What’s the Difference Between Universal Studios and Disney Auditions?
Auditions for Tokyo Disney have started again!
As usual, they are currently recruiting dancers and character performers.
They occasionally recruit puppeteers as well, but this year, it looks like these are the only two positions being offered.
Disney doesn’t usually post singer positions through its official open calls in Japan.
There is a global Disney audition website called Disney Auditions, where singer opportunities are occasionally posted, so if you want to become a Disney singer, I definitely recommend checking it regularly.
Since Tokyo Disney tends to focus heavily on character performers, they don’t hire singers very often, so these opportunities are quite rare.
They do exist, though!
However, the auditions are often held in places like the United States, Canada, or Australia.
I used to travel all the way to California for auditions about ten years ago.
Wow, that brings back memories!
So, today I want to talk about the difference between Universal Studios and Tokyo Disney auditions.
Both USJ and Disney are currently accepting audition applications, but what exactly is different between the two?
What should you pay attention to, and how should you approach each audition differently?
First of all, even though we call them “auditions,” they are basically similar to a job interview at a regular company.
So, of course, you need to understand what each company is trying to create and what kind of entertainment they provide.
Things can change from year to year, but there are some general characteristics that tend to remain consistent.
◆ USJ
Incorporates current trends and popular culture
(TikTok editions, Pokémon, Yo-kai Watch, etc.)
More pop-oriented than classical
The types of shows change from year to year
Let’s start with USJ.
USJ tends to follow current trends very closely.
When something becomes a huge hit, USJ often jumps right in — whether it’s Detective Conan, Attack on Titan, or other major franchises that are popular at the time.
They also use limited-time events and seasonal productions to encourage guests to come back to the park again and again.
From a singing perspective, the style tends to be more energetic and powerful rather than purely classical.
The genres can vary — pop, R&B, rock, and more — but many of the songs have a strong, energetic quality.
◆ Disney
Doesn’t follow trends too heavily and places importance on its long-established identity
Brings the world of Disney animation to life in the real world
There are more energetic shows these days, but generally not as intense as USJ
Many singing roles require strong classical vocal technique rather than an overly powerful style
So, what about Disney?
These days, Disney is definitely experimenting with many new genres and styles.
For example, Jamboree Mickey! incorporates pop-and-lock-style dance, which I thought was quite innovative for Disney when it first started.
However, when you look at the park as a whole, I think one of Disney’s core concepts is still to recreate the world of Disney animation as faithfully as possible in the real world.
There aren’t as many shows that hire singers specifically for their vocal performances, but when there are, the singing style generally isn’t overly powerful or aggressive.
Even some of Disney’s original pop songs require a fairly classical vocal technique.
And Big Band Beat, for example, was completely jazz-oriented!
So, when you go into an audition, I think it’s important to have a clear picture in your mind of what kind of role you want to be cast in and what kind of show you want to perform in.
Then, if you can communicate that image through your audition, it may also make it easier for the casting team to imagine where you could fit within their productions.
I hope this helps!
Good luck with your auditions! ♪
Mayu
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