Skymagic delivers Expo countdown drone show
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The start of the show saw the official character of the Osaka Kansai Expo, Myaku Myaku, illuminate the sky as a 135m-high image, followed by a dynamic countdown and the vibrant Let’s Go Expo 2025 logo.
The rest of the show depicted stunning formations of life in a diverse array of forms, including creatures from nature, symbols of traditional Japanese culture and motifs unique to Osaka, collectively telling the story of the Expo’s theme: Designing a Future Society for our Lives, and celebrating the brilliance and diversity of life. Some of the formations displayed include a majestic whale leaping from waves, a magnificent phoenix and an animated Kabuki mask in motion. Accompanied by music, this section of the show was designed to celebrate overcoming a global pandemic and looking ahead to a brighter future.
The audience were able to interact with the display when a huge scannable QR code was formed by the drones in the middle of the show. The show was also live streamed on the day and filmed using drone cameras. Such footage can be viewed in the clip below.
The outdoor drones independently developed by Skymagic are equipped with RTK technology (real-time kinematics), which enables position control with even higher accuracy than GPS, making it possible to draw high-definition formations in the sky. In addition, by optimizing the movement speed of the drones with a unique system, it is possible to develop very fast and accurate formations. Furthermore, the large LED module is equipped with a light intensity that can be seen from more than 1.5 km away.
Akio Ota, Skymagic creative engineer comments, “By teaming up with a world-renowned Japanese pyrotechnician, we were able to create a more dynamic and challenging production - something that has never been seen before - along with original music carefully selected to match the scene. It became a spectacular collaboration between drones and fireworks.”
Mr. Ryota Shirahama, chairman of the event's executive committee, says, “I will raise the signal of Japan's revival. Although there was a pandemic, I hope that people who see the show will look up and take a new step, just like the 'Phoenix' in the drone show.”
