Waterworks

There was a time when I don’t cry easily. Especially at the movies. For example, when Jack sank to the bottom of the ocean shortly after Rose discovered he was dead, I felt really sad but not on the verge of tears. Not even close.

Then one day, as I flicked through the television, I decided to watch this cartoon for the first time in over 10 years. I remembered it was a childhood favourite – Disney’s The Fox and the Hound. As Widow Tweed drove Tod the fox into the forest and reluctantly started to abandon him there because of difficult circumstances, my eyes started welling up. The look on Tod’s face as she drove away made me sob!

Who knew, instead of the multi award-winning Titanic, it was an animated feature film that made me cry for the first time during a movie! Well to be fair, watch this and tell me it’s not sad!

People say that when that “door” is opened and you crossed over, you can never go back. The waterworks came freely ever since.

I cried when Marley died.

I cried when it was revealed by Kim that the snow actually came from Edward Scissorhands‘ yearly ice shavings because of his love for her.

I cried when Elizabeth sacrificed her own happiness for the sake of her people and declared that she was “married to England” and became the virgin queen.

I cried when Richard Gere appeared on the elevator, with a rose in hand to meet Susan Sarandon in Shall We Dance.

I cried as Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the whole gang bid Andy farewell in Toy Story 3 (yes, another animated film, don’t judge!).

I cried pretty much all through The Joy Luck Club.

I cried during Hannah and Murray’s civil union.

I’ve become such a crybaby ever since re-watching a childhood cartoon about a make-believe fox! I still cry watching it. I think it’s the most touching scene ever.

Do you cry at the movies too? Which is your favourite tear-jerker?

The Power Of Branding

While checking my e-mail this morning, it got me thinking about branding and how it programs our minds to link certain consumer products or services to businesses associated with them.

Old-fashioned sales and marketing strategies focused entirely at spreading the word about a product through advertisements hoping it will reach more buyers. Branding on the other hand, aims specifically at reminding consumers of a certain brand name or icon when they think of a product, without even looking at a single advertisement.

A quick search in google revealed that the most successful brands in the world include Coca Cola, Disney, Microsoft and many more.

As I glanced through the list, the fact that I could almost immediately pair up each brand with a product or service just shows how successful those brands are. For example, when I think of fizzy drinks, I think of Coca Cola. When I think of cartoons, I think of Disney. The same way how my mind automatically associates hamburgers with McDonald’s and fried chicken with KFC.

In Malaysia, baby diapers are referred to as Pampers, and instant noodles are called Maggie noodles.

Amazing isn’t it? The power of branding and how it controls the way we think without us even knowing! It’s almost like hypnosis.

However, when I think of The Blue Pill (Viagra), my mind quickly gets reminded of spam e-mails. Not “magic cure” or “happier men” but spam e-mails. Branding success story gone wrong…..?

Autumn in Japan (VI)

Day 6: Disneyland

On my sixth day in Japan, Kenix and I went to the happiest place in the world – Disneyland!! We pre-bought our tickets and boarded the train there early in the morning. It was a Thursday and believe it or not, there was already queues at the entrance! People were camping there, waiting for the gates to open. Kenix told me that the Japanese were big fans of Disneyland. They would return and return and return for more of Disneyland….both adults and kids!

And so Kenix and I joined in the queue, sat down and waited. As I expected, a lot of parents were bringing along their small children along. I noticed trams everywhere. Many were wearing Disney merchandise – mouse ears, Disney costumes etc. Boy, the Japanese really love Disneyland! I saw a few little girls in full on princess costumes – Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Snow White.

10 minutes before the gates were supposed to open, we saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and the whole bunch ran around near the gates waving at us. The crowd went crazy! Everyone was screaming and cheering, calling out to the Disney stars. Kids were reaching out to their beloved characters through the gates. It was such a teaser, it got everyone restless and anxious to go into Disneyland. Then the gates started opening. There were a row of I think 4 to 5 gates? The main gate was opened and people were literally running in. Yes they were running! It was kind of funny. The sight of parents, running inside Disneyland, pushing their trams  in front and dragging their kids with them. I can’t help but laugh out loud! Kenix said they must be rushing in to start queuing for the rides.

Anyway, our gates were still not open. Perhaps they were doing it one gate at a time.  Everyone was getting excited to go in. There were two teenage girls queuing behind us. Suddenly they started jumping and shrieking behind, “Kawaii, kawaii…..!!!!! Hihihihihihi…..!!!” Yes….they were that excited. Finally our gates opened and we got in. There was Disney music playing everywhere, in Japanese of course. I can’t help but feel the happiness. I couldn’t stop smiling

Guess who we spotted once we walked into Disneyland? Mickey! The queue to take a picture with him was forming quickly and we joined in. Kenix said his friend went to Disneyland thrice and never met Mickey. And I got him at the moment I stepped in…ha! We spent 40 minutes waiting in queue to take a picture with him, it was worth it. Once I got the shot, I said, “Bye Mickey, I love youuuu….!!!” Its been ages since I felt so good…just like a kid….

We walked further in and I saw the statue of the man behind it all….Walt Disney, sitting on a couch talking with Minnie. Another statue of him holding hands with Mickey made me warm and fuzzy inside for a while. Don’t know why. I guess I was reminded how I loved watching Mickey and friends when I was little.

Then I saw Cinderella’s castle, the sight that must not be missed at Disneyland. Simply beautiful.

We spent the day getting on rides, watching shows, parades and taking loads of pictures. Everything in Disneyland looked and felt magical….the colours, the architecture, the christmas decorations, the music. I really felt like I was in the happiest place in the world. From Adventure Land to Space to Toontown….pictures say a thousand words:

Pinocchio

This is where you board "The Happiest Cruise in the World"

Kenix and Fairy Godmother

Pirates of the Caribbean (Captain Jack Sparrow was there!)

Look at the trams!

I got myself a pair of Mickey ears!

Queen of Hearts Restaurant

Another shot of the castle (in my new boots!!)

Kenix at Toontown - she got a pair of cute leopard print Mickey earmuffs

Daisy Duck

At Toontown

If you’re wondering why people were camping on the ground outside of Toontown, well they were waiting for the Christmas parade.

Buzz Lightyear

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell on ice

Mickey and Minnie on ice

Pooh and friends

Alice

The chipmunks on ice

Santa Claus with his reindeers and elves

Even though all the rides and songs were in Japanese and were meant for kids, I still enjoyed myself very much! All the animatronics and design were impressive, very attractive and appealing even to grown ups like me. I would love to go back to Disneyland again someday, truly the happiest place in the world!

Next up: Shinjuku and Shibuya plus Okutama and Machida

Following post:

• Autumn in Japan (VIII): Harajuku

Previous posts:

• Autumn in Japan (Prologue)
• Autumn in Japan (I): Kyoto
• Autumn in Japan (II): Kyoto and Nara
• Autumn in Japan (III): Hiroshima
• Autumn in Japan (IV): Tokyo
• Autumn in Japan (V): Kawaguchiko (Mt Fuji)