Day Two
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| Movies & Specials Guide | The Archdjinn of the Rings,
Hoopa
"The Location Scouting
Report" (ロケハンレポート)
is a series of articles posted on the movie's official
website that follow the production team's location scouting trip to
the United Arab Emirates. They took the trip in order to take
reference photos and other materials that would later help them shape
the look and feel of the main feature The
Archdjinn
of the Rings, Hoopa.
Location
Scouting
| Blog Post Title | Date Posted | |
| 05 |
"To
Old Dubai!" (オールド・ドバイへ！) |
May 14th, 2015 |
| 06 |
"Arabian
Surprises" (アラビアのサプライズ) |
May 21st, 2015 |
| 07 |
"Souks!
Souks! Souks!" (スーク！スーク！スーク！) |
May 28th, 2015 |
| 08 |
"Worship
and Sunsets" (礼拝と日没) |
June 5th, 2015 |
| Episode
Five "To Old Dubai!" |
Originally
posted on May 14th, 2015
It's the morning of our second day of location scouting. We checked out of our hotel at 9:00 and commenced our location scouting under the beautiful cloudless sky. It looks like today will be another day when the "water of life" will be absolutely essential.
Our team spent its first day collecting reference materials in Abu Dhabi, Dubai's neighbor, and so today we're heading into Dubai itself! This time, however, we focused on the older downtown part rather than the showy skyscraper part of the city. We're heading to Old Dubai, a place seeped in Middle Eastern culture.
The location scouting team headed for the Bastakiya Quarter, an area along the Dubai Creek which itself cuts through the center of Dubai. It's being preserved as a historical preservation site due to how much of Dubai's history it contains. You can walk around really get a feel of the exotic atmosphere of the Middle East.
The first place we headed to was the Dubai Museum. The building was completed in 1787 and is the oldest structure in Dubai. It used to be called the Al Fahidi Fort and was used to keep neighboring tribes out and it later served as the ruler's palace and as a prison before being converted into its current state as a museum in 1971.
Inside the museum were exhibits that included panels and realistic wax statues that detailed the history of Dubai's development. Outside was a house built with the trunks and leaves of date trees, a market, and a wooden cargo ship called a dhow. Hmm...maybe this could be useful for the movie...
The most striking thing about all of that, however, was the traditional Arabian house equipped with what's called a "Wind Tower." This uniquely built tower is built up along the side of the wall and allows a cool breeze to come into the inside of the house. It's like nature's air conditioner! When we entered the room we could really feel a nice little breeze coming in.
We left the Dubai Museum and walked around the rest of the Bastakiya Quarter. The area has been preserved as-is and so we got to see more of those real life wind towers up close. There were also replica wind towers located in the middle of town that gave off a vibe completely different from the rows of skyscrapers elsewhere in the city.
It's the morning of our second day of location scouting. We checked out of our hotel at 9:00 and commenced our location scouting under the beautiful cloudless sky. It looks like today will be another day when the "water of life" will be absolutely essential.
Our team spent its first day collecting reference materials in Abu Dhabi, Dubai's neighbor, and so today we're heading into Dubai itself! This time, however, we focused on the older downtown part rather than the showy skyscraper part of the city. We're heading to Old Dubai, a place seeped in Middle Eastern culture.
The location scouting team headed for the Bastakiya Quarter, an area along the Dubai Creek which itself cuts through the center of Dubai. It's being preserved as a historical preservation site due to how much of Dubai's history it contains. You can walk around really get a feel of the exotic atmosphere of the Middle East.
The first place we headed to was the Dubai Museum. The building was completed in 1787 and is the oldest structure in Dubai. It used to be called the Al Fahidi Fort and was used to keep neighboring tribes out and it later served as the ruler's palace and as a prison before being converted into its current state as a museum in 1971.
Inside the museum were exhibits that included panels and realistic wax statues that detailed the history of Dubai's development. Outside was a house built with the trunks and leaves of date trees, a market, and a wooden cargo ship called a dhow. Hmm...maybe this could be useful for the movie...
The most striking thing about all of that, however, was the traditional Arabian house equipped with what's called a "Wind Tower." This uniquely built tower is built up along the side of the wall and allows a cool breeze to come into the inside of the house. It's like nature's air conditioner! When we entered the room we could really feel a nice little breeze coming in.
We left the Dubai Museum and walked around the rest of the Bastakiya Quarter. The area has been preserved as-is and so we got to see more of those real life wind towers up close. There were also replica wind towers located in the middle of town that gave off a vibe completely different from the rows of skyscrapers elsewhere in the city.
| Episode
Six "Arabian Surprises" |
Originally
posted on May 21st, 2015
We finished up at the museum right at lunchtime. After looking at the streets filled with history we decided to enjoy some traditional Emarati food.
When the group of us entered the restaurant we went through the well ventilated second floor to a room with a rug laid out on the floor. Our waiters were a man wearing a white "condora" and a woman wearing a black "abaya."
The first thing we were given was a small sake cup-like container with arabic coffee extracted from saffron served together with dried dates. The reason they put the coffee in those small cups is so that you can order as many of them as you want. If you put out your cup after finishing your coffee then the male waiter would come over and fill it back up again, over and over! This seems to be the same sort of hospitality shown to travelers crossing through the desert.
The main course was rice topped with seasoned chicken and fish served together with curry. For dessert we had a pastry that was like a deep-fried donut without the hole in it. It was so delicious that Hoopa would definitely gobble it up!
When you eat food in the UAE, you mix the rice and the curry up together and then eat the whole thing with your hands, Arabian style. The location scouting staff wanted to try this as well! We were able to see that the flavors go well together and it's particularly delicious!
...
After finishing the first round of food we relaxed and had a nice chat. When we told the waitress that we were the Pokemon movie location scouting team she told us that she used to watch the Pokemon animated series when she was a kid! What a surprise to hear something like that so far away from home!
This got us all excited and so one of the members of the location scouting team offered some roasted green tea that we happened to have on us as a present. The tea was put in a glass with cold water and presented to her as we said "Japanese Tea!" in English, but it turns out they don't really seem to drink cold tea all that much in Arab countries. We inadvertently surprised each other for a moment there!
Regardless, she drank the green tea and seemed to like it!
We finished up at the museum right at lunchtime. After looking at the streets filled with history we decided to enjoy some traditional Emarati food.
When the group of us entered the restaurant we went through the well ventilated second floor to a room with a rug laid out on the floor. Our waiters were a man wearing a white "condora" and a woman wearing a black "abaya."
The first thing we were given was a small sake cup-like container with arabic coffee extracted from saffron served together with dried dates. The reason they put the coffee in those small cups is so that you can order as many of them as you want. If you put out your cup after finishing your coffee then the male waiter would come over and fill it back up again, over and over! This seems to be the same sort of hospitality shown to travelers crossing through the desert.
The main course was rice topped with seasoned chicken and fish served together with curry. For dessert we had a pastry that was like a deep-fried donut without the hole in it. It was so delicious that Hoopa would definitely gobble it up!
When you eat food in the UAE, you mix the rice and the curry up together and then eat the whole thing with your hands, Arabian style. The location scouting staff wanted to try this as well! We were able to see that the flavors go well together and it's particularly delicious!
...
After finishing the first round of food we relaxed and had a nice chat. When we told the waitress that we were the Pokemon movie location scouting team she told us that she used to watch the Pokemon animated series when she was a kid! What a surprise to hear something like that so far away from home!
This got us all excited and so one of the members of the location scouting team offered some roasted green tea that we happened to have on us as a present. The tea was put in a glass with cold water and presented to her as we said "Japanese Tea!" in English, but it turns out they don't really seem to drink cold tea all that much in Arab countries. We inadvertently surprised each other for a moment there!
Regardless, she drank the green tea and seemed to like it!
Top
| Episode
Seven "Souks! Souks! Souks!" |
Originally
posted on May 28th, 2015
That afternoon we crossed over to the other side of the Dubai Creek and took notes on the various souks there. "Souk" is another word for "market." We went to the World Trade Center Souk, one of the more modern-day souks, on our first day of location scouting but today we're going around to the more traditional ones that have been left untouched after all these years.
The first place we went to was the Old Souk! This line of markets that sell fabric is also known as the Textile Souk. We waded our way through the narrow streets, going around the numerous souvenir shops and doing our best to dodge the calls of tenacious shopkeepers as we made our way out of the arcade.
When you leave the arcade you come across a harbor. From there you cross the Dubai Creek over to the other side on these aquatic taxi-like ferries known as "abras." The ferries are these simple wooden boats with cockpits in the middle, a roof you can sit under to get some shade, and back-to-back benches. There's a bridge slightly upstream that you can't get across and so this ferry is what the locals use to get from place to place.
The ferry got us to the Deira Corniche on the other side of the creek. After cutting through Al Khor Street you get to the Spice Souk, a collection of markets that specialize in spices. The arcade was a dizzying place with an ethnic mood to it filled with spices, seasonings, herbs, and nuts.
The last place we went to was the Gold Souk! After passing through the arcade market we were soon greeted by a store with the "World's Largest Solid Gold Ring!" And since it was a shopping district the markets were also overflowing with a countless number of golden jewelry. Looking at all this golden treasure was just like something out of a cartoon! It was a scene that would make the Rocket trio overjoyed!
That afternoon we crossed over to the other side of the Dubai Creek and took notes on the various souks there. "Souk" is another word for "market." We went to the World Trade Center Souk, one of the more modern-day souks, on our first day of location scouting but today we're going around to the more traditional ones that have been left untouched after all these years.
The first place we went to was the Old Souk! This line of markets that sell fabric is also known as the Textile Souk. We waded our way through the narrow streets, going around the numerous souvenir shops and doing our best to dodge the calls of tenacious shopkeepers as we made our way out of the arcade.
When you leave the arcade you come across a harbor. From there you cross the Dubai Creek over to the other side on these aquatic taxi-like ferries known as "abras." The ferries are these simple wooden boats with cockpits in the middle, a roof you can sit under to get some shade, and back-to-back benches. There's a bridge slightly upstream that you can't get across and so this ferry is what the locals use to get from place to place.
The ferry got us to the Deira Corniche on the other side of the creek. After cutting through Al Khor Street you get to the Spice Souk, a collection of markets that specialize in spices. The arcade was a dizzying place with an ethnic mood to it filled with spices, seasonings, herbs, and nuts.
The last place we went to was the Gold Souk! After passing through the arcade market we were soon greeted by a store with the "World's Largest Solid Gold Ring!" And since it was a shopping district the markets were also overflowing with a countless number of golden jewelry. Looking at all this golden treasure was just like something out of a cartoon! It was a scene that would make the Rocket trio overjoyed!
Top
| Episode
Eight "Worship and Sunsets" |
Originally
posted on June 5th, 2015
As our second day of location scouting came to an end the team headed toward the hotel by the canal we were staying at that night. After checking in and resting there for a little bit we decided to head back into town to observe the sunset. Our trip coordinator recommended we go to the roof of this building on Baniyas Road along the canal to get the best view. From there we would be able to get a clear shot of both the canal and the city of Dubai on the other side.
When we looked down we could see the abra ferries we used to cross the Dubai Creek earlier in the day as well as a large number of those dhow wooden cargo ships we saw at the Dubai Museum, anchored at the shore. The scene of people busily loading and unloading cargo ships in this trade center here on the riverside is the same as it was back in the old days of Dubai. It gave us a feel for the daily routine and the power of the working man that's so different from the image we get of modern-day Dubai with its special economic zones and tourist attractions.
When we were up on the roof the sounds of praying Muslims echoed throughout the city as it was time to start the sunset religious service. There was this one person on one of the boats who glanced up at us during the service. As we gazed out into the Dubai sunset we listened attentively to the sounds of all the people praying.
After eating dinner we saw that it was already 10:00pm! And we were all supposed to meet the next morning at 4:00am! After double checking tomorrow's agenda the team was dismissed for the night.
For the third day of location scouting we'll be heading to the desert at long last!
TopAs our second day of location scouting came to an end the team headed toward the hotel by the canal we were staying at that night. After checking in and resting there for a little bit we decided to head back into town to observe the sunset. Our trip coordinator recommended we go to the roof of this building on Baniyas Road along the canal to get the best view. From there we would be able to get a clear shot of both the canal and the city of Dubai on the other side.
When we looked down we could see the abra ferries we used to cross the Dubai Creek earlier in the day as well as a large number of those dhow wooden cargo ships we saw at the Dubai Museum, anchored at the shore. The scene of people busily loading and unloading cargo ships in this trade center here on the riverside is the same as it was back in the old days of Dubai. It gave us a feel for the daily routine and the power of the working man that's so different from the image we get of modern-day Dubai with its special economic zones and tourist attractions.
When we were up on the roof the sounds of praying Muslims echoed throughout the city as it was time to start the sunset religious service. There was this one person on one of the boats who glanced up at us during the service. As we gazed out into the Dubai sunset we listened attentively to the sounds of all the people praying.
After eating dinner we saw that it was already 10:00pm! And we were all supposed to meet the next morning at 4:00am! After double checking tomorrow's agenda the team was dismissed for the night.
For the third day of location scouting we'll be heading to the desert at long last!
Location
Scouting
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