TWIN goes to IAAPA Expo Europe

Last week, TWIN headed to IAAPA Expo Europe in London - the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ flagship European gathering. We spent a couple of days among the people who imagine and design theme parks and immersive experiences, and it gave us a lot to think about!

From screens to the physical space

Our co-founders Christopher Jaques and Theo Facey know first-hand what it takes to carry a story from a screen into a physical space. Although they have built most of their careers in film and television, they were also part of the leadership team behind the visual effects for some of the most celebrated attractions in recent years such as Epic Universe and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure for Universal Orlando, and Gringotts Wizarding Bank at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. 

TWIN’s high-end characters blend digital and physical storytelling

At TWIN, we believe the digital elements of an experience deserve the same care and ambition as the attractions and surrounding environment themselves. And that’s especially true of characters, who must create an emotional connection with the audience to be believable. A well-crafted digital twin can do a lot: capture attention, deliver a message, stir emotion, tell a story. Whether they tie the whole experience together or become the experience itself, TWIN’s high-end characters are designed to inhabit the world around them naturally, be it digital or physical.

As creative partner and content provider, TWIN takes a character from initial concept art through to final animated performance, fully immersing it in a digital world, performing alongside a physical set or even interacting with the audience directly. 

Visual content… everywhere!

The link between visual effects and theme parks and immersive experiences isn’t always obvious, but it is definitely there! Why have visitors simply queue for their next ride when they could be taking selfies with the creature stirring in a window? And what about the smoke billowing from a dragon’s mouth as it wreaks havoc in the most famous bank in the Wizarding World, or the avatar who briefed your guest before the ride doors opened and later pointed them towards their next attraction? All of it is visual content. It adds depth to the practical set, holds attention, helps guests believe in the world before the ride even starts - and while they are on it!

Visitors spend their daily lives surrounded by beautifully crafted images, so naturally they arrive at a theme park or immersive experience with high expectations. If the digital layer feels flat or generic, it pulls them out of the story when they should be drawn in… That is why quality matters so much.

Let’s talk

We came away from IAAPA full of ideas and energised by the conversations we had. If you are dreaming up your next attraction or immersive experience and want to talk about how digital characters could bring it to life, we’d love to hear from you.