Muppets

[mharrington]

How well-known are the Muppets in Japan? According to a website about Japanese releases of movies from all over the world (not just in the U.S. and Japan), none of the Muppet-centric movies were ever released in Japan (with the exceptions of "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppets From Space"). The only other thing I know that is Muppet-related found in Japan is the Sesame Street 4D movie at the Universal Studios park in Osaka. So I have to ask, how known are the Muppets to the Japanese?

 

[Rey]

Let's see, Kermit the frog or Miss Piggy or the rest of the Muppet cast, hasn’t come up in conversation or in NHK, a Japanese TV broadcast channel, in Japan since I’ve been here. There haven’t been any Muppet figures in second-hand stores either. But, I wouldn't be surprised, if there would be a Muppet craze in Tokyo</ST1 tomorrow and everybody had to have Muppet stuff.​

 

[mharrington]

Let's see, Kermit the frog or Miss Piggy or the rest of the Muppet cast, hasn’t come up in conversation or in NHK, a Japanese TV broadcast channel, in Japan since I’ve been here. There haven’t been any Muppet figures in second-hand stores either. But, I wouldn't be surprised, if there would be a Muppet craze in Tokyo</ST1 tomorrow and everybody had to have Muppet stuff.​

What does NHK have to do with the Muppets?

 

[eikni]

Universal has the Muppet ride in Japan.

//Sorry the Sesame Street Ride

 

[Rey]

The reason why I mentioned NHK is because in the years of 2000, 2001, or 2002 my first child was watching Sesame Street here in Japan on NHK Educational channel. It's like PBS in the states, but they never brought in Kermit and the gang the following years. I don't know why. The most logical place perhaps is to have NHK General channel carry the Muppet shows. This is how I would market the Muppets.

 

[mharrington]

Has the Japanese ever heard of the Muppets? And would the Muppets 3D movie work at the Japanese Disney parks?

 

[Rey]

I did a quick search of The Muppets in Yahoo Japan</ST1 and there are websites and blogs of The Muppets, so yes there are some fans of The Muppets here in Japan</ST1. I’ve just never heard anyone of my friends here in Japan</ST1 ever talk about past shows of The Muppets.<O</O​

<O</O​

To answer your second question, definitely yes. The Muppets are classic characters and the Japanese know and want the best.

 

[eikni]

My wife is Japanese, and she barely knows the Muppet characters. She does know the Sesame Street ones from the NHK broadcasts. She said NHK also pulled the Sesame Street episodes at some point. I think the Muppet 3d ride would do fine in Tokyo, because of teh kawai cute factor. The question is where would you put it. Only place I can think of is replace micro adventure/honey I shrunk the audience.

 

[mharrington]

My wife is Japanese, and she barely knows the Muppet characters. She does know the Sesame Street ones from the NHK broadcasts. She said NHK also pulled the Sesame Street episodes at some point. I think the Muppet 3d ride would do fine in Tokyo, because of teh kawai cute factor. The question is where would you put it. Only place I can think of is replace micro adventure/honey I shrunk the audience.

How about a new 3D theater at DisneySea's American Waterfront area?

 

[eikni]

Where would you put it though? Tower of Terror took a large chunk of the land available there. Also, I realize Disney Sea has the Indiana Jones ride, but I really like how they didn't recycle much from the American parks there. They have Tower of Terror, but they put a completely different spin on it, not to mention the thing is huge heh. I wish they had soft opened it when I was there last. I have one of the opening tshirts though. :animwink:

 

[mharrington]

Where would you put it though? Tower of Terror took a large chunk of the land available there. Also, I realize Disney Sea has the Indiana Jones ride, but I really like how they didn't recycle much from the American parks there. They have Tower of Terror, but they put a completely different spin on it, not to mention the thing is huge heh. I wish they had soft opened it when I was there last. I have one of the opening tshirts though. :animwink:

I dunno, somewhere. There must be SOMEPLACE there to put it.