I’ve never seen an animation like this: Epic Universe Team reveals the challenges of theme park technology
I can’t open my eyes from Dr. Victoria Frankenstein. I’ve seen a lot of theme park animations before, but when the robot moves smoothly in front of me, about how she designs, her digital animation faces are projected onto an animation head on a body and look like a video game character has come to life. But, just as I tried to figure out what made her tick, I was distracted by the reveal of another jaw-dropping animation: Her 800-pound, 9-foot-tall green monster walked towards the audience.
Watch the following: How Global Robots Break the Boundaries of Animation
Only some of the most advanced animations live in the dark universe, a weird world where crazy scientists push the limits of technology, which is appropriate. It’s one of five immersive lands within Universal Studios’ epic universe, a new theme park in Orlando, Florida and the first major theme park to be opened in the United States in 20 years. At this month’s grand opening, I talked to some creative ideas that brought the technology to life and you can watch it in the videos embedded above.
I’ve been covering how technology enhances the theme park experience for several years, but I’ve never seen the scale Universal has achieved. The team offers new and new technologies for characters like Dr. Frankenstein, and, impressively, these topics are scattered with vast robotics around the world.
On Isle of Berk, a Viking World-themed land, from How to Train Dragon movies, there are 30 animated characters just hanging out – some sleeping dragons, some blasting icy air, some just swaying around the store – all exposed to the grim summer temperatures of Florida.
Burke’s Dragon takes a variety of robotic forms. Some are unrestricted as the cute little dragon performs stunts and walks around guests. These young dragons move in a way that reminiscent of other four times the dog-like robots.
If you visit toothless, the dragon trainer will make sure you know the rules for not touching your eyes or teeth.
The star of this land is life-sized, interactive and emotionally toothless, you can touch (or even feel him breathing). In the stage performance, another animated version of the Toothless Fly Fly Fly Fly. But Burke is full of dragons and plans include drones (er, flying dragon) soaring throughout the day. Some guests have found a person in the park testing.
However, when you have more moving parts, this means more of the potential to go wrong. With robots woven into almost every aspect of entertainment, Universal will certainly face greater risks that can keep the experience on good expectations.
The creative team at Universal Studios told me during the visit that the company wanted to take the risk of trying something new. I hope they can keep the effect as expected. As someone following emerging technology, it is delightful to see it used to bring a fantastic world to life. Sometimes, the technology does feel like magic.
