SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment, the industry leader in immersive cinematic attractions, announces the BBC Earth release, Octopus: Blue Planet II 4D Experience. The brand-new 4D Experience premiered at John G. Shedd Aquarium on Friday, May 28, 2021.
Dimensional partnerships
John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is home to 32,000 aquatic animals including both fishes and amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Smithsonian Institute affiliate is a leader in the care and conservation of altogether 1,500 species from around the globe. Working with BBC Earth and John G. Shedd Aquarium on the project was Toronto-headquartered SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment.
The firm specializes in designing and building 4D cinematic attractions that source content from the world’s major film studios. Because SimEx-Iwerks provides films and services to over 150 attractions, its work is experienced by 50 million guests each year.
Captivating effects
Presently available to 4D Theaters worldwide, Octopus: Blue Planet II 4D Experience uses in-theater, in-seat effects to heighten on-screen action. Kate Magnusson, Vice President, Partnerships and Marketing, SimEx-Iwerks, says, “The addition of this show to the aquarium’s highly successful 4D Theater creates a powerful lineup of films for Shedd’s guests this summer.”
BBC Earth’s critically acclaimed Blue Planet II television series served as inspiration for the 4D experience. The film focuses on one of the ocean’s cleverest and most captivating creatures—the octopus.
Revealing behaviors
Shedd Aquarium and BBC Earth collaborated with SimEx-Iwerks to develop the multi-sensory experience—an especially compelling 12-minute show. The special effects showcase short reveals extraordinary octopus behaviors happening inside of changing oceanic landscapes.
Octopus: Blue Planet II dips beneath the surface to discover how the octopus outsmarts its underwater prey—and adversaries. In addition to the tentacled cephalopod, the Experience features various other sea-dwellers including the sally lightfoot crab and pyjama shark.
Previously, SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment celebrated the opening of a new 4D movie theatre at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
