Harry Potter is coming to a Universal Studios theme park parade

October 31, 2017, 10:42 AM · For the first time, Universal will include the Harry Potter franchise in one of its new parades. Now, if you a Potter fan in the United States who has followed closely Universal's use of its Wizarding World franchise, you are probably saying to yourself right now, "please don't just be in Japan."

Well, sorry. As you guessed, Universal's new Harry Potter parade is coming to Universal Studios Japan.

Universal Spectacle Night Parade will debut at the Osaka theme park next year, featuring not only Potter but also parade units themed to the Minions, Transformers, and Jurassic World franchises.

Universal is promoting the new event as a "next-generation" theme park parade. The procession will be coordinated with projection mapping on surrounding buildings and will include live performances on portable stages, as well as dynamic floats. And the whole thing will play with a cinematic musical score accompanying the performance.

The park will use Universal's new wireless "show orchestration" technology to coordinate everything, and the parade represents a reported investment of US$61.86 million, more than double what Universal spent on the park's existing parades.

No specific opening date has been announced.

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Replies (6)

October 31, 2017 at 12:11 PM · Will this approach be applied in the new Cinematic show in Orlando? Wonder if some ideas can be borrowed.
October 31, 2017 at 12:26 PM · @$62 million for a parade??? That's a ridiculous sum for something that goes by guests maybe twice a day for a total of about 15 minutes. You could probably install an e-ticket ride for that in most parks or at least a couple d-ticket attractions.

I'm all for a fun parade, but that's a lot of money. With that level of investment, it's almost assured that they're going to deploy similar technology and designs in other parks around the world.

October 31, 2017 at 12:58 PM · Now that cinematic has gone , Im sure this is coming to Orlando .
With the new xmas parade I think this is Unuversals plan to upgrade the entertainment in the parks,
As despite having amazing rides ,Disney always had the better shows and parades,
November 1, 2017 at 5:01 PM · Japan gets all the cool stuff. Seriously, though, I would love to see this, so I guess this provides one more reason to find a way to get over to Osaka some day.
October 31, 2017 at 3:54 PM · Why would Japan use Transformers when they don't have a ride there?
October 31, 2017 at 5:23 PM · How does this fit in work the immersion of Harry Potter? People criticise Disney for watering down is brands with things like parades, I thought JK would be against this type if usage of the GP brand.

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