DEAL 2015 to showcase the potential of animatronics in attractions

The upcoming Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure show (DEAL 2015) will be showcasing the potential of the multimillion dollar animatronics industry - as used primarily in the entertainment, theme park and advertising industries.

Using computer generated imagery (CGI) and ‘stop motion’ to simulate creatures and their movements, movies such and Transformers, Iron Man and Jurassic Park were one of the first ones to explore the potential of this industry.

However, the potential of animatronics is being developed in several upcoming attractions projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.

Rainbow Productions, who created animatronic costumed versions of the Smurfs during the recent Dubai Shopping Festival , will be displaying their custom-made walkabout mascots created at DEAL 2015.

With each character costume being a unique embodiment for a client’s brand or campaign, the opening of DEAL 2015 will see Rainbow Productions will unveil a brand new mascot creation, which will make personal appearances on the show floor.

Organised by International Expo Consults (IEC), DEAL 2015 will be held from 14th to 16th April at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Commenting on their involvement in the event, Rainbow Productions, Sales & Marketing Director, Simon Foulkes explains “DEAL Expo 2015 will be the company’s 9th consecutive year of investing in an exhibition stand. 

“In order to make contact with a broad range of retail and leisure destinations based across EMEA, we take this decision because, to date, the show has provided us with a beneficial platform. Importantly for us, a show floor presence at DEAL also enables us to reconnect with existing clients in the region and discuss future mascot and event opportunities. 

“We’re looking forward to the show in April, particularly given the huge amount of large-scale leisure attraction developments in Dubai and beyond.”

IEC Chairman Abdul Rahman Falaknaz adds “there is a huge untapped potential for the animatronics industry in the UAE as we are witnessing the exponential growth of several multi-billion dollar theme parks and malls in UAE and across the region.

“People want something that is new and would attract the audience and animatronics is one such crowd-puller.

“Now animatronics is becoming more lifelike and realistic than ever before (with) electronic sensors, light movable joints; computer control systems and remote operations and several tech advancements.

“Today the use of pneumatics or compressed air, hydraulics, or pressurized oil, and electronics allow for the precise realistic motions humans would expect to see.”

Rainbow Productions recently worked with partners in the Middle East on projects ranging from the manufacture of animatronic costumed versions of licensed property, the Smurfs, which featured in the entertainment programme during the Dubai Shopping Festival 2015 when the Smurfs performed live on stage for four days at the Dubai World Trade Centre.  Other projects in the region include Fahed for the Qatar™ 2015, 24th Men’s Handball World Championship and a set of character costumes for Al Montazah in Sharjah.

Rainbow Productions works with visitor attractions across the UK, Europe and Middle East. The mascots company has also created custom-made mascots for a number of international sporting events including Super Victor, the official mascot for the UEFA EURO 2016 tournament which will take place in France from 10th June to 10th July 2016.

Images show Rainbow Productions of animatronic costumed Smurfs for the Dubai Shopping Festival (top) and France football star Raphael Varane woth Super Victor (below).

For more information on DEAL 2015, click here to visit the show entry in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

18th February 2015 - DEAL 2015 TO FUNNEL THE MERGER OF RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES