Creature Technology Co., a leading creator of animatronic figures for themed attractions, exhibitions, theatre and arena shows, has announced the appointment of Dean Flynn as general manager, based in Melbourne, Australia.
Flynn will focus on growth in new markets, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and will develop new products such as AI integrations and turnkey attractions.
The appointment follows former general manager Tim Rolfe‘s move to the board of directors. Sonny Tilders, Creature Technology Co. design director, CEO and founder, explains: “Tim steered our company through a major expansion and has been the rock of our operation for over a decade. With Tim moving to a board position and looking to reduce his day-to-day responsibilities in the business, we undertook a global search for a replacement.”
Although the firm’s search considered professionals from Europe and the United States, it found its ideal candidate in local Dean Flynn.
Tilders continues: “Dean comes to us with a long, successful background in project-based businesses like ours. While our product is certainly unique, the process of producing it, the fixed budgets, and tight timelines, is not. Dean’s experience in the fast-paced world of technology-based projects, digital production and start-ups is exactly what we need to steer the growth of Creature Technology Co. and take our offering to the next level.”
AI & Animatronics
Flynn joins Creature Technology Co. as it is developing its product range, with AI high on the agenda. “We’ve been exploring what AI can bring to our creatures and their performance,” shares Tilders. “We’re yet to install a ‘brain’ in a T-Rex, and we have some reservations about letting loose a five-tonne apex predator in the workshop, but we’re keen to see what it means for lifelike creature performance.
“It’s not just about eye-tracking and responding to guest’s movement and voices. If you visit the lions at the zoo they don’t track your gaze and voice. They’re just as likely to ignore you, have a scratch and a yawn and fall back to sleep! Bringing life to large-scale animatronics is a nuanced process. And that’s what we do best.”
Empowering high performance
“Joining a world-leading, Tony and THEA award-winning business is an incredible opportunity, and it’s certainly a bit different having 6,000 square meters of workshop filled with roaring dinosaurs and flapping dragons,” says Flynn, reflecting on his move from digital technology and start-ups.
“But the fundamentals of a good business never change. It’s about the people, and my background is looking after people, and creating the conditions and the processes to empower high-performance, integrated teams. Get that right and a lot of other things look after themselves”
Creature Technology Co. has a global client base, and Flynn’s new role will focus on emerging markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Damian Guiney, Creature Technology Co. director of partnerships and development, says: “We’ve noticed a shift in interest since Covid. Many of our genuine enquiries are coming in from markets we’ve not traditionally operated in; Vietnam, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Europe. It’s been really interesting experiencing that shift and adapting to it. It won’t be long before our animatronics are performing to audiences in those markets.”
Flynn’s appointment will support Creature Technology Co. as it explores new technologies and new markets. Tilders concludes: “It’s a pretty exciting time for us. And I can’t wait to show you what we’re up to. But it’s all top secret, so you’re going to have to wait!”
