Oscar-winning animation studio Aardman — the studio behind Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Chicken Run — is creating is first original 4D movie for a theme park. And it is coming to The Netherlands' Efteling later this year.
Fabula will anchor a €3.5 million renovation of the former PandaDroom show and adjacent restaurant, which will reopen along with the new movie.
A preshow will introduce a grumpy young bear who doesn't get along with other animals. The eight-minute main show will show the young bear being guided on a magical tour of different habitats around the world by Klaas Vaak [Mr Sandman]. Along with way, the cub meets up with an inquisitive squirrel, too. Here's the teaser trailer from Efteling and Aardman.
"This is Aardman’s first major piece of original content for the theme park environment, bringing our unique skills of storytelling with brand new characters to a fresh audience," Heather Wright, Executive Director of Partner Content at Aardman said.
"We have relished the challenge of combining humour, emotion and drama with 4D effects in this exciting experience. The impassioned collaboration of the creative and technical teams from Aardman and Efteling has been critical in delivering a project we are all proud of. We hope fans of Aardman and Efteling alike, will love Fabula as much as we do."
The show will exit into the refurbished Restaurant Fabula, which will offer play areas themed to savanna, ocean, and jungle. Efteling will add seating to the restaurant and serve a new menu "with fresh and responsible meat, fish and vegan dishes that match international cuisine," according to a park statement.
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I cant view it as it says it's been blocked by Efteling for copyright purposes!
Same here. Copyright notice.
Should be fixed now.
Well they didnt wait long after the Paramount London deal fell through
Efteling's new Fabula shares the same conservation message as its predecessor in that theater, PandaDroom. As for Aardman, that deal with LRCC expired well before anyone mentioned it and they have been working with others in the industry elsewhere- as have BBC despite their long ago deal. Doubt anyone cares since few believe The London Resort will ever progress regardless.
I'm kind of disappointing it isn't stop-motion animation but that probably as to do with 3D framerate.
I am glad this is yet another entirely original story being told through the medium of themed entertainment- and glad Efteling continues to thrive on original narratives. Like to believe the look is in keeping with Fabula NOT being a tie-in to any of Aardman Animation's own slate of IP but, rather, a true collaboration keeping with Efteling's story for this PandaDroom replacement. Though also serves to show off that Aardman can produce something different as well.
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I'm rather surprised this isn't stop-motion like most of the work for which Aardman is famous. Even Flushed Away retained their signature look.