Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has
collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which
will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park. Valeria Rizzo, business
development director at Red Raion, takes us through the development process
Opening inside the brand new Mall of Muscat, Unlimited Snow will be the first snow-based theme park to come to Oman. Following a Swiss theme, the attraction will have climbing walls, a snowball arena, slides, inflatable bumper cars an ice carousel and, most importantly, a 4D cinema.
“Unlimited Leisure was looking to hire a film studio that could produce the first movie based on their own IP”
says Valeria Rizzo, business development director. “This would launch at its Oman snow park in an 80-seat 4D cinema.”
Called Miko and the Spell of the Stone, Red Raion has created a custom 4D movie for the attraction, which features a family of marmots and alpine wildlife on an adventure. Miko, a little marmot, encounters a magic stone, which reverses the flow of time, changing the seasons. Miko must then go on an adventure to get winter back.
“During our first conversation, the client felt it was in good hands understanding that we have a clear and standardised process for both pre-during and post-production,” says RIzzo.
“We could give them the content they were expecting to have in the necessary timeframe and at a reasonable budget for our industry.”
The pre-production process started with Red Raion’s Magicboard, a product that gives the client the chance to have a detailed script and a coloured storyboard that acts as an exact preview of how the final movie will look, with exact costs and delivery time.
Miko is set to premiere in Oman later this year, with the film now ready to be distributed to new and existing Unlimited Leisure snow parks around the world.
“Considering their snow parks are visited by kids and families, Miko and the Spell of the Stone is the perfect movie for whoever enjoys a sweet but thrilling tale,” says Rizzo.
“We specialise in CGI content for media-based attractions. Thanks to this focus, we’re able to suggest the best immersive content according to location and provide the right solution for a venue.
“We make sure the client’s selection fits perfectly with the intended audience and, during the year, we ask how the guests have reacted to the movies and make further suggestions on what new movies they would like us to produce next.”
Antonio Cannata,
strategy director and co-founder at Red Raion
Antonio Cannata
How do you work with your clients to ensure they get the product they desire?
“We help shopping malls and FECs that have XD/dome/VR simulators with licensed movies since we have a library that grows every year and that can be enjoyed by kids, families and thrill seekers.
“For venues with a strong theme such as theme parks and museums, we recommend CGI tailor-made contents for their media based attractions so they can increase their brand value over time and by doing so, they can express their own story, show their mascots and create exciting adventures directly connected to the experience.”
What makes this project stand out?
“Miko and The Spell of the Stone is the first CGI film for indoor snow parks developed by Unlimited Leisure. It will be screened in a 4D cinema inside a room with a very low temperature, recreating the cold as if you are in an Alpine environment.”
What makes Red Raion stand out from its competitors?
“We know exactly how to create a content depending on specific hardware and its technical requirements. We also analyse creative aspects and by the time we finish, our client’s movie will perfectly match the attraction.
“Holding our activities in-house, we also have direct communication with our clients who need CGI content for their attractions. This means that our client won’t have to deal with middlemen and companies that do other types of 3D work. This will avoid the unpleasant situation of incurring in delays, misunderstandings and any issues that could lead to a budget raise.”
Kees Albers,
founder at Unlimited Leisure Holding
Kees Albers
How did the project come about?
“Originally, we were seeking an external IP and actually had an agreement for use of the Ice Age franchise, which we were quite excited about. When new management at the IP provider did not want to pursue this any longer, we decided to create our own IP and it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. We’ve since developed a story-based attraction, dedicated music, apps, games, merchandising and more.”
How was working with Red Raion?
“We’re pleased to have landed at Red Raion for the creation of an affordable 3D animation film solution, from concept to production. We’ve very much enjoyed working with them and are looking forward to our first film.”
What was the development process like?
“After reading the script, we got the chance to see the coloured storyboard with clear scenes and included dialogues. It was really useful to us, both as a creative concept and gave a clear direction before starting the actual production of our movie.
“It all went very smoothly. Red Raion had great ideas for a story and was very much willing to accommodate our input.”
What’s next?
“We plan to develop more attractions including AR and VR experiences. Our highly ambitious aim is to build the Miko and friends brand up to eventually produce a feature-length film, following in the footsteps of Ice Age, Happy Feet and Frozen. There’s a lot of work ahead!”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 2
People profile: Vitali Klitschko
With the help of Europa Park, the multi-time boxing champion turned politician dreams up theme park plan for Kyiv, Ukraine
Rides: Art Attack
We look at major ride openings at
visitor attractions across the globe
Top team: Made in China
The birthplace of William
Shakespeare will be recreated at
the home of China’s most famous
playwright. We speak to the team
behind the ambitious project
Promotional feature: Animalive - Lights, camera, action!
Animalive is a premier manufacturer of interactive animation products.
Its founder, Ali Kord, explains how its recent joint venture will
take the company’s award-winning products to the next level
Museums: Day out at the museum
The Network of European Museum
Organisations has launched a Political
Internships scheme. We speak to
the programme’s creator about what
this could mean for museums
Promotional feature: Red Raion - Building a new IP
Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has
collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which
will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park
Show report: Global Appeal
TEA Summit and SATE Europe
Christine Kerr reports from the TEA’s
Summit, Thea Awards and SATE Europe
Interview: Pure Imagication
Adlabs Imagica is India’s largest
theme park destination. Its joint
CEO speaks to Kath Hudson
Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has
collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which
will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park. Valeria Rizzo, business
development director at Red Raion, takes us through the development process
Opening inside the brand new Mall of Muscat, Unlimited Snow will be the first snow-based theme park to come to Oman. Following a Swiss theme, the attraction will have climbing walls, a snowball arena, slides, inflatable bumper cars an ice carousel and, most importantly, a 4D cinema.
“Unlimited Leisure was looking to hire a film studio that could produce the first movie based on their own IP”
says Valeria Rizzo, business development director. “This would launch at its Oman snow park in an 80-seat 4D cinema.”
Called Miko and the Spell of the Stone, Red Raion has created a custom 4D movie for the attraction, which features a family of marmots and alpine wildlife on an adventure. Miko, a little marmot, encounters a magic stone, which reverses the flow of time, changing the seasons. Miko must then go on an adventure to get winter back.
“During our first conversation, the client felt it was in good hands understanding that we have a clear and standardised process for both pre-during and post-production,” says RIzzo.
“We could give them the content they were expecting to have in the necessary timeframe and at a reasonable budget for our industry.”
The pre-production process started with Red Raion’s Magicboard, a product that gives the client the chance to have a detailed script and a coloured storyboard that acts as an exact preview of how the final movie will look, with exact costs and delivery time.
Miko is set to premiere in Oman later this year, with the film now ready to be distributed to new and existing Unlimited Leisure snow parks around the world.
“Considering their snow parks are visited by kids and families, Miko and the Spell of the Stone is the perfect movie for whoever enjoys a sweet but thrilling tale,” says Rizzo.
“We specialise in CGI content for media-based attractions. Thanks to this focus, we’re able to suggest the best immersive content according to location and provide the right solution for a venue.
“We make sure the client’s selection fits perfectly with the intended audience and, during the year, we ask how the guests have reacted to the movies and make further suggestions on what new movies they would like us to produce next.”
Antonio Cannata,
strategy director and co-founder at Red Raion
Antonio Cannata
How do you work with your clients to ensure they get the product they desire?
“We help shopping malls and FECs that have XD/dome/VR simulators with licensed movies since we have a library that grows every year and that can be enjoyed by kids, families and thrill seekers.
“For venues with a strong theme such as theme parks and museums, we recommend CGI tailor-made contents for their media based attractions so they can increase their brand value over time and by doing so, they can express their own story, show their mascots and create exciting adventures directly connected to the experience.”
What makes this project stand out?
“Miko and The Spell of the Stone is the first CGI film for indoor snow parks developed by Unlimited Leisure. It will be screened in a 4D cinema inside a room with a very low temperature, recreating the cold as if you are in an Alpine environment.”
What makes Red Raion stand out from its competitors?
“We know exactly how to create a content depending on specific hardware and its technical requirements. We also analyse creative aspects and by the time we finish, our client’s movie will perfectly match the attraction.
“Holding our activities in-house, we also have direct communication with our clients who need CGI content for their attractions. This means that our client won’t have to deal with middlemen and companies that do other types of 3D work. This will avoid the unpleasant situation of incurring in delays, misunderstandings and any issues that could lead to a budget raise.”
Kees Albers,
founder at Unlimited Leisure Holding
Kees Albers
How did the project come about?
“Originally, we were seeking an external IP and actually had an agreement for use of the Ice Age franchise, which we were quite excited about. When new management at the IP provider did not want to pursue this any longer, we decided to create our own IP and it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. We’ve since developed a story-based attraction, dedicated music, apps, games, merchandising and more.”
How was working with Red Raion?
“We’re pleased to have landed at Red Raion for the creation of an affordable 3D animation film solution, from concept to production. We’ve very much enjoyed working with them and are looking forward to our first film.”
What was the development process like?
“After reading the script, we got the chance to see the coloured storyboard with clear scenes and included dialogues. It was really useful to us, both as a creative concept and gave a clear direction before starting the actual production of our movie.
“It all went very smoothly. Red Raion had great ideas for a story and was very much willing to accommodate our input.”
What’s next?
“We plan to develop more attractions including AR and VR experiences. Our highly ambitious aim is to build the Miko and friends brand up to eventually produce a feature-length film, following in the footsteps of Ice Age, Happy Feet and Frozen. There’s a lot of work ahead!”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 2
People profile: Vitali Klitschko
With the help of Europa Park, the multi-time boxing champion turned politician dreams up theme park plan for Kyiv, Ukraine
Rides: Art Attack
We look at major ride openings at
visitor attractions across the globe
Top team: Made in China
The birthplace of William
Shakespeare will be recreated at
the home of China’s most famous
playwright. We speak to the team
behind the ambitious project
Promotional feature: Animalive - Lights, camera, action!
Animalive is a premier manufacturer of interactive animation products.
Its founder, Ali Kord, explains how its recent joint venture will
take the company’s award-winning products to the next level
Museums: Day out at the museum
The Network of European Museum
Organisations has launched a Political
Internships scheme. We speak to
the programme’s creator about what
this could mean for museums
Promotional feature: Red Raion - Building a new IP
Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has
collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which
will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park
Show report: Global Appeal
TEA Summit and SATE Europe
Christine Kerr reports from the TEA’s
Summit, Thea Awards and SATE Europe
Interview: Pure Imagication
Adlabs Imagica is India’s largest
theme park destination. Its joint
CEO speaks to Kath Hudson
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
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.
