Moonraker VFX Ltd., the award-winning UK-based VFX studio, has announced that Moonbase: The Next Step is screening at The Royal Observatory’s Peter Harrison Planetarium from April 2023, where it will take guests on an inspiring lunar experience. This journey pushes scientific and technological advances to the limit.
The film, which has been more than a year in the making and is narrated by former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, combines the firm’s award-winning creative vision and passion for science and natural history television with its extensive experience in immersive visitor attractions, setting a new standard for films in the Fulldome sector.
Enhancing the storytelling experience
After dazzling viewers in television and large screen formats with photorealistic computer-generated graphics for shows like National Geographic’s One Strange Rock and BBC’s Frozen Planet 2, Moonraker’s choice to expand its talents into the Fulldome industry was a logical next step. The new movie draws on the studio’s extensive expertise in transporting viewers to places that existed billions of years ago, or places that they cannot film on camera.
Ed Bloomer, senior manager of public astronomy at the Royal Observatory, says: “We were interested in moon-related content, and were intrigued by the prospect of something forward-looking.
“Lots of planetarium content focuses on past achievements or specific upcoming missions, but Moonbase has an imaginative look based on the principles of lunar exploration. That was really attractive to us because we could use the show to help build a programme anchored by Moonbase, including tackling historical stuff in more ‘traditional’-style planetarium shows.
“Moonbase gives us the freedom to talk about the subject with our planetarium audiences, and gets across that sense of wonder which really helps the team at the observatory engage with visitors.”
Jon Grafton, co-founder and managing director at Moonraker, adds: “As a studio, we’ve thrived on the creative challenge that comes with breaking into a new market. Combining the two elements of cinematic visuals and the dome screen can be incredibly powerful – not only enhancing the storytelling experience but immersing visitors in breathtaking worlds of astronomy and planetary science that feel almost tangible.
“We’re looking forward to stretching the boundaries of what’s possible in this space.”
Earlier this year, Moonraker VFX Ltd. was named one of the best places to work in the UK Television industry. The studio, based in Bristol, has been ranked as one of the top five non-indies from over 40 nominated businesses in the 2023 Broadcast Best Places to Work in Television awards.
