SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment then signed for the U.S. theme park rights to the Madagascar characters, setting the stage for the new production in Tampa this week. Another production of the same show will debut at sister park SeaWorld San Diego next month. Character meals and meet-and-greets are on the way, too.
These deals apply only in the United States, though. A trip abroad can blow the mind of any American theme park fan who's gotten used to seeing certain characters in certain parks. Merlin Entertainments has had the rights to use the Madagascar characters in its parks in Europe. And Universal retains the rights to these DreamWorks characters for its park in Singapore, where Universal's built entire lands devoted to Shrek and Madagascar. Universal also holds the rights to use the Sesame Street and Peanuts characters in its Asian theme parks, where SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Cedar Fair don't have a presence.
Licensing rights are multi-million-dollar deals for film studios that don't have their own theme parks, and for parks looking to expand beyond their own intellectual property. Market leader Disney's long relied on its in-house collection of animation franchises to populate its parks. And Universal's going all-in with its own Despicable Me franchise, building a new attraction and Super Silly Fun Land area at Universal Studios Hollywood, to complement the existing Despicable Me ride in Florida. But before Gru and the Minions came along, Universal had to rely on licensing deals, including DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Jay Ward characters.
But these licensing deals pay off for theme parks only when they move people to visit. Of the top movie animation franchises out there today, which is the one that would most influence you to visit a particular theme park, if it featured those characters? We'll make this our vote of the week. We're looking only at feature film animation franchises not developed by Disney or Universal. For our five selections, I've included four of the top-grossing animated film franchise, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, along with an up-and-coming franchise that promises to be the next into the top five, based on the success of its first film (of three now planned).
Obviously, the number-one grossing franchise, Shrek, already is in several Universal theme parks. But consider both existing attractions and the potential for future rides and shows when casting your vote. Or, if that's too complicated, let's just make this easier: Which franchise's characters would you most want to take a photo with in a meet-and-greet?
Please tell us in the comments how you'd like to see theme park use some of these franchises. And, as always, thank you for reading Theme Park Insider!
Or Rango... Though if one of the proposed Paramount Parks happens, we might see that actually happen.
Although it's not a franchise, I recently watched..and somewhat liked...Hotel Transylvania. Would probably fly as an attraction, if not a park.
Of the listed franchises, I think that an Ice Age land would be a very real possibility. A major ride, possibly a boat ride ala Madagascar Crate Adventure, and a couple C-tickets, with one focusing on fan favorite Skrat, would do well as a mini-land in just about any non-Disney park in the country.
Which is very well done to the minute details, which you wouldnt normally pick up on, from the animated Penguins that assist with the launching of the kids coaster - Escape from Madagascar, to the under side of gingy's gliders that are in the shape of ginger bread men.
With retail outlets that reflect the theming from Shreks tree house, right down to having shrek in the 'mud bath' bathing making his own jacuzzi.
Which has all been done very well, and fits the current area. That was looking tired and well passed its use by date.
As every time we visit always pick up on something different, or that has been added to the area. Now we challenge each other, to see what we can spot that has been moved, painted or added.
Theming is great in theme parks, just needs to be well thought out, not just a hash job and thrown together at last minute, as it makes a big difference to the thought process and much more appreciated by the guest when waiting for people that are on rides etc.
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