Tag Archives: Merlin Entertainment

Hoppy Days: new Peter Rabbit attraction is coming to Blackpool

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Beloved characters from the award-winning PETER RABBIT animated TV series, produced by Silvergate Media, are set to make a new home on Blackpool’s famous seafront next year, in a partnership that marks the first stand-alone Merlin visitor attraction to be based on the series.

Developed by location-based entertainment company Merlin in partnership with Silvergate Media, Penguin Ventures (on behalf of PETER RABBIT™ brand owners Frederick Warne & Co.) and Blackpool Council, the £1 million investment has been 18 months in the making. The attraction is set to open next door to the famous Madame Tussauds Blackpool as part of a new standalone experience. The addition will join Merlin’s six other attractions in Blackpool including The Blackpool Tower and SEA LIFE Blackpool.

The new experience will provide visitors with the opportunity to hop into the world of Peter and his friends to embark on an adventure across five themed zones. Guests will need to think like a rabbit, move like a rabbit and deploy rabbit-like senses with a whole burrow-full of creativity in order to complete the challenges and earn badges – seeing if they have the skills to join the secret treehouse club. Guests will also be able to meet, greet and ‘high-paw’ with Peter himself.

“Working with Merlin on creating this attraction over the past year, pulling together ideas and new themes from the show and seeing them come to life has been such a thrill,” says Thomas Merrington, Creative Director Live & Experiential at Penguin Ventures. “This really will deliver a brand new experience and I am so excited to see how our young fans will engage with the multiple aspects of this highly interactive play attraction.”

 

 

Silvergate Media unveils world’s biggest Octonauts attraction at Sea Life Shanghai

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Silvergate Media has released the first images from the launch of the world’s biggest Octonauts attraction at Merlin Entertainment’s Changfeng Ocean World in Shanghai, part of the Sea Life global aquarium chain.

The new Octonauts experience opened its doors to the public on December 28th and visitor numbers are already expected to surpass 500,000 a year.

The new attraction offers an authentically themed experience that will give families the opportunity to go on a real life Octonauts adventure in a fully submerged Octopod capsule within Merlin Entertainment’s new ‘Ray Bay’ experience at Changfeng Ocean World.

Visitors can join characters including Captain Barnacles, Kwazii and Peso to learn about the world’s oceans and help save baby rays. They will also be able to take home a memento of their day, with a range of Octonauts merchandise available to buy on-site at a dedicated SEA LIFE gift shop.

The new attraction arrives ahead of a new content launch for Octonauts, as new spin-off series Octonauts: Above and Beyond prepares to debut globally this autumn, with new licensing partners soon to be announced. The new Octonauts experience in Shanghai builds on the momentum of previous SEA LIFE partnerships with Merlin Entertainments in the UK, Europe, Australia and the US, with additional new activations due to be announced.

“What better way to bring the brand to life than a fully immersive attraction at a world-class SEA LIFE centre,” said Ron Allen, EVP Commercial Silvergate Media. “This promises to be an exciting year for the brand as we build up to the launch of Octonauts: Above and Beyond and we’re excited that families in China now have the opportunity to step into the world of Octonauts in this unique underwater adventure.”

Matthew Williams, senior brand director midway, Merlin Entertainments, added: “We are delighted to have opened the world’s biggest Octonauts experience at Changfeng Ocean World in the fantastic new Ray Bay area, immersing families in a heroic underwater adventure with their favourite characters from the series.

“Octonauts is an ideal IP for SEA LIFE with fun and discovery at its core, and we look forward to working with Silvergate to share more exciting and innovative themed Octonauts experiences with families at our aquariums around the globe.”