
Aside from that, there are haunted house scenarios involving ghost Pokémon, water rides for the water Pokémon, and a generally pleasing kinda-futuristic-but-could-exist-today style to the central cities of the Pokémon World.
And the gift store could easily be the size of a Walmart and still not have enough room.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
But they LOVE to fight each other! … … except when they don’t…
(One of the games… I think it was Black and White… actually used the debate over Pokémon rights as the core story theme).
Professortango1
Well-Known Member
I think Michael Vick said the same thing.
October82
Well-Known Member
I don't think you're alone in that perception. Harry Potter probably has more cross-generational appeal since Pokemon has always marketed itself as an IP for children. Part of that is Nintendo is very conservative and hasn't let the IP evolve as much as other franchises have (Harry Potter has very intentionally matured as an IP with its audience), but it also has a lot to do with HP being rooted in western culture that is more familiar to US audiences.
A lot of the deeper parts of the Pokemon mythos are straightforward retellings of Japanese stories, ideas, and themes that just aren't familiar to Americans. Most Pokemon, for example, are taken from either Japanese culture, mythical animals (dragons being an obvious example), or Shinto spirits. As someone else mentioned, the locales from the games are basically real world locations, either in Japan, in the US, or Europe. The games often feature events from various myths.
A well executed theme park land would have to be very well designed to convey that to audiences, but Pokemon themed entertainment is pretty well explored territory overseas. They could easily go the quick route and do what everyone would expect them to do - something based early takes on the IP - but I would be pretty optimistic about Universal Creative's ability to do something meaningful with it.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I love this idea. Any chance we get the 80's animated Turtles and not the either the new animated or live action Turtles?
Professortango1
Well-Known Member
I'll take the Mutant Mayhem version of the Turtles. It draws a lot off the old cartoon and toys. But I'd love to explore a fun brooding NYC that is populated by Superheroes overhead, ghosts hiding in the buildings and mutant crime fighters in the sewers below. Plus, it is a way to have 3 great IP's making one land strong rather than one IP stretched thin over a land and a few attractions.
That is my issue with Nintendo Land at USH. It is just Mario. It looks cute, but it is kind of one-note and the ride is more of the same. Donkey Kong adds at least a little variety.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Mutant Mayhem is probably my next favorite version of the Turtles. Not sure what all that stuff I’m between the 80s animated and Mutant Mayhem was. With the latter though that wouldn’t feel very 80’s
TheDisneyParksfanC8
Well-Known Member
Based on rumors, it seems Pokemon is not destined for USH at this time. Someone over on the IU forums said he thinks Pokemon is not coming to USH at all.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Phew! Like Marvel, Pokémon doesn’t feel very transportive to me. It’s mostly about the characters. Marvel can be but it’s mostly about the characters. I guess if they made a nice Japanese themed land that could work for me. I’m talking Japanese countryside, temples and cherry blossoms. Not sure if that’s the Pokémon motif though. Never got into it. It was more my younger sisters generation.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
We had a great time at Universal Studios Hollywood. The entire family was there. My wife hasn't been there in ten years and couldn't believe the change and details in the rides. She's a big Harry Potter fan but the ride made her throw up. She forgot her motion sickness pills. Everything was working on the Tram including all the elements in Earthquake. Last time my daughter rode Earthquake she was ten. She cried and tried to get off the tram. This time she was nervous but made it through. Mario Kart was fun. I enjoyed it. The Simpsons was in the worst shape. The picture was burry and the room the car rises out of didn't have a retractable roof. The room with the screen was lit up until all the cars were up. Then the movie started with a weird noise coming from our car. I don't think the ride is long for this world. The new F&F coaster is starting to take shape and looks incredible. The Mario drinks were good but I think the strawberry one would have been better than the lime one. All the rides had a ten minute wait all day. Good to go before school lets out.
Can anyone tell me why the Emperor is in the Mummy ride?
We even did Ollivanders wand shop.
Can anyone tell me why the Emperor is in the Mummy ride?
We even did Ollivanders wand shop.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
Californian-in-Florida reactions to UOR:
Went to the Studios Park this morning and found that Dreamworks Land was open in public “rehearsal” mode, though everything seemed to be operating fine.
Very nice. Nothing spectacular, but it’s pretty and pleasant; has a nice airy, relaxing vibe greatly helped by lots of greenery and an upbeat, mellow music loop.
Lots for the kids to do, and enough fun details to make it a worthwhile walk-around for adults. Troller Coaster is cute. The frog choir, animatronic Pinocchio, and the interactive Puss n’ Boots game were getting a lot of fun interaction from all ages, as were the three meet n’ greet areas.
I steered clear of all things splashy and playgroundy, but if you bring kids and are looking for that type of activity, there’s lots of it—and all well-themed.
The live Indoor show was worth seeing: a very likable duo of live actor/singers interacting with costumed characters, impressive puppets, dancers and 360 degrees of environmental projections built into the great-looking theater-in-the-round practical set, all presenting scenes from Shrek, KF Panda, Trolls and Madagascar.
The show’s scale was just right: small enough to get everyone close to the performers, but large enough to dazzle and accommodate a good number of guests (but if you do plan on seeing it, get there early). Great energy from the entire cast.
I tried two of the unusual food items. The Swamp Dog was properly gross-looking and delicious, but the standout was:
The Mud Puddle Pudding. This is now—no kidding—my favorite Theme Park Dessert Of All Time. Wow. I’m not a foodie or a food reviewer, but this is a reason to go to Dreamworks Land all by itself.
So, overall, DW Land is a nice upgrade for this area, and another step toward “fixing” and beautifying this park.
Went to the Studios Park this morning and found that Dreamworks Land was open in public “rehearsal” mode, though everything seemed to be operating fine.
Very nice. Nothing spectacular, but it’s pretty and pleasant; has a nice airy, relaxing vibe greatly helped by lots of greenery and an upbeat, mellow music loop.
Lots for the kids to do, and enough fun details to make it a worthwhile walk-around for adults. Troller Coaster is cute. The frog choir, animatronic Pinocchio, and the interactive Puss n’ Boots game were getting a lot of fun interaction from all ages, as were the three meet n’ greet areas.
I steered clear of all things splashy and playgroundy, but if you bring kids and are looking for that type of activity, there’s lots of it—and all well-themed.
The live Indoor show was worth seeing: a very likable duo of live actor/singers interacting with costumed characters, impressive puppets, dancers and 360 degrees of environmental projections built into the great-looking theater-in-the-round practical set, all presenting scenes from Shrek, KF Panda, Trolls and Madagascar.
The show’s scale was just right: small enough to get everyone close to the performers, but large enough to dazzle and accommodate a good number of guests (but if you do plan on seeing it, get there early). Great energy from the entire cast.
I tried two of the unusual food items. The Swamp Dog was properly gross-looking and delicious, but the standout was:
The Mud Puddle Pudding. This is now—no kidding—my favorite Theme Park Dessert Of All Time. Wow. I’m not a foodie or a food reviewer, but this is a reason to go to Dreamworks Land all by itself.
So, overall, DW Land is a nice upgrade for this area, and another step toward “fixing” and beautifying this park.
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