Storytelling techniques encourage visitor movement / Photo: Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has teamed up with zoologist, children’s TV presenter and author Jess French and creative production agency Flipbook Studio to launch a new original multi-screen immersive experience.
Using immersive floor projections and 360-degree visual displays, the Beasts animated adventure takes the viewer on ‘an extraordinary adventure through unexplored lands, to discover mythical creatures’ in a prequel to French’s fantasy novel Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain.
“I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Chester Zoo and Flipbook Studio,” said French. “It’s every fantasy writer’s dream to see their world and creations brought to life.
“The Beastlands have existed in my imagination for over a decade – seeing the world and its beasts brought to life in this way was extraordinarily exciting and very moving.
“My favourite part of the experience is how interactive it is – I love watching children chasing after cliffcreepers or seeking out glimmerglints in the dark.”
Flipbook Studio produced the eight-minute adventure, which uses Panasonic FRZ50s for the wall projections and Panasonic PT-RZ790s for the floor projections. The experience takes visitors on a guided journey through a world inhabited by mythical creatures, as well as frogs, snakes, slugs and bugs.
“One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the 8-minute journey actively engaged visitors throughout the entire space,” said Flipbook director and co-founder Andrew Lord.
“With 14 projection screens arranged around the room, we needed to encourage movement and exploration. The goal was to immerse visitors in the world of Beastlands, prompting them to follow the path of different creatures as they moved between screens. This required us to ensure that something captivating was happening on every screen at all times, all while advancing the story in a coherent and immersive way.
“We used a storytelling technique of gradually revealing a main ‘hero’ creature in each of the three environments, enticing visitors to track the creatures across the room. A voiceover also helps visitors to know where to look or when something important is happening.
“Another challenge was managing seamless transitions between vastly different ecosystems – from a hot, claustrophobic forest to a cold, barren mountain, and then into a mysterious cave. Maintaining the flow of the narrative while keeping visitors grounded in a single physical space was key.”
Several of the creatures in the experience have been inspired by animals found at the zoo, according to conservationists at Chester Zoo.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2024 issue 4
People: Jess French
The children’s author sees her fantastical creations brought to life at Chester Zoo
Interview: Peter Slavenburg
As Drents Museum in the Netherlands launches a radically new collection presentation, we speak to the designer about doing things differently
Talking point: A helping hand
Attractions industry workers need support more than ever, but is enough being done? We speak to some experts putting wellness and mental health first
Planetarium: Looking up
Bringing people together under the dark skies of Arizona, Lowell Observatory’s new Astronomy Discovery Center is truly unique
Waterpark: Desert Oasis: Qiddiya Aquarabia
The largest waterpark in the Middle East is set to open in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and it’s going to be huge. We speak to the team behind this epic development
Museums: Nintendo Museum: Play on
Giant controllers, consoles operated by visitors’ shadows and a game based on Japanese poems... The Nintendo Museum opens in Kyoto
Technology: Kyle Morrand: The power of play
The CEO of 302 Interactive is using AR, VR and other technologies to solve real world problems, and transform the attractions industry. He shares his game plan
Interview: Dominic Jones
From a game-changing partnership to getting creative with budget technologies, the CEO of the Mary Rose Trust is bringing his commercial nous to the museum world
Research: In the heart of it
City centre attractions are transforming to meet the needs of experience-hungry visitors, but where are they headed next?
Storytelling techniques encourage visitor movement / Photo: Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has teamed up with zoologist, children’s TV presenter and author Jess French and creative production agency Flipbook Studio to launch a new original multi-screen immersive experience.
Using immersive floor projections and 360-degree visual displays, the Beasts animated adventure takes the viewer on ‘an extraordinary adventure through unexplored lands, to discover mythical creatures’ in a prequel to French’s fantasy novel Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain.
“I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Chester Zoo and Flipbook Studio,” said French. “It’s every fantasy writer’s dream to see their world and creations brought to life.
“The Beastlands have existed in my imagination for over a decade – seeing the world and its beasts brought to life in this way was extraordinarily exciting and very moving.
“My favourite part of the experience is how interactive it is – I love watching children chasing after cliffcreepers or seeking out glimmerglints in the dark.”
Flipbook Studio produced the eight-minute adventure, which uses Panasonic FRZ50s for the wall projections and Panasonic PT-RZ790s for the floor projections. The experience takes visitors on a guided journey through a world inhabited by mythical creatures, as well as frogs, snakes, slugs and bugs.
“One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the 8-minute journey actively engaged visitors throughout the entire space,” said Flipbook director and co-founder Andrew Lord.
“With 14 projection screens arranged around the room, we needed to encourage movement and exploration. The goal was to immerse visitors in the world of Beastlands, prompting them to follow the path of different creatures as they moved between screens. This required us to ensure that something captivating was happening on every screen at all times, all while advancing the story in a coherent and immersive way.
“We used a storytelling technique of gradually revealing a main ‘hero’ creature in each of the three environments, enticing visitors to track the creatures across the room. A voiceover also helps visitors to know where to look or when something important is happening.
“Another challenge was managing seamless transitions between vastly different ecosystems – from a hot, claustrophobic forest to a cold, barren mountain, and then into a mysterious cave. Maintaining the flow of the narrative while keeping visitors grounded in a single physical space was key.”
Several of the creatures in the experience have been inspired by animals found at the zoo, according to conservationists at Chester Zoo.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2024 issue 4
People: Jess French
The children’s author sees her fantastical creations brought to life at Chester Zoo
Interview: Peter Slavenburg
As Drents Museum in the Netherlands launches a radically new collection presentation, we speak to the designer about doing things differently
Talking point: A helping hand
Attractions industry workers need support more than ever, but is enough being done? We speak to some experts putting wellness and mental health first
Planetarium: Looking up
Bringing people together under the dark skies of Arizona, Lowell Observatory’s new Astronomy Discovery Center is truly unique
Waterpark: Desert Oasis: Qiddiya Aquarabia
The largest waterpark in the Middle East is set to open in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and it’s going to be huge. We speak to the team behind this epic development
Museums: Nintendo Museum: Play on
Giant controllers, consoles operated by visitors’ shadows and a game based on Japanese poems... The Nintendo Museum opens in Kyoto
Technology: Kyle Morrand: The power of play
The CEO of 302 Interactive is using AR, VR and other technologies to solve real world problems, and transform the attractions industry. He shares his game plan
Interview: Dominic Jones
From a game-changing partnership to getting creative with budget technologies, the CEO of the Mary Rose Trust is bringing his commercial nous to the museum world
Research: In the heart of it
City centre attractions are transforming to meet the needs of experience-hungry visitors, but where are they headed next?
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
Taylor Made Designs Founded in 1993, Taylor Made
Designs supply corporate clothing
and brand-enhancing merchandise
to [more...]
Holovis Holovis is a privately owned company
established in 2004 by CEO Stuart
Hetherington. [more...]
Clip 'n Climb Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and
investors more than 40 colourful and unique
Cha [more...]
QubicaAMF UK QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
