Ani-Mayhem at Warner Bros. World, Abu Dhabi

Innovative gaming, interactive displays and laser scanning technologies come together to create an engaging dark ride.

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INTRODUCTION

The Ani-Mayhem ride at Warner Bros. World, Abu Dhabi takes guests on a rollicking delivery mission through six different iconic Loony Tunes scenes, creating cartoon chaos as they go.

Visitors ride in a trackless ‘ACME Corporation’ delivery vehicle equipped with onboard interactive laser scanners on a multidimensional immersive ride. Visitors compete to get the most points for collecting ‘packages’ by scanning moving targets. The winner is declared ‘ACME Employee of the Month’.

Electrosonic partnered with experience designers Thinkwell, interactive technology firm Alterface and ride manufacturer ETF, taking responsibility for technology planning, projection design and integration of the projection, audio, lighting, interactivity and scanning technologies. The result is a fastpaced immersive experience in a fun-packed environment created by fully interactive 3D CGI multimedia and reactive special effects.

OVERVIEW

Interactivity is the keynote of the Ani-Mayhem dark ride. The laser barcode scanning system, developed by Alterface, directs all of the media throughout the ride, including the content on the screens, the 3D images and the timed targets.

The Alterface technology seamlessly integrates 3D media scenes with physical elements and the moving targets that visitors have to ‘collect’ by scanning.

The immersive ride is a complex 3-dimensional environment of different dimensions and layers that recreate scenes from Looney Tunes cartoons. Projection and audio are integrated and concealed within physical elements such as city shops and buildings, barnyards, forests, deserts, Broadway and the planet Mars to ensure the technology does not interfere with the magic of the experience.

Many of the scenes feature special media, audio, lighting effects and AAF animations which are triggered by RCS or SCS gameplay technology. The effects are integrated with background audio and other content projected onto the 3D structures.

Precise control and timing are essential throughout the ride to synchronize content display, scanning opportunities and other interactive elements with the progress of the vehicles. The local show control system and gaming engine are integrated with the Parkwide Control System so that the Ani-Mayhem experience can be monitored and controlled centrally.

CHALLENGE

The major technical challenge was to integrate the different components of the experience so that the delivery of media, audio and special effects is synchronized with the progress of the vehicles. The control system had to trigger animated props whenever visitors scanned them.

Ani-Mayhem makes extensive use of innovative gaming, interactive and laser scanning technologies, so it was important that they were integrated with the other elements of each scene. Electrosonic also had to ensure that content projected accurately from within buildings and other 3D elements.

SOLUTION

Electrosonic worked closely with Alterface to integrate their scanner-related show control system with the other ride technologies as part of a single Parkwide Control System. When an animated prop was scanned, Alterface sent a signal to the control system to trigger the prop. Data from each ride vehicle identified its position so each scene could launch as the vehicle arrived. To ensure accurate projection, Electrosonic carried out detailed projection studies to determine projector positions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Ani Mayhem is a fun-packed immersive experience that has proved to be one of the most popular attractions at the Park. By combining an immersive dark ride with high levels of interactivity, the experience is both competitive and engaging.

The introduction of scanning technologies and gaming engines has delivered a unique experience that has raised the bar for dark rides and helped to create one of the most innovative theme parks in the world.

Project Details

Client

Warner Bros. World, Abu Dhabi

Location

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Size

1.65 million sq. ft. (full park)

Services

Technology Design Consulting

Build & System Integration

Projection Studies

Audio, Video & Control Systems

Engineering & Fabrication

Integration & Installation

Edge-Blended Projection

Testing & Programming

It’s a challenge to build and activate a ride with such a well-known IP as Looney Tunes. The bar was raised very high by Warner Bros. and with our partners we ultimately succeeded in creating a fun and unique attraction.

Stéphanie Battaille

Chief Operations Officer, Alterface

Competitive interaction Visitors use onboard laser barcode scanners to ‘capture packages’ by scanning moving targets. The person capturing the most becomes ‘Employee of the Month’.

Multi-dimensional vehicles Trackless vehicles take visitors on an immersive interactive ride through six three-dimensional scenes from famous Looney Tunes cartoons.