Ryan Andal is the co-founder and president of Secret Location, a pioneering immersive entertainment studio renowned for its innovative work in virtual and augmented reality experiences.
Founded in 2009, Secret Location has earned significant recognition, including two Emmy Awards, for its inventive storytelling and integration of emerging technologies. Notably, the studio produced The Sleepy Hollow VR Experience, the first virtual reality project to win a Primetime Emmy, marking a milestone in immersive entertainment. Secret Location has become a trailblazer in immersive entertainment, accumulating over 250 nominations and awards, including 2 Emmys, 11 Canadian Screen Awards, and a Peabody.
Andal’s leadership continues to push the boundaries of immersive experiences, transforming spaces into unforgettable attractions that captivate audiences worldwide. He has been at the forefront of creating immersive experiences for over two decades, leveraging virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, gaming, and innovative technology for large-scale attractions to craft new forms of story experiences for both the at-home and location-based markets.
Speaking to blooloop in 2023 about the Illuminarium at the Distillery District, Ryan Andal said:
“Secret Location creates unforgettable experiences that take you to unexpected places. Through the magic of cutting-edge immersive technologies, like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), our work allows people to cross the threshold from reality into fantasy to engage in an experience that feels otherworldly. With these original experiences being produced right here in Toronto, we have access to seamlessly integrated production that brings these experiences to life, and then distributes them to other Illuminarium markets.”
Another project launched by Andal and the team is Waking Wonderland. This attraction brings guests on an immersive journey with a dynamic narrative that comes to life around them with projection mapping, live actors and LiDAR, which allows guests to impact their world in real time. This elevates the immersive experience and sets a new standard for interactive storytelling.