batwin + robin productions, the multimedia storytelling firm, is celebrating the launch of Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, which set sail in November 2022. The firm worked with the Carnival team and Infinite Studios to design and produce media for 12 ten-foot-tall virtual LED windows and a nearly 100-foot-long LED ceiling inside a newly-themed zone called The Gateway.
This area, which immerses guests in a range of different scenes and environments, celebrates the cruise line’s history and the theme of “Embarking on a Journey.”
Taking guests on a sensational adventure through time and space
The Time Journey is the centrepiece of batwin + robin’s work in The Gateway. This fifteen-minute production transforms the entire two-deck-high space into a captivating time machine, whisking guests away on a virtual excursion to magnificent environments and eras.
The assorted sequences employ 3D animation, dramatic lighting, music, and audio design, fully immersing viewers in the narrative and transporting them to settings like an exotic extraterrestrial cave in the far future and a close encounter with a medieval dragon. batwin + robin was responsible for all creative aspects of The Time Journey, including the production’s original scoring, design, screenplay, and media production.
Embark on a Journey pays breathtaking tribute to various modes of transportation, showcasing exciting locations around the world while celebrating the adventure of travel. The LED windows and ceiling are entirely 3D animated, bringing to life scenes like a classic train station in the early morning light, hot air balloons coasting through a stunning sunrise, and a seaplane landing on an exotic Caribbean island.
The Golden Jubilee celebrates Carnival’s fifty-year history through archival footage of ships, crew members, guests, and Carnival Godmothers – past and present – all tied together with unique graphics and animated backgrounds.
In Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, guests are transported to Dr. Seuss’ colourful fantasyland. Here, batwin + robin worked with the iconic artwork from the book, playfully animating characters and scenes across The Gateway’s 6K LED canvas.
An amazing opportunity for collaboration
Adam Casini, Principal & Creative Director at batwin + robin, says:
“Creating visuals for The Gateway was a real opportunity for b+r to bring our expertise in large-scale media design and production to a truly unique immersive environment. The combination of creating a full, original show experience and other incredible living landscapes, while collaborating with the team at Carnival, was a highlight of our entertainment-focused work in 2022.”
“Our guests are enjoying the additional unexpected experiences that this space offers with its ever-changing landscapes and pop-up theatrical multimedia productions. batwin + robin’s involvement in this project, from the ideation phase to reality, was an amazing collaborative experience for our team and it is a joy to see the space come alive and watch the awe on our guests’ faces as they stop to take in its beauty…” says Kerry Stables, director of creative development for Carnival’s Entertainment Department.
Among other projects last year, batwin + robin worked with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C on its new permanent exhibition, Art & Ideals and also designed projections for IAAPA Expo 2022 in Orlando.
All photos kind courtesy of batwin + robin productions
