Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Can anyone tell me about Tokyo DisneySEA Symphony? I've seen videos of the show, done as much research as I can on it, and not found a lot. As far as I can see, it's a great little show, very nice use of Sorcerer Mickey, of the lagoon, and of the music. However...is there any interesting back story to this, like BraviSEAmo has? Is there a reason for the tech used? At times, it seems like a very rudimentary WoC, or even RoE. Any info is welcome!
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ LOL. You'll have to wait until tomorrow - I don't have the time right now and it usually takes a session on my shrink's couch to make me regress to TDS '01.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Hah! Thanks, Lee, always appreciate it. And yes, even I don't like cackling Mickey. Frightening. Also, all White Mickey, that switches with Sailor Mickey.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 Funny because as soon as I saw that header I instantly thought "Laughing Demon Mickey". Thatw as what we nicknamed him after seeing this show in '01. We just figured the locals loved him cackling away, like maybe it was a Japanese thing or something.
Originally Posted By NGrey My only memories of the show was that it was very mediocre and kind of haphazardly thrown together. Even BraviSEAmo was better.
Originally Posted By leemac During the development of TDS' entertainment line-up OLC were not convinced by the argument that the park needed a nighttime spectacular as they felt the park didn't need it. So TDS Symphony was developed late in the day. You have to remember that Creative Entertainment as it is today didn't exist for TDS (or DCA) - Anne Hamburger was brought in after TDS' entertainment had been finalized to create a core team at WDI. The technical folks were there (and many still are) but there wasn't any real creative talent there. Steve Hedrick was responsible for the shows - he had been at the company for about 20 years by the time he got the TDS gig as executive producer. He previously was responsible for DLP's opening day line-up including Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. To be honest I never found Steve to be a talented creative director - I think he was much better on the music side than on the show writing/directing side. Tom Cluff was the creative director for TDS Symphony and again I think he was out of his depth. He was another unspectacular creative at the company at the time. He is another individual that seems to have worked for every business out there - Disney, Uni Creative, Thinkwell etc. I understand he is a freelance lighting designer now. The problem with both the daytime and nighttime parades at TDS at opening was that the creative directors just didn't comprehend the impact that the size of the lagoon would have - Mythica was the first show was finally filled the lagoon and added scale to the space. TDS Symphony just looked so small out there compared to everything that has come since. The barges were too small and guests often complained that they couldn't see Mickey or the fountains on the barges unless they were in the front row. TDS Symphony just failed on every conceivable level - I honestly can't think of a single element that I liked. The music was derivative - obvious choices. The lite script was cliched and wasn't engaging. The fountains and fireworks were unspectacular. It just didn't work. OLC really hated the show but they weren't prepared to can it immediately (and Kagami-san would have taken it out on September 4, 2001 if he had his way). So much of the opening day entertainment line-up wasn't good enough for that park. Encore added nothing to the typical Broadway revue shows (and suffered from the usual problems with these shows - that Disney/OLC wouldn't pay all of the licensing rights that the show really needed to be a proper historical review of Broadway), the Water Carnival was a snooze - a long snooze - Mystic Rhythms was a Cirque du Soleil rip-off (although the script is awful the show itself is a decent spectacle), Sail Away was entirely unspectacular, and Mermaid Live was a disjointed mess. The latter one is the one that always makes me scratch my head that everyone loves it so much. Personally I don't get it - the script is awful and I can't stand lip-syncing in those type of shows. The only real success is Michael Curry's wonderful puppets. Ultimately Disney Creative Entertainment just didn't have any real talent at the time to deliver these type of theatrical presentations. Many of them came from other disciplines and were moved into show writing/producing/directing when they didn't have the experience.
Originally Posted By leemac <<We just figured the locals loved him cackling away, like maybe it was a Japanese thing or something.>> Oh they hated it as much as the rest of us. An excitable Mickey is not one to behold...
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The latter one is the one that always makes me scratch my head that everyone loves it so much. Personally I don't get it - the script is awful and I can't stand lip-syncing in those type of shows*** For me, the theater and the whole "undersea" vibe is a big part of what I like about it. As far as "disjointed", it's a truncated version of the movie is it not? I don't see how it's any more disjointed than Mermaid at MGM, or the old Beauty and the Beast show, or so many others. Just my 2 cents, of course...but yes the puppets (and amazing Ursula), and the overall production add a lot to why I like the show. It's a must see for me.
Originally Posted By leemac <<As far as "disjointed", it's a truncated version of the movie is it not? I don't see how it's any more disjointed than Mermaid at MGM>> The MGM version does tell the story in a truncated form - the TDS version doesn't even try. It is all about the Menken/Ashman setpieces - they are a huge chunk of the show. The script is pitiful - if you didn't know the story you wouldn't get any help from that show. I'm not saying that it is a bad show per se - I just think it could have been a whole lot more. The show has such an amazing venue and the ability to hold aerial scenes directly above the audience is so unique for a Disney theater.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Very interesting, Lee... So the show was never set to be really a part of the parks story? Or theming? I could see that. Also...any info on the finale, "Thanks To You"? If anything, that's the more impressive finale... Anything with a laser will get me.
Originally Posted By leemac <<So the show was never set to be really a part of the parks story? Or theming? I could see that.>> That is the odd part - the style guide to the park is huge - and the executive creative team led by Steve Kirk stuck to it religiously - so the show should have just used music from the approved movies list - basically Aladdin, The Little Mermaid etc. I guess the deviation was more acceptable as the characters themselves weren't in the show. However I never understood why The Jungle Book and Hunchback were represented. It really was a mess of a show. I think I also hated it as it was lazy with the orchestration and arrangement of the music. Using the annoying and cloying TDS Theme Song throughout drove me crazy (in case you didn't guess I'm not a fan of that piece of music!). <<Also...any info on the finale, "Thanks To You"?>> Hmmm. Not too sure what you are referring to there EE - the finale was Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. I can't remember if the show had Bows though. If it was Thanks To You (and I'd be surprised if it was as it was a TDL song) then that came from the 15th anniversary castle stage show Viva! Magic. The song is actually called Mickey's Magic Land. That show had two original productions numbers - the other was a mawkish song called It All Started With a Mouse. I loved Viva! Magic but even that song was too syrupy for me!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It really was a mess of a show. I think I also hated it as it was lazy with the orchestration and arrangement of the music. Using the annoying and cloying TDS Theme Song throughout drove me crazy (in case you didn't guess I'm not a fan of that piece of music!).<<< Wait...TDS theme song? I have never heard this..unless it's Sea of Dreams? I know that one. >>>Hmmm. Not too sure what you are referring to there EE - the finale was Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. I can't remember if the show had Bows though.<<< WOuld it be too much of you to ask you to watch and listen? Heh... I know you don't like TDS. <a href="http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=385" target="_blank">http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=385</a> Last few mins. As Zip A Dee Doo Dah ends, this begins. It's not Mickey's Magic Land, I have that in my iTunes. Heheh Thanks Lee!!
Originally Posted By NGrey The Mermaid Lagoon show is definitely a spectacle, though I wouldn't be sad to see it go. The visuals are very impressive, but I too find the lip synching hard to ignore. But it does seem to be incredibly popular, which I guess is why it hasn't been replaced or altered since 2001. <<Using the annoying and cloying TDS Theme Song throughout drove me crazy >> Haha, I thought I was the only one. The beginning of the theme is okay, but that particular clip of music from the theme song was never to my tastes. It reminds me of the cheesy lyrics that accompanied it (I think I still have the CD somewhere). But strangely, that theme song seems to have been retired altogether. I would say that "Sea of Dreams" is more accurately used as the park's theme song now. But in any case, completely agree with your views on DisneySea Symphony. It was just a terribly boring show in all regards. I really do hope Fantasmic succeeds where all previous shows have failed.
Originally Posted By NGrey I'm not sure where you can find it now besides the original CD it was sold on. It is not played in the park anymore to my knowledge. I think the radio at MouseInfo has the song, but you'll have to refresh the page constantly to get it in the playlist.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 A pity it is not played in the parks any more. I really like that song. Good thing I bought the CD when I was there in 2001! EE - a truncated version of the music can be found here on this youtube vid at the beginning. Sing along with the lyrics, "Tokyo DisneySea - a land of myst'ry for you and me..." It kind of writes itself from there. ; )
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 And of course the link to the video is, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tLfZeE2gRg&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=related</a>
