Mack Animation, a leading animation studio and film production company, has shared details of its contribution to the new “GRAND PRIX Edventure” interactive 3D dark ride at Europa-Park in Germany.
The ride takes visitors into the world of the new animated film Grand Prix of Europe, the first major 90-minute cinematic adventure from the park's beloved mascots, Ed and Edda.
Cleverly combining haptic gameplay and a virtual setting with the thrill of a ride, GRAND PRIX Edventure invites visitors to compete as Ed and Edda's team in a virtual race through ten different iconic European cities and sets from the movie.
To win the race, players must shoot at different targets and collect "blue energy". This energy is released by hitting the haptic cannon, which requires skill and responsiveness in this interactive gameplay with varied settings and intuitive controls.
The immersive experience combines state-of-the-art multimedia integration, detailed theming and dynamic animation, with stereoscopy and a dense acoustic atmosphere that ensures visitors experience the “racing feeling” with all their senses.
Bringing together real and virtual worlds
GRAND PRIX Edventure was created in a partnership between MackRides, Mack Animation, Lagotronics, and the Europa-Park team.
MackAnimation was responsible for developing the attraction's gameplay. This remit included game design, look development, asset creation, animation, and programming the game mechanics.
The company joined the project in autumn 2023 during the concept phase and has been involved ever since.
"As an animation studio for film and other linear content, developing a game of this scope was new territory for us," says a spokesperson from the studio.
"However, with our experience from other interactive projects, a proven and flexible production pipeline for assets and animation, and a certain developer spirit, we felt up to the challenge. This challenge consisted of designing a ride that, despite the high throughput targeted, offers an easily understandable gaming experience that challenges players, encourages them to play again, and tells a story that transports them into the world of the Grand Prix of Europe for the duration of the ride."
The feature film was also produced on the premises, which fostered a close relationship between the production teams. Locations, emotions, and characters from the movie could be directly integrated into the attraction's virtual world, ensuring efficient production and a cohesive appearance between the film and game environments.
The success of the project was not only due to the strong collaboration within the company, but also to the communication and support from the project partners. This teamwork enabled the development of a ride that incorporates numerous technical innovations. The opportunities for previsualisation and the creation of a production-ready test setup greatly facilitated decision-making and sped up the development of prototypes.
"The opening in March 2025 was not only the conclusion of an exciting project for us, but also the launch of our debut as a development studio for interactive content," says the company.
"We have gained a wealth of experience that will flow into our future interactive and linear projects. The dark ride itself proves how close the real and virtual worlds can become in such attractions today and how much fun it is to immerse yourself in them.
“GRAND PRIX Edventure is an entertaining and innovative dark ride for young and old that takes its visitors on a fast-paced journey in more ways than one and has helped us grow as a studio."
In July, Mack Animation is celebrating the release of Grand Prix of Europe, which serves as a centrepiece for Europa-Park's 50th anniversary celebrations.
