IamBrerBear
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2020
Will Disney Tokyo Keep Splash Mountain?
Why don’t you think Tiana is popular?I would imagine they'll keep the original version. Different ownership group. And I would imagine Tiana isn't a favorite character out there.
Wow... so many infrequent posters that are suddenly quite devoted to posting about one particular theme park ride. You don’t see that every day!
Are any of you planning a trip to Japan?
Why don’t you think Tiana is popular?
I live here.I've already been to Disney Tokyo several times. Have you ever been?
I live here.
Exactly, Br'er Rabbit, Fox and Bear come from African American and West African Culture long before White Guy Joel Chandler Harris created Uncle Remus and the racist Uncle Remus stories.I highly doubt Tokyo will do a retheme. The rides in the US are constantly being changed to shove more IP in but Nemo Searider is the only case I can think of in recent years of that happening in Tokyo. Space Mountain in Tokyo was never rethemed to Hyperspace unlike Disneyland, Paris and Hong Kong.
I'm strongly against Disney making this change to Splash Mountain because I don't agree with them censoring everything related to Song of the South instead of helping to educate people about the historical context. I thought the movie was empowering because a black man teaches life lessons to a white boy through stories. I'm curious how many people actually watched the movie and think Splash Mountain should be changed due to featuring Brer rabbit rather than get stirred up by the media constantly exaggerating claims of racism. Given that Japanese people don't see any problems with the characters in the ride and have a stronger attitude of "don't fix what's not broken", I can't imagine Splash Mountain in Tokyo going away in the near future.
Good news looks like post above is wrong and Oriental Land Co is considering changing the theme.maybe not a princess and frog but something else.
Why is that good news?
Because even though the racist undertones aren't known in Japan, or maybe not relevant, it is what the movie is based on. Updating it is an improvement for equality.
If I, as a Dutch person, may throw in a Dutch related issue. Look up 'Black Pete' and 'Sinterklaas', in origin, Black Pete is a racist character, however 200 years later for a lot of people (white & black) it is not anymore what it once was. That only doesn't change the origins and what it means in a negative way to also a lot of people (white & black).
Yes, it would be ideal if we could keep the ride and explain the history at the same time. But as themeparks are a way to escape the real world, that will not happen, within the ride. It would be an option to have a museum on site with the history of rides and movies to explain the backgrounds of decisions made years ago, but as that would be an optional, it doesn't justify keeping the ride.
I think it is a perfect opportunity for OLC to create an original ride, unique to Tokyo, based on Duffy & his friends. If there is one thing that is popular, it's Duffy, Shelliemay, Gelatoni and all the others. As it is a ride with many creatures and many scenes, they could make it work to give each character it's own little scene, and then a big finale together.
Because even though the racist undertones aren't known in Japan, or maybe not relevant, it is what the movie is based on. Updating it is an improvement for equality.
I think it is a perfect opportunity for OLC to create an original ride, unique to Tokyo, based on Duffy & his friends. If there is one thing that is popular, it's Duffy, Shelliemay, Gelatoni and all the others. As it is a ride with many creatures and many scenes, they could make it work to give each character it's own little scene, and then a big finale together.
So, the main explanation of the author on why the change will not happen (soon) is Japanese culture's attitude towards change vs. tradition? Can I summarize it like this?Fair enough but as the article I linked explains, it's very very unlikely that OLC will be changing it anytime soon.
So, the main explanation of the author on why the change will not happen (soon) is Japanese culture's attitude towards change vs. tradition? Can I summarize it like this?
So, the main explanation of the author on why the change will not happen (soon) is Japanese culture's attitude towards change vs. tradition? Can I summarize it like this?
Seriously, the amount of 'who can piss the furthest' in this thread... Bragging if you have been to Disneyland Tokyo, often or not and if you live there is really not relevant. Even if we both live there and go to the park daily, we can still have a discussion about what we THINK will happen. And it is possible to agree or disagree. (I've visited all the Disney parks in the world, if it matters to you).I'll summarize it but the first point that really needs to be emphasized is that OLC doesn't care if Splash Mountain is based on a movie that offends a small number of Americans. Tokyo Disney is built for the Japanese, I've been there several times so I know precisely what I'm talking about. Japan doesn't have the same type of PC culture that the U.S. does. Now let's get to some of the main points in the article:
1) The area with Splash Mountain is basically themed entirely around Splash Mountain. All the nearby restaurants and attractions are related to Splash Mountain. So the expense to change all of that would be substantial. They can't just remove the bunnies from Splash, stick some frogs and Tiana in there, and call it a day. That's not at all how that process would work.
2) Have you heard of Kawaii culture? It's the culture of cuteness. Everything cute cute cute to the max. A fun loving attraction with singing animals fits that culture perfectly.
3) As Gelatoni referenced in his post, OLC likes sure things. Princess and the Frog is about as far from a sure thing as you can possibly get. Rides don't make their way to Tokyo Disney until years and years after they've demonstrated their popularity in the states. Heck, look at how popular Soarin has been in the states since its debut in 2001. Now, finally, almost 20 years later it finally made its way to DisneySea. Soaring was about as sure a thing as you can possibly get.
Factoring in all of the above, I just can't believe that OLC would make this change anytime soon. And by soon I'm talking probably the next 5-10 years at the absolute earliest, if ever.
Because even though the racist undertones aren't known in Japan, or maybe not relevant, it is what the movie is based on. Updating it is an improvement for equality.
If I, as a Dutch person, may throw in a Dutch related issue. Look up 'Black Pete' and 'Sinterklaas', in origin, Black Pete is a racist character, however 200 years later for a lot of people (white & black) it is not anymore what it once was. That only doesn't change the origins and what it means in a negative way to also a lot of people (white & black).
Yes, it would be ideal if we could keep the ride and explain the history at the same time. But as themeparks are a way to escape the real world, that will not happen, within the ride. It would be an option to have a museum on site with the history of rides and movies to explain the backgrounds of decisions made years ago, but as that would be an optional, it doesn't justify keeping the ride.
I think it is a perfect opportunity for OLC to create an original ride, unique to Tokyo, based on Duffy & his friends. If there is one thing that is popular, it's Duffy, Shelliemay, Gelatoni and all the others. As it is a ride with many creatures and many scenes, they could make it work to give each character it's own little scene, and then a big finale together.
Yes, respect must be show to African American and West African folklore and the Br'er Rabbit brand.I think the author emphasizes more that OLC wants things to be tested for several years before improving on it to put in TDR. There's also the cultural difference of listening to Disney's proposals which in American culture implies interest but in Japanese culture is mainly to show respect.
One thing the article doesn't mention is that Splashdown Photos in Tokyo Disneyland is sponsored by Fujifilm. OLC takes what their Japanese partners think very seriously so Fujifilm also needs to approve any changes to Splash Mountain.