Japanese Woman's Studying Abroad in Malaysia: Movie

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Can't See Anything from Block H at Ariake Arena? A Review of Watching Disney on Ice Tokyo from Trial Seats

Experiencing Disney on Ice!

Every year, Disney characters bring the coolness of summer with a large-scale event held nationwide called "Disney on Ice."

Disney on Ice is a skating show featuring Disney characters and is a popular event among a wide range of age groups, from children to adults. Children can enjoy the show while dressed in Disney character costumes, and it's not just a passive experience; it's a participatory event where the audience claps and stomps their feet with the MC and characters, creating an exciting atmosphere.

I had always wanted to go, and coincidentally, I received a notification through a newsletter I had registered for related to stage events. Going to a performance one year after studying abroad would be challenging, but since I had the opportunity, I checked it out and was able to get tickets. Finally, my dream came true.

The venue was "Ariake Arena," with the nearest stations being Shin-Toyosu on the Yurikamome line or Ariake Tennis no Mori station. On my way back, I walked to Toyosu station and also stopped by Lalaport Toyosu. Ariake Arena is also known as an Olympic venue. It has been used for volleyball and wheelchair basketball matches, featuring spacious areas.

Now that the Olympics have ended, it is also used for live concerts by famous artists like Perfume and Billie Eilish.

I had heard about Disney on Ice being held at Saitama Super Arena from someone I knew who went there, but I didn't know it was also held at Ariake Arena. Being in Tokyo, I was grateful for the relatively easy access.

100 Years of Wonder

This year's Disney on Ice is a story that traces 100 years of Disney history. Mickey Mouse and his friends hop on a magical car and embark on a journey to various Disney worlds. I entered the venue with high expectations after previewing the show on YouTube and blogs.

The show started with the "Mary Poppins Returns" segment. I'm familiar with Mary Poppins herself from both the movie and the musical stage, but I only saw "Returns" in bits and pieces on TV. Nonetheless, I was overwhelmed by the group dance performance of Mary Poppins, Bert, and the chimney sweeps, and I thoroughly enjoyed it even without a clear memory of the story.

Even if a family is not familiar with Disney and only the children are fans, Disney on Ice is still enjoyable.

The show also featured popular characters from "Moana," "Frozen," "Toy Story," and more.

I'm not very knowledgeable about figure skating, but the show presented numerous acrobatic performances on the ice, leaving me breathless with awe.

Especially the scenes where the skaters flew through the air in sync with the visuals projected on the large screens were breathtaking and enchanting.

Among them, the scene that captivated me the most was the one featuring the live-action version of "Aladdin."

It featured the live-action Aladdin, and the collaboration between Will Smith's Genie and the skaters was beautifully executed, making me feel like I had wandered into a magical world. Jasmine singing "Speechless" was also a unique selection from the live-action version.

Furthermore, what caught my interest was the display of photos during the show.

The large screen at the skating rink displayed photos posted on social media or taken by the MC during the show in real-time, creating a sense of unity throughout the venue. While witnessing that, I felt excited as if I had become a part of Mickey and his friends' journey memories.

Block H seats at Ariake Arena

Now, let me share my impressions from Block H seats at Ariake Arena.

The ticket I purchased was for trial seats, located in Block H on the 4th floor of Ariake Arena.

The ticket price was 2,500 yen, roughly equivalent to the cost of a casual lunch course, making it an affordable option for experiencing the show for the first time.

Advantages of Block H seats:

First of all, they offer a close enough view to feel Disney on Ice up close and personal, and I'd like to showcase that with a photo.

While it can't be said that the seats in Block H provide an unobstructed view of the stage, you still feel relatively close to it compared to what you might see in photos, allowing you to fully enjoy the charm of the show.

Additionally, depending on the show's production, Ariake Arena features large screens and skating areas, allowing even those in distant seats to witness powerful performances.

The lighting effects and large group dance scenes were particularly stunning from afar. In that sense, sitting slightly further away might actually be better.

Disadvantages of Block H seats:

However, there are some downsides to Block H seats.

Since the venue is spacious, the sound tends to echo, making it challenging to hear Mickey, Minnie, and the MC's lines during certain scenes.

However, despite some difficulty in hearing the dialogue, it didn't have a significant impact on the overall enjoyment of the show, as the visual performances were captivating.

Additionally, during intermissions or breaks, there were sales of glowing toys, stuffed animals, shaved ice, and other food items. However, for trial seats located higher up, there was a bit of distance to the concession stands, making it challenging to return during the break. If you plan on going, I recommend arriving early.

Next year's event is already scheduled!

I initially thought Disney on Ice was more geared towards children and attended the event with a "I'm just visiting" attitude. However, upon experiencing it, I realized that it is a wonderful show that can be enjoyed by adults as well. I saw groups of adults and individuals, not just families, enjoying the show just like me.

Furthermore, I was able to watch the show from trial seats at a great price and felt truly happy.

Since the announcement for next year's event has already been made, I hope that if you have the opportunity, you'll also experience the magic of Disney on Ice. I won't be able to attend next year due to my study abroad plans, but it seems that companies featuring "Encanto" will be touring!

Whether you opt for seats close to the skating rink or Block H seats at Ariake Arena, you are bound to have a memorable and fantastic experience.

Live-Action Version of "The Little Mermaid"

I went to see the live-action Disney film "The Little Mermaid," which was released on June 9th (Friday). It happened to be a day when I could leave work early for building maintenance, so I left the office without hesitation, skipping overtime.

I had been eager to watch it every time I saw the commercials because the song "Part of Your World" felt just like the voice of a mermaid.

I visited Shinjuku Piccadilly, where I had previously watched "Shikakenin Fujieda Baian," another film. Since the dubbed version had a star-studded cast this time, there were quite a few showtimes for the dubbed version, and I felt limited in options for the subtitled version.

I wanted to challenge the movie theater in Kabukicho Tower, but I couldn't bring myself to walk through the lively streets of Kabukicho on a Friday night just for "The Little Mermaid." I'll try it next time during a lively daytime.

What are my thoughts on the live-action "The Little Mermaid"?

Since I watched the subtitled version, the girls sitting next to me were speaking in French, and their first words after the ending were "Très Bien!" I wanted to say the same.

The story is almost the same as the well-known Disney animated film, so I'll skip discussing it, but the direction, visual representation, performances, and songs in recreating it were all excellent.

Some iconic scenes from the animated version were also reproduced in the live-action adaptation.

In addition, compared to when I watched the animated film, this version carried a modern message about complex family environments, people who yearn for and fear different cultures, and the dynamics within families.

Ariel's father and Eric's (adoptive) mother both had an overprotective nature, and when Ariel and Eric connected on that aspect, it felt like the song "Gold von den Sternen (Gold Falling from the Stars)" from the musical "Mozart!" could start playing.

Is there any awkwardness in the live-action Disney film?

In Japan, when live-action adaptations of animated films are made, there are opinions like "Don't ruin my character's image." I think creating a live-action version can be quite challenging.

Also, personally, although I didn't find any problems, I'll mention that there were some critical opinions as soon as the visuals were released for this movie.

Of course, humans cannot become animated characters, and it's not that we don't feel any awkwardness.

But for example, before I watched Broadway and Shiki Theater musicals, I saw the visual representation of Ariel in the musical and thought, "She has an ice cream cone on her head." However, when I watched the musical, it no longer bothered me.

There are occasional moments like that in this movie that can be slightly distracting.

However, any points where you feel like saying, "What is this?" might not be about the story of the film itself but rather the fact that the Disney version deviates from Andersen's original tale, which was about the "mermaid who doesn't turn into bubbles."

If you expect everything to be exactly the same as the animated version, it might shatter your dreams, but if you watch it as a new film, it was a beautifully crafted story that is hard to come by.

Disney films have extravagant trailers

Since it was a Disney film, there were many trailers for other Disney movies. One that caught my attention was "My Element," which features Tamamori Yuta from Kis-My-Ft2 as a voice actor.

But more than that, what caught my eye was "Wish," which is set to release this winter. It feels like Disney is going all out for their 100th anniversary. The English commercial mentioned November, and considering the Japanese promotion is for winter, maybe I can watch it while studying abroad in Malaysia.

Also, it seems that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen will appear in the final installment of the "Indiana Jones" series, titled "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." I've only seen him as a villain, but his visuals are top-notch. I didn't know because there's always news about Harrison Ford.

When I watch foreign movies, I consider it as spending nearly two hours on English listening practice (or at least that's how I think of it). So, I'm excited to make time and go see various films.

Spoiler-Free! Watching the Acclaimed Film "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Watching "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

I went to see "Everything Everywhere All at Once," also promoted as "#エブエブ" in Japan. This film has won seven Academy Awards, and Michelle Yeoh, a Malaysian of Chinese descent, won the Best Actress award, making her the first Asian to achieve this honor, which has sparked a lot of discussion.

I had known about this movie since last month when I saw the trailer while watching "Titanic." Just hearing about the setting and story was already intriguing and had me laughing.

Although the trailer looked interesting, I was left confused after hearing the synopsis. Nevertheless, my curiosity was piqued.

I had been thinking, "I want to see it and be surprised," and then I happened to turn on the TV, and there was news about the Academy Awards. Thinking that the theaters might get crowded after the film won awards, I decided to watch it on the same day the winners were announced.

Off to the Night Cinema!

Since the movie ends close to midnight, my boyfriend, who usually only watches Japanese films, came along with me.

He asked, "I didn't read that message you sent about the movie properly. Can you tell me the plot?" And my response was, "It's a story where a laundromat lady saves the entire universe with Kung Fu."

I'm not wrong, haha.

Impressions of "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Without giving away any spoilers, I can't fully explain, but the film is filled with absurd settings that will make you laugh, intense action scenes, and dramatic moments. It's peculiar how it manages to evoke courage within you.

After the Academy Awards, the speeches of the winners also resonate with their characters.

The costume design, visual effects, and technical expertise are outstanding, and it makes me want to watch it again.

My boyfriend, who usually watches only Japanese films and prefers dubbed versions, says they want to see it again. They're also busy but express a desire to watch Steven Spielberg's autobiographical film "Fablemans," so it might not be easy to find the time.

If you're still undecided, I recommend watching it on the big screen. Even if you're someone who usually waits for the DVD to think, "That was good," experiencing the power of the big screen once will leave you with no regrets. It's a highly recommended film that gives that feeling.

Japanese Woman's Studying Abroad in Malaysia