[Provided by Lotte World Aquarium]
[Provided by Lotte World Aquarium]

Popular Sanrio characters — My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin and Han Gyodon — are getting a mermaid makeover for an upcoming festival.

Lotte World Aquarium announced Monday it will run "Sanrio Characters in Lotte World Aquarium: Mermaid Party" for 87 days from Sept. 4 through Nov. 29.

The festival centers on mermaid-transformed Sanrio characters inviting visitors to an underwater party. Lotte World Aquarium became the first aquarium in South Korea to collaborate with Sanrio Characters last fall. This year marks the second collaboration, this time under a mermaid concept.

Exhibition spaces have been decorated to match the mermaid theme. A roughly 2-meter-tall My Melody balloon greets visitors at the entrance. On the second below-ground floor, the "Pompompurin's Invitation" space features a receipt-style instant photo printer beside a character sculpture, while a ballroom-themed "Moonlit Shell Castle" photo zone has been set up in front of the sea turtle exhibit.

Interactive content is also on offer. A paid mission-based augmented reality program lets visitors scan a QR code included in an invitation package to complete quizzes and mini-games. Visitors who finish all missions receive a Sanrio Characters random ID card keyring at the AquaShop on the first below-ground floor.

Every Saturday during the festival, a My Melody photo session will be held three times — at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. — in front of the main tank on the second below-ground floor. The "Wow Photo Four-Cut" booth on the first below-ground floor will offer character-themed frames, while the "Wow Photo Cart" on the second below-ground floor will sell six types of character photo cards.

Exclusive products and limited food and beverage items will also be available. Five collaboration products — including a plush keyring, random can badges, a keycap keyring, a T-shirt and stickers — will be sold at a pop-up store on the second below-ground floor, while the AquaShop will carry more than 70 character products. Food and beverage stores will sell character-themed soft-serve ice cream, a berry chocolate frappe, and My Melody and Han Gyodon dalgona.


terry@heraldcorp.com