https://d23.com/d23-expo/
More than 23,000 Disney fans from all across Japan gathered for three days of dazzling presentations, special screenings, eye-popping exhibits, and concerts.
FROM THE WEBSITE:
The first D23 Expo Japan, held at the Tokyo Disney Resort, took place October 12–14 during the “Sports Day” weekend holiday, and highlighted the incredible enthusiasm of Disney fans on a global scale.
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger opened the festivities Saturday at the packed Maihama Amphitheatre, highlighting exciting upcoming projects on the horizon for the company and making a point to acknowledge appreciation for the passion of Japanese fans.
Adding a little humor to the festivities, a “lost” C-3PO and R2-D2 crossed the stage chatting about Splash Mountain—and presumably preparing to make their way to a galaxy far, far away in the much-anticipated Episode 7.
Later that afternoon, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs gave the audience a glimpse of what’s to come at theme parks around the world, including a peek inside the stunning castle which will tower above Shanghai Disneyland, the new Iron Man attraction coming to Hong Kong Disneyland, and—for the first time—revealing concept art and attractions for the highly anticipated land based on Avatar, coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The evening closed with guests enjoying Disney on Classic, a spectacular concert performed by the Never Land Orchestra and singers of beloved Disney music.
Sunday, Oriental Land Company (OLC), which operates Tokyo Disney Resort, had audiences cheering with a presentation that included a one-of-a-kind live stage show with dozens of performers and characters looking back at three decades of spectaculars, as Tokyo Disneyland celebrates its 30th anniversary.
That afternoon, guests enjoyed Secrets of Disney Character Voices, a glimpse behind the magic with some of Japan’s most famous voice talents who shared their stories of voicing Disney characters.
Monday morning, Walt Disney Studios marketing president Ricky Strauss treated the audience to sneak peeks of upcoming films including Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Maleficent, Inside Out, and more. Guests cheered following a confetti burst that served as the finale to the joyous “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” sequence from the upcoming Saving Mr. Banks, and singer May J. moved the audience with her rendition of “Let It Go” from the upcoming animated film Frozen.
That afternoon, the audience was treated to a special panel on the third installment of the incredibly popular videogame Kingdom Hearts with game creator Tetsuya Nomura, along with a look at Disney Infinity.
To end the night, guests enjoyed Disney Friends in Concert with Avex, featuring popular Japanese group TRF along with a host of Avex recording artists including Dream 5, Moumoon, Ami Suzuki, and Girl Next Door giving their own takes on popular Disney songs. The finale had guests on their feet—literally—dancing to the Tokyo Disneyland 30th Anniversary theme song, “Happiness Is Here.”
And there was much more to the Expo, including two breathtaking exhibits. D23 presented Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives inside Hotel MiraCosta. “We brought more than 70 pieces from our collection,” explained Becky Cline, director of the Archives. “We spoke to our partners in Japan to make sure we focused on things the audiences here would be particularly interested in.” Much to the delight of fans, included in the exhibit were original dolls from The Aristocats featured in the windows of Disneyland’s Emporium for the film’s opening in 1970.
Pirates and princesses have universal appeal, and the Archives brought a Cinderella dress from Disneyland, Toni Braxton’s incredibly detailed dress from when she played Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, and one of Anne Hathaway’s beautiful dresses from The Princess Diaries 2. Guests also had the chance to see—through video, imagery, and actual models and props—how Pirates of the Caribbean was born as an attraction at Disneyland, grew into a blockbuster film franchise, and then saw the films incorporated back into the beloved ride. Pixar also contributed to the exhibit by loaning a large selection of animator models of some of their most beloved characters including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Nemo, the Incredibles family, and Mike and Sulley.
Inside the Ambassador Hotel, OLC exhibited 30 years of Tokyo Disneyland with models, artwork, and elaborate costumes. Plus, there was a room dedicated to Duffy the Disney Bear, who is also beloved to Japanese audiences.
Inside the movie theater at Ikspiari—a distant cousin of Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney districts—guests were treated to sneak peeks and special screenings of Disney Channel fare including Phineas and Ferb and The Wizards of Waverly Place.
No Disney experience would be complete without souvenirs, and guests dove into the exclusive merchandise including plush versions of the D23 Expo characters in their “sorcerer” grab, limited-edition pins, and much more.
D23 was thrilled to bring some Disney magic to our fans across the Pacific. The love of Disney is universal, and while “the mountains divide and the oceans are wide,” it is indeed a small world after all. Arigato and sayonara!
