Tag Archives: Merlin Entertainments

Octonauts activity trail set to make waves at SEA LIFE centres

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Silvergate Media and Merlin Entertainments have announced their new activity trail, Octonauts: The Great Gup Rescue, which has just been unveiled at SEA LIFE at Mall of America before beginning its voyage to SEA LIFE centres around the world.

Expanding on its successful global partnership with Merlin, Silvergate’s new interactive activity-based Octonauts trail will allow visitors to embark on a journey with their favourite characters by completing missions and saving the sea creatures. The Great Gup Rescue starts with an underwater storm that has caused major electrical problems leading to all the Gups (the Octonauts’ aquatic vehicles) to break down. Alongside Captain Barnacles and Dashi, preschoolers and their families will experience an activity trail throughout the site where they can help save the day and become a hero in the rescue. 

As a continuation of last year’s successful activity trails that were brought to life at 13 SEA LIFE centres and aquariums across the UK and ANZ, this exciting new adventure will educate and inspire guests about important conservation topics while attracting new visitors to SEA LIFE centres. 

The Great Gup Rescue activity trails launched initially at SEA LIFE at Mall of America on 10 March 2022 before launching at SEA LIFE locations around the world. This latest activity trail joins a strong and expanding portfolio of global live event partnerships from Silvergate and continues to build on their long-standing partnership with Merlin, including the world’s biggest Octonauts attraction at Merlin’s Changfeng Ocean World in Shanghai.

“I’m always looking for exciting experiences for our guests at SEA LIFE at Mall of America, so we are thrilled to have The Great Gup Rescue,” says General Manager Trisha Ruf. “This partnership will spark even more imagination, adventure and wonder with guests at SEA LIFE Aquariums here in Minnesota and around the globe.”

“We are thrilled to be introducing a brand-new Octonauts activity trail at SEA LIFE centres this spring. Children will have the opportunity to become truly immersed in their own Octonauts adventure and as restrictions begin to lift, it’s perfectly timed to meet rising consumer demand for live experiences that deliver on fun and education,” says Lisa Macdonald, SVP Content and Consumer Product Sales at Silvergate Media. “This activation marks the start of a busy year ahead for the brand as we build towards the highly anticipated toy line from Moose Toys and we’re delighted that our latest collaboration with Merlin Entertainments will create real life experiences for families to enjoy.”

Merlin Entertainments to bring Jumanji brand to life

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Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based entertainment with brands including LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE, has entered into a formal multi-territory exclusivity agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop and operate attractions, rides, lands, retail outlets and themed hotel rooms based on the studio’s box office hit Jumanji film franchise across Merlin’s Resort Theme Parks and Waterparks in Europe (including the UK) and North America.

The first Jumanji experience to be launched as part of the agreement will be the world’s first Jumanji ride, which will open in April this year at Merlin’s Gardaland Resort in Italy, with a second activation already in development at a different theme park for a 2023 launch.

Merlin is teaming up with Oceaneering and Framestore for the development of the Jumanji ride at Gardaland. The attraction will be called “Jumanji – the Adventure” and will transport guests to the fantastic world of Jumanji, where an exhilarating adventure awaits them: a journey full of pitfalls, surprises and dangers through the wild jungle. The new “Jumanji – the Adventure” attraction will be a dark ride for adventure lovers of all ages, designed to appeal to a wide audience of families, teenagers and young adults. “Jumanji – the Adventure” will open in April 2022, and will be complemented by the simultaneous launch of fully themed Jumanji hotel bedrooms.

The deal supports Merlin’s broader global strategy to engage and work with leading IP and brands across its global estate, with existing successful partnerships including LEGO, Marvel, Peppa Pig and CBeebies. The agreement is also a pivotal step in Sony Pictures’ larger global strategy to grow and expand location-based entertainment by utilising its strong global film and TV brands to create opportunities for audiences around the world to immerse themselves deeper into the studio’s stories.

The collaboration further builds on Merlin’s successful relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which has already seen the previous roll out of two “in-attraction” themed experiences including the Ghostbusters 5D ride at Heide Park in Germany and the Ghostbusters experience at Madame Tussauds New York.

Chief Development Officer for Merlin Entertainments, Mark Fisher, says: “We are excited to be taking our relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment to the next level with this strategic partnership. Sony are one of the top movie companies on the planet and Jumanji is a multi-billion-dollar brand which has appealed to guests of all ages for over two decades. Our Merlin team are already hard at work developing brilliant creative concepts, which will bring to life the blockbuster-famous Jumanji film across our Theme Parks and Waterparks. We can’t wait to deliver thrilling rides and experiences for guests and film fans alike. The game is certainly on!”

Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of Global Partnerships and Brand Management and Head of Location Based Entertainment at Sony Pictures Entertainment, adds: “Merlin is the ideal company to bring the world of Jumanji to life.  Their commitment to strong storytelling, quality of craftsmanship and fantastic guest experiences ensure that fans of Jumanji will be fully immersed into the worlds of our films and have an unforgettable experience. I am very pleased to expand our relationship with the great team at Merlin.”

Ranked Europe’s top and the world’s second-largest tourist attraction operator, Merlin runs more than 135 tourist attractions in 24 countries across Europe, America, Asia and Oceania.

Following on from the original Robin Williams film in 1995, the adventure continues in the brand-new film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), starring Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan. The film franchise’s continued success has made it Sony’s biggest wholly owned film franchise of all time. Taking over $2.1bn at the global box office, the Jumanji film franchises are popular with both family and teenage audiences globally.

Octonauts to ‘make waves’ across UK Sea Life Centres this summer ahead of spin-off series launch

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A series of new activity-based Octonauts trails are set to ‘make waves’ across Sea Life centres and aquariums in the UK and ANZ this summer, thanks to an extensions of an established partnership between Silvergate Media and Merlin Entertainments.

The new deal will also see an all year-long experience launch at Chang Feng Ocean World in China ahead of the launch of the new spin-off series, Octonauts: Above and Beyond later this year.

The interactive events will allow preschoolers and their families to ‘Be Captain For A Day’ as part of a themed and immersive experience which puts them centre-stage of their own Octonauts adventure, looking for Captain Barnacles alongside favourite characters from the show such as Kwazii, Peso and Inkling.

Guests to the attractions will also learn about conserving the world’s oceans as they complete tasks, challenges and activities as part of their mission.

Making a big splash from June to July in the UK, Octonauts events will be taking place at 11 UK Sea Life centre locations, including London, Manchester and Brighton, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bray, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Loch Lomond, Scarborough and Weymouth from June to July.

Visitors to Australia’s Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium (August) and Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in New Zealand (June to July) will also be able to enjoy the fully-themed family experience.

“We are delighted to bring this latest exciting Octonauts adventure to life for fans in the UK, ANZ and China as we build towards the broadcast launch of OctonautsAbove & Beyond,” said Lisa Macdonald, SVP content and consumer product sales at Silvergate Media.

“Merlin Entertainments’ world-class Sea Life centres are the perfect setting for children to fully immerse themselves in the brand and learn all about saving the oceans. Visitors will be able to embark on a real-life adventure with their favourite characters for a family day out that’s both fun and educational.”

 Rita Marcal, global head of brand and products, added: “Octonauts has such a fantastic affinity with Sea Life and our goal of inspiring guests to fall in love with the ocean and its animals through fun and education. We’re thrilled to welcome our guests to experience the event and learn about conservation with the help of the Octonauts.”

The UK and ANZ events follow close behind the recent Octonauts attraction which launched at Changfeng Ocean World in Shanghai in December 2020 and will also be hosting the new Octonauts trail throughout the year. This is the latest in a series of multi-territory partnerships between Silvergate and Sea Life aquariums, with plans to extend the roll out to the US and the rest of Europe in 2022.

The second half of 2021 promises to be an exciting time for the popular pre-school brand, which is poised for a major relaunch as it makes a welcome return to experiential events.

Silvergate is readying the global launch of the new animated spin off series Octonauts: Above & Beyond in autumn 2021 which has inspired a brand new toy line from the global master toy partner, Moose Toys, including figures, vehicles, play-sets, plush, and games set to debut at retail in 2022.

Magic Light Pictures and Merlin Entertainments are bringing Zog to Warwick Castle

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Magic Light Pictures has teamed up with Merlin Entertainments to bring a new 3D interactive Zog trail to Warwick Castle.

Due to launch at the historic venue this Easter, the trail brings to life the world of Zog the lovable dragon – first created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – with a host of activities for kids that mirror Zog’s own lessons at dragon school.

From soaring over the top of the Castle mound without actually leaving the ground, to testing out the Roar-o-meter at Bear Tower and helping kids to capture a princess, children will collect a stamp at every task. A final challenge will see them join in with Sir Gadabout’s school for ambitious knights and will be followed with a meet-and-greet with Zog himself.

Based on the million-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Zog premiered on BBC One on Christmas Day 2018. It follows the tale of a keen but accident-prone dragon who gets into all sorts of mischief while at Dragon School, and was the fourth-highest rated programme on the day, achieving 8.8m viewers (including repeat).

The sequel, Zog and the Flying Doctors, has recently been announced as the Christmas 2020 collaboration between Magic Light and BBC One.

Daryl Shute, brand director, Magic Light Pictures, said: “We are delighted to partner with Merlin Entertainment to bring Zog to their fantastic venue. Warwick Castle is the perfect setting for dragons, princesses and heroic deeds. Our close collaboration is creating a truly special experience for kids that allows them to step into the magical world of Zog and live the story for themselves.”

Liam Bartlett, operations director for Warwick Castle, added: “We’re thrilled that Zog is flying in to Warwick Castle – it’s going to be roar-some. The interactive trail is great for kids of all ages, and supports the key messaging from the storybook itself around tenacity, persistence and rising to the challenge.

“It’s a fantastic addition to the Warwick Castle experience and shows once again why we’re a leading attraction for families from across the UK and beyond.”

Silvergate and Merlin Entertainments bring world’s biggest Octonauts attraction to Shanghai

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Silvergate Media has landed a major new creative partnership with Merlin Entertainments that will bring its hit pre-school property Octonauts to Chang Feng Ocean World in Shanghai, part of the Sea Life global aquarium chain.

Launching to the public in June 2020, the new attraction will be the biggest Octonauts attraction worldwide and will expand the universal appeal of the brand by offering a unique new underwater experience.

“Our partnership with Merlin Entertainments underlines our ongoing commitment to dive deeper into innovative and immersive events that bolster our brands,” said Ron Allen, EVP commercial, Silvergate Media.

“This new interactive adventure with Changfeng Ocean World  will give fans an unforgettable Octonauts experience that truly reflects the show’s core values of education, exploration and entertainment – it’s a perfect brand synergy. We look forward to sharing the attraction with fans in China this summer.”

The world-class visitor attraction operator Merlin is creating an authentically themed Octonauts experience that will give families the opportunity to play and explore in a fully submersed Octopod within Changfeng Ocean World’s huge new ‘Stingray Bay’ experience.

Visitors to the new attraction will join characters including Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, and Peso and embark on an exciting Octonauts mission, learning about the world’s oceans and the creatures that live within them. There will also be a dedicated gift shop on-site offering retail opportunities to the brand’s many licensing partners.

The attraction will be promoted with a heavyweight media campaign and a press launch is scheduled in January 2020 that will give media a first look at the new site prior to its official opening in the summer.

This latest deal further cements Silvergate’s existing relationship with Merlin, and builds upon the momentum of previous Sea Life partnerships in the UK, Europe, Australia and the US with additional new activations due to be announced in 2020.

“Fun and discovery are at the core of what we do at Merlin and that is why Octonauts is an ideal fit for us. The new attraction will bring Octonauts to life in a way that has never been done before and we are very confident it will drive growth in visitor numbers when it launches at Changfeng Ocean World,” said Anthony Newman, Sea Life’s global brand marketing director, Merlin Entertainments.

Silvergate Media’s pre-school animated TV show, Octonauts, continues to appeal to audiences around the world with the show’s storytelling, educational narratives and compelling characters enabling it to cross cultural divides.

Currently, Silvergate is readying the launch of the fifth season of Octonauts which will bow this year.