Unlock the Secrets of Animatoon Magic at Pearlridge

Aloha! Today, let's explore the magical world of Animatoon at Pearlridge. Animatoon is an immersive and interactive experience that combines animation, technology, and artistry to bring characters to life and transport visitors to a different dimension. Located at Pearlridge Center in Aiea, Hawaii, Animatoon offers a unique and enchanting adventure for people of all ages. As you step into the Animatoon space, you are immediately greeted by a stunning display of vibrant colors, moving images, and captivating designs. One of the highlights of Animatoon is the interactive exhibits where visitors can engage with the animated characters. From virtual reality experiences to motion-controlled displays, these interactive installations allow you to become a part of the animation and explore new worlds.

Perhaps not too surprising to see two of the biggest artists of the 2010’s – Justin Bieber and Arianna Grande – featuring prominently, although Leona Lewis and Kelly Clarkson certainly caught me by surprise.

We have the golden oldies versus the young pretenders, the household names versus the new kids on the block, the dare I say it songs of your parents versus the songs of your kids. The last step to complete the mathematical formula is to divide the total number of scaled sales, by the number of years since the release of the song.

From virtual reality experiences to motion-controlled displays, these interactive installations allow you to become a part of the animation and explore new worlds. The Animatoon experience also showcases the behind-the-scenes process of animation. You can learn about the various techniques used to create animated films, from storyboarding and character design to computer-generated imagery (CGI) and special effects.

What is the most popular Christmas song of all time?

We all have a favourite. Whether you wish for some Mariah on Christmas morning, or the drunken ramblings of the Pogues the night before, we do love a good Christmas song. So much so, in fact, that several TV shows with names such as ‘what is the UK’s favourite Christmas song?’ not only exist, but are repeated seemingly without end – or providing an actual answer – every year without fail.

But fear not, being the mathematician, and Christmas-lover that I am, I’ve decided to lend my expertise to this most important of questions, by creating an equation to provide a definitive answer once and for all. The old favourites ring true, but the final standings may just surprise you…

The shortlist of songs competing for the award is composed of the top 5 most streamed Christmas songs as of 3rd December 2021, plus the 5 most-streamed Christmas songs released in the last decade. For each song, sales (either physical or electronic) are included, alongside streams (where 100 streams = 1 sale) and YouTube views (600 views = 1 sale)*. To make it as fair as possible (and to give anything released this millennium a chance), the final number of sales are then scaled according to the number of years since the songs release. This gives the final formula:

Now the rules of the game are clear, let’s get started! Here are the top 5 most-streamed Christmas songs according to the Official UK Chart:

How many did you get? “Merry Christmas Everyone” is a sure-fire classic, but I’m guessing not many of you (myself included) could have named “Shakin’ Stevens” as the artist…

We have to go a little further down the chart to get some entries from the past decade – well, apart from Mr Christmas himself, Michael Bublé, who’s song “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” comes in at number 6 with 128 million streams. The next highest entries from ‘modern’ songs are shown below.

Perhaps not too surprising to see two of the biggest artists of the 2010’s – Justin Bieber and Arianna Grande – featuring prominently, although Leona Lewis and Kelly Clarkson certainly caught me by surprise.

Given the nature of the scoring system, the 10 songs mentioned so far are going to form our shortlist. We have the golden oldies versus the young pretenders, the household names versus the new kids on the block, the – dare I say it – songs of your parents versus the songs of your kids(?), but who will come out on top?

The second category is YouTube views. The raw numbers here are much higher, as even a 5 second glance counts, but that’s why they are scaled so dramatically. The top 2 from the streaming list remain unchanged, but the new generation comes in hot with Justin, Arianna and Michael Bublé completing the top 5.

The final – and most important – measure is record sales. This is of course most likely to favour the older songs, but as the total score is still to be scaled by the age of the song, don’t count the new hits out just yet!

Once again, Mariah reigns supreme, closely followed by the 1984 classics from Wham! and Band Aid. However, another strong showing from Gen Z in the form of Justin Bieber and Arianna Grande means they could yet sneak it… Let’s find out with the final calculations!

The last step to complete the mathematical formula is to divide the total number of scaled sales, by the number of years since the release of the song. This gives a value for the average number of ‘sales’ per year for each of the shortlist, which is to be used as the final score. Here are the results:

There you have it! Mariah Carey retains her crown as the undisputed Queen of Christmas. Although, I wouldn’t recommend resting on her laurels with Arianna Grande in a very close second. It seems a changing of the (Christmas) guard is almost upon us…

In the eternal words of Shakin’ Stevens, Merry Christmas everyone!

*The decision to count 100 streams and 600 YouTube views each as one sale follows the practice of the Official UK Chart. Since July 2014, 100 streams of a song by a paid user and 600 from a non-paid user each equate to 1 sale in the standard charts. Since the majority of users of music streaming services are now paid users (I bet most of you have a Spotify/Apple Music/Amazon music account), whilst most people use YouTube for free, I hope you’ll agree the scaling decisions I’ve made are reasonable.

We have to go a little further down the chart to get some entries from the past decade – well, apart from Mr Christmas himself, Michael Bublé, who’s song “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” comes in at number 6 with 128 million streams. The next highest entries from ‘modern’ songs are shown below.

In addition to the interactive exhibits, Animatoon hosts workshops and events for aspiring animators and curious minds. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn from industry professionals and gain insights into the world of animation. The magic of Animatoon lies in the way it merges the imaginary with reality. It creates a sense of wonder and fascination as visitors are transported to fantastical realms and engage with animated characters in ways they never thought possible. Whether you are a fan of animation, an aspiring animator, or simply someone who appreciates art and technology, Animatoon at Pearlridge is sure to captivate your imagination and leave you with lasting memories. So, come on down to Animatoon at Pearlridge and unlock the door to a world of animation and magic. Let your creativity soar and immerse yourself in the wonders of this unique and engaging experience. You'll leave with a newfound appreciation for the art of animation and a deeper understanding of the magic that brings characters to life..

Reviews for "Embark on a Journey Through Animation at Pearlridge's Animatoon Magic"

1. Bella - 1 star: I was extremely disappointed with my experience at Animatoon Magic Pearlridge. Firstly, the prices were exorbitant for the quality of the merchandise they had on offer. The staff seemed disinterested and unhelpful, making it difficult to get any assistance or information about the products. Moreover, the store was poorly organized and lacked variety, making it feel more like a cheap souvenir shop rather than a reputable animation store. Overall, I would not recommend this place to any fellow animation enthusiasts.

2. Jason - 2 stars: I had high expectations for Animatoon Magic Pearlridge, but unfortunately, it fell short. The store was cramped and had a limited selection of merchandise. The prices were also higher than what I would expect for the quality of the products. Additionally, the staff seemed unenthusiastic and uninterested in assisting customers. It's a shame because I had heard good things about this place, but I left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed.

3. Emily - 2 stars: I visited Animatoon Magic Pearlridge on a weekend and was immediately put off by the long lines and crowded environment. The store was packed with people, making it difficult to browse and enjoy the shopping experience. The staff seemed overwhelmed and unable to provide the necessary assistance. I was also disappointed with the lack of unique or hard-to-find items. Overall, I would recommend visiting during a less busy time or exploring other animation stores in the area for a better experience.

4. Alex - 1 star: Animatoon Magic Pearlridge was a big letdown for me. The store had a messy and unorganized layout, making it difficult to find what I was looking for. The prices were also much higher than what I had seen at other animation stores. The staff was unhelpful and seemed more interested in chatting amongst themselves than assisting customers. I did not feel welcomed or valued as a customer and left the store empty-handed and frustrated. I would not recommend wasting your time or money at this establishment.

Explore the Artistry of Animatoon Magic at Pearlridge