Volume 1, No. 6. April 20, 2001
It’s a theme park!
USJ Co., Ltd. announces the arrival of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, March 31, 2001 (54 hectares, 18 attractions, 21 eateries, and 23 retail outlets). Delivered by Adirondack Scenic, Advanced Animations, Advanced Entertainment Technology, Anitech Systems, Attraction Services, Bigger Than Life, Birket Engineering, BRC Imagination Arts, Cinnabar, Edwards Technologies, Entech Creative Industries, IMAX Corporation, Intamin, ITEC Productions, Iwerks Entertainment, Lexington Scenery & Props, Magicraft, Mee Industries, MTS Systems, Nassal Company, Oceaneering Entertainment Systems, Scenario Design, Scenery West, Show Technologies, and Technifex.
A drizzling, cold rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the first- day, near-capacity crowd that poured through the gates and ran to Jurassic Park—The Ride and Back To The Future—The Ride. Those two staples at Universal parks in both Hollywood and Orlando proved the biggest draw for a Japanese audience that generally loves anything having to do with American cinema.
However, an attraction exclusive to this Asian version of the Universal Studios theme park brand tapped into another local favorite: Snoopy’s Sound Stage Adventure. Not only did the interactive playground featuring various Peanuts characters, including waterslides, a maze, and a Snoopy-themed family coaster, get a workout, the adjoining Snoopy Studios Store did big business. "The store was packed," said Jennifer Liu, director of public relations for Universal Studios Recreation Group. "People were going in and buying merchandise all day long."
Also new to Japan’s Studios are Animation Celebration, featuring live actors interacting with a "holovision" Woody Woodpecker, and Universal Studios Motion Picture Magic, a cinematic retrospective of Universal Studios movie history featuring Steven Spielberg. Imported attractions from existing Universal parks include Jaws, E.T. Adventure, Backdraft, Terminator 2: 3D, and the stunt shows.
The public opening was preceded by two days of hosting some 800 members of the media, the majority from the Osaka region and "tons of press taking the bullet train from Tokyo," Liu said. Crews from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, France and the United States also covered the opening. Arnold Schwarzenegger literally dropped in (via helicopter) on the opening eve party, and was on hand at 7 a.m. the next morning to help Akira Sakata, president of USJ Co., snap a giant clapboard to officially set the park in "action!"
©2001, Minton Enterprises LLC
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