Harry Potter IS making a difference!!

[reactortrip]

Harry potter has not been a tween property since the first book came out. Those kids are now ten years older. There are young kids reading the books for the first time. There are adults reading and watching the films. To call Harry Potter a tween franchise is to totally ignore the reality of the size and demographic diversity of Harry Potter. Twilight is nothing remotely close to Harry Potter, it has a very limited audience and very little limited mythology is built on the novelty of their contradiction.

HP is definitely a tween franchise. That's it's main demographic. It has tons of readers/watchers out of that demographic because they grew up with it and cause of the movies, but it is definitely geared right at the tween audience. Jo has even says it was written for and directed at kids, not adults. I am an adult that loves HP, but I won't kid myself it's an adult geared franchise.

I am not going to argue the merit of Twilight vs HP. It's pure entertainment. Enjoy either franchise or don't watch/read. I enjoy HP, I am not a fan of Twilight, but I am not going to laugh off it's audience. It's a lot wider than it's demographic as well. It's already in the top 10 movie franchise, that's worthy of something.

 

[hsilarbleahcim]

HP is definitely a tween franchise. That's it's main demographic. It has tons of readers/watchers out of that demographic because they grew up with it and cause of the movies, but it is definitely geared right at the tween audience. Jo has even says it was written for and directed at kids, not adults. I am an adult that loves HP, but I won't kid myself it's an adult geared franchise.

I am not going to argue the merit of Twilight vs HP. It's pure entertainment. Enjoy either franchise or don't watch/read. I enjoy HP, I am not a fan of Twilight, but I am not going to laugh off it's audience. It's a lot wider than it's demographic as well. It's already in the top 10 movie franchise, that's worthy of something.

How is HP a tween franchise? The audience that loved HP from the get-go was 8-15...10 years ago. That would make HPs current (growing) audience 8-25... It may not have been imagined as an adult-geared franchise, but its originial target audience has grown-up and the young audience continues to grow.

Anyway, to answer your first question, no, I don't think that Disney has anything that appeals to the "tween" population. The Disney channel shows are the only thing that even approach a tween audience and even they are really geared toward the 7+ audience. I'd say they need to get to work...

 

[slappy magoo]

Unless Universal builds on this plan, Disney will keep increasing by doing nothing and IoA will go back to normal. Even as a huge potter fan, there is not enough to keep me going back multiple times.

Something I learned pretty early in life: I don't speak for the world...

awwwww...SNAP!!!

OK, that was harsh. Sorry. But your perception of Potterland might not be indicative of the majority of Orlando-goers' opinions, is all. From what I've read, just on these boards, there are people who are and are not Potter fans who have been blown away from the attraction. Others who are less so, and are not inclined to make much of an effort to go back. WDW deals with the same degrees of enthusiasm (and lack of). Not everyone needs to love IoA, and want to go back, for it to be successful, same as WDW. The churn of people who will go, just once, in their entire lives, to Uni, just to see what it's like, probably represents more than half of their total clientele.

 

[janoimagine]

:shrug: If Harry Potter is already making such big waves in Orlando, what is Disney doing (ABC Family) showing a two-day Harry Potter marathon? I understand that ABC/ABC Family is a separate division than the theme parks, and sure, HP probably attracted a good-sized audience = $$$, but it seems like "robbing your left pocket to pay your right" doesn't it. Can anyone say communication breakdown? :shrug:

I agree it seems like a conflict of interest, but Disney isn't stupid, the ad space they sell during the marathon makes them a lot of money. Unfortunately, thats what it is all about.
I have also heard the HP theme played on the bus to Disneys MGM Studio's.

 

[Captain Chaos]

HP is definitely a tween franchise. That's it's main demographic. It has tons of readers/watchers out of that demographic because they grew up with it and cause of the movies, but it is definitely geared right at the tween audience. Jo has even says it was written for and directed at kids, not adults. I am an adult that loves HP, but I won't kid myself it's an adult geared franchise.

I am not going to argue the merit of Twilight vs HP. It's pure entertainment. Enjoy either franchise or don't watch/read. I enjoy HP, I am not a fan of Twilight, but I am not going to laugh off it's audience. It's a lot wider than it's demographic as well. It's already in the top 10 movie franchise, that's worthy of something.

Ummm, HP is NOT a tween franchise... Hannah Montana is tween... iCarly is tween... HP is NOT... I am a 36 year old male and just read the books for the first time this year... I have seen all 7 of the HP movies, the last two in he theater, the previous ones on DVD... I liked them to the point I purchased them... And I have watched them several times over... And I know plenty of other adults, mostly adluts without kids, who love series, who were NOT teenagers or tweens when the first book was released... So, you are wrong about it being a tween franchise....

Twilight will fade away... There is not enough to sustain it... Also, True Blood puts Twilight to shame..

 

[janoimagine]

Also, True Blood puts Twilight to shame..

Well said, but what has HBO produced that hasn't put everything else in entertainment to shame. :lol:

Seems like everything they release turns to gold.

 

[Captain Chaos]

:shrug: If Harry Potter is already making such big waves in Orlando, what is Disney doing (ABC Family) showing a two-day Harry Potter marathon? I understand that ABC/ABC Family is a separate division than the theme parks, and sure, HP probably attracted a good-sized audience = $$$, but it seems like "robbing your left pocket to pay your right" doesn't it. Can anyone say communication breakdown? :shrug:

I agree it seems like a conflict of interest, but Disney isn't stupid, the ad space they sell during the marathon makes them a lot of money. Unfortunately, thats what it is all about.
I have also heard the HP theme played on the bus to Disneys MGM Studio's.

ABC Family has shown the Harry Potter movies long before the land was announced and built in IOA... There are contracts that need to be fulfilled... Also, as jan said, money speaks volumes... How else can you explain why Shrek's Christmas special is on ABC??

I believe HP's theme music was also played as background music in DHS at one point too, correct?

 

[Captain Chaos]

Well said, but what has HBO produced that hasn't put everything else in entertainment to shame. :lol:

Dream On rings a bell.. LOL....

 

[janoimagine]

Dream On rings a bell.. LOL....

Oops.
Totally forgot that was initially on HBO, thought it was a Fox program.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Accio profits!

 

[Wilt Dasney]

HP is definitely a tween franchise.

I really don't think I could disagree more. When I read the books, I see them as being written for a wide range of readers...accessible to kids, but nuanced enough for adults to appreciate. The author's perspective also becomes more mature as Harry ages.

To me, a good way to know you're reading a "tween" (or "kiddy") franchise is determining whether the work requires you to read "down" as an adult. The story might be interesting, but if you feel intellectually overqualified for the concepts and/or language, then you're reading something intended for a younger audience. To me, none of that holds true with the HP franchise...particularly the later books. (If you do find it to be true, then you may congratulate yourself for being smarter than me.)

 

[reactortrip]

Ummm, HP is NOT a tween franchise... Hannah Montana is tween... iCarly is tween... HP is NOT... I am a 36 year old male and just read the books for the first time this year... I have seen all 7 of the HP movies, the last two in he theater, the previous ones on DVD... I liked them to the point I purchased them... And I have watched them several times over... And I know plenty of other adults, mostly adluts without kids, who love series, who were NOT teenagers or tweens when the first book was released... So, you are wrong about it being a tween franchise....

Twilight will fade away... There is not enough to sustain it... Also, True Blood puts Twilight to shame..

I am a 31 year old male that's been reading the books since the second one was published in 99 (USA) before the first movie. That doesn't mean I was Jo's target audience. Her target was and still is kids that are close and in the tween age range. This doesn't mean people outside that target audience can't enjoy it. My mother is 58 and loves the Twilight movies as does a lot of her friends, doesn't mean they made the movie for her demographic either.

Why does it matter if they are tween books? If you like them, you like them. There is no shame in enjoying a good book no matter the target audience. They are good books.

Jo has come out and explicitly said they are childrens books.

Oh yeah, and I have these:

 

[reactortrip]

To me, a good way to know you're reading a "tween" (or "kiddy") franchise is determining whether the work requires you to read "down" as an adult. The story might be interesting, but if you feel intellectually overqualified for the concepts and/or language, then you're reading something intended for a younger audience. To me, none of that holds true with the HP franchise...particularly the later books. (If you do find it to be true, then you may congratulate yourself for being smarter than me.)

Jo's books are very natural written. They are easily understood by a 5th grader. As my mother in law is a 5th grade teacher, she gets a lot of reports on these books. I have asked her this question before and she says the kids that do read the books, and not just watch the movies as anyone who has read the books can easily tell if you haven't, that they grasp the concepts and nature of the material.

Also, this is a British book. Some of the things an American household might call mature, aren't that big a deal in England which is more liberal in terms of some subjects.

 

[flavious27]

I hope that FLE will prove to be a HP type deal for Disney.

It won't have the same effect because wwhp brought a new franchise into the park, it did not expand onto an existing one. For Disney to build a competing attraction/land, it will need a franchise that does not have a presence already in the parks and has a large merchandising potential. Disney doesn't have this kind of IP right now, even with the Marvel purchase.

 

[flavious27]

Does Disney have anything that can draw the tweens like Potter? Unless they get a twilightland, I don't see anything drawing the tweens like that. At least nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

WDW will have alot of unhappy campers if they pulled that, along with the fact that their a real town that the book is based in.

 

[JustInTime]

HP is definitely a tween franchise.

No. No, it's not...

 

[Captain Chaos]

I am a 31 year old male that's been reading the books since the second one was published in 99 (USA) before the first movie. That doesn't mean I was Jo's target audience. Her target was and still is kids that are close and in the tween age range. This doesn't mean people outside that target audience can't enjoy it. My mother is 58 and loves the Twilight movies as does a lot of her friends, doesn't mean they made the movie for her demographic either.

Why does it matter if they are tween books? If you like them, you like them. There is no shame in enjoying a good book no matter the target audience. They are good books.

Jo has come out and explicitly said they are childrens books.

There are differences between Twilight and HP... I never read a Twilight book, and I won't... Twilight is geared toward tween/teen girls... Sure, adults may enjoy the books/movies (why I have no idea?????).... But that doesn't take away from the fact Twilight is a tween franchise....

HP is meant to reach a broad audience... The first book, I will say, sure is a children's book... However, as the story/franchise progressed, I venture to say the story is anything but child-like... JK knew she had something good on her hands and styled her writing for ALL to enjoy...

Saying HP is a tween franchise is wrong... The franchise is not geared toward one demographic, unlike Twilight...

 

[Captain Chaos]

WDW will have alot of unhappy campers if they pulled that, along with the fact that their a real town that the book is based in.

If Disney ever bought the rights to Twilight and tried to create a land based off the books/movies, I will sell my DVC points and never step foot into WDW every again... Heck, I'd never buy another Disney item for as long as I live...

 

[reactortrip]

There are differences between Twilight and HP... I never read a Twilight book, and I won't... Twilight is geared toward tween/teen girls... Sure, adults may enjoy the books/movies (why I have no idea?????).... But that doesn't take away from the fact Twilight is a tween franchise....

HP is meant to reach a broad audience... The first book, I will say, sure is a children's book... However, as the story/franchise progressed, I venture to say the story is anything but child-like... JK knew she had something good on her hands and styled her writing for ALL to enjoy...

Saying HP is a tween franchise is wrong... The franchise is not geared toward one demographic, unlike Twilight...

Of course there are differences between Twilight and HP. There are differences between Hannah Montana and Twilight. It's all different styles and different people. There are bound to be a very large amount of differences.

LOL, that's your opinion, as is my saying it's a tween franchise. Stating an opinion is never wrong. However, I do have the author of the books on my side. So I am quite happy with my opinion.

How do you know what the Twilight books are geared towards if you never even read the author's styling? That's simply just plain ignorance. Sounds sheepish to me. People told me Twilight is about such and such, so I am going to follow the crowd to hate Twilight just to hate it....blah blah blah.

Again, why is it such a problem/argument that it is a tween franchise?

 

[reactortrip]

WDW will have alot of unhappy campers if they pulled that, along with the fact that their a real town that the book is based in.

People will find all kinds of silly reasons to be unhappy anyway. Labeling harry potter a children's book shows that in this thread....