Hello, everyone! Miyanaga from GP here.

The planetarium show “Pink Floyd/The Dark Side of the Moon”, screened in over 100 planetariums worldwide, finally came to Japan! The limited screening took place from Wednesday, October 16, to Friday, November 22. 

“Pink Floyd/The Dark Side of the Moon” screened in over 100 planetariums worldwide

The legendary album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” by the British rock band Pink Floyd, is one of those albums that every music lover must have heard of at least once. With over 50 million copies sold worldwide, it remains a monumental album in music history.

As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations for that legendary album, Pink Floyd created a new official project: the planetarium show, “Pink Floyd/The Dark Side of the Moon.”

This show had already been held in over 100 planetariums worldwide and its distribution was initially scheduled to end by December 31, 2024. However, a final screening was set to take place in Japan from October 16 to November 22 at the Konica Minolta Planetaria TOKYO DOME1 (9th floor, Yurakucho Marion). This marked the first screening of the show in Japan, much to the delight of numerous fans!

The legendary band, Pink Floyd, and “The Dark Side of the Moon”

For those unfamiliar with Pink Floyd, here’s a quick introduction.

With over 250 million albums sold worldwide, Pink Floyd is a band that will forever shine in rock history. Known for their psychedelic and fantastical soundscapes, combined with literary and philosophical lyrics, their music transcends time and continues to captivate hearts.

Their innovative recording techniques and spectacular stage productions remain influential across various artistic fields, solidifying their status as a legendary rock band.

This album, characterized by its prism-themed cover art, explores themes of modern tension, repression, and the madness hidden within the human mind. Upon its release in the U.S., it became Pink Floyd’s first album to top U.S. charts.

Having spent 741 consecutive weeks (15 years) on U.S. charts, with over 50 million copies sold globally, as well as being the third best-selling album in history, “The Dark Side of the Moon” is considered one of the most important works in music history.

Explosive sound × Surround sound × Dome visuals: The final “Dark Side” experience

5.1 surround mix for an unparalleled immersive experience

The show, “The Dark Side of the Moon,” featured all 10 tracks from the album “The Dark Side of the Moon” in their original order. Leveraging the unique acoustics of the planetarium dome, the show used a 5.1-channel surround mix, offering an unparalleled audio-visual experience.

Since this was the final screening, the surround mix had been specially remixed to produce explosive audio, enhancing the experience even further.

Even just the original surround mix would have been amazing, but the fact that it was remixed specifically for explosive sound screenings? It’s pure perfection! It shows just how well the creators understood what the fans truly wanted.

The venue, Planetaria TOKYO DOME1, featured a high-resolution dome that projected visuals on the dome’s apex and along the walls. It was a setup that maximized immersion, making it arguably one of the best screenings worldwide.

Overview of “The Dark Side of the Moon”

Runtime: 44 minutes
Visual Production: NSC Creative (UK)
Distribution Agreement: IPS (International Planetarium Society)
Japan Distribution: Altair LLC
Produced By: Pink Floyd

Tracks Used in the Show:

1. Speak to Me
2. Breathe (In the Air)
3. On the Run
4. Time
5. The Great Gig in the Sky
6. Money
7. Us and Them
8. Any Colour You Like
9. Brain Damage
10. Eclipse

[An explosive screening] Details on the planetarium show

Screening Period: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – Friday, November 22, 2024
Screening Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only (excluding Monday, November 4, a substitute holiday)
Venue: Konica Minolta Planetaria TOKYO DOME1
Ticket Price: ¥2,600 (tax included)
https://planetarium.konicaminolta.jp/program/pinkfloyd/