TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei 101 is kicking off a five-day New Year countdown starting Saturday, highlighted by a Disney-Pixar “Toy Story” themed light show.
The “Spark 101” New Year event series will feature the “Spark the Night” light projection show at Taipei 101 beginning on Dec. 27. The show includes three themes, including a Toy Story countdown display, projections from collaborating brands, and Taipei 101’s “Taiwan’s Invisible Heroes” themed light show.
Taipei 101 Chair Chia Yung-chieh (賈永婕) said Wednesday that preparations for the Toy Story projections took a year to complete. After assuming the position of chair, she instructed her team to pursue a collaboration with Disney, noting that such partnerships cannot be arranged in just a few months.
Disney provided strong support for the project, particularly given Taipei 101’s narrow structure, which requires customized designs rather than standard screens. All animations were tailor-made for the building and will debut globally for the first time.
While the costs were not disclosed, Chia said sponsors view the event as an opportunity to showcase their brand value on the world stage. As a result, she said, corporate partners have offered strong backing for the project.
Recent knife attacks near Taipei Main Station and the Zhongshan Nanxi Shopping District have raised public concerns about safety in crowded areas during New Year festivities. Chia said that meetings have been held with Taipei City Government and relevant agencies to address security arrangements.
Chia said the meetings produced multiple directives, and Taipei 101 will fully cooperate with city authorities to implement security measures. She acknowledged that such incidents may cause panic or fuel unrest among the public.
She urged citizens to remain calm and positive, saying events should return to normal. Chia said attendance is not expected to decline and believes the public will still welcome the New Year with enthusiasm.
The video below previews the Taipei 101 light projections that will begin on Saturday.
