Künstler-Magazin June 2003

After only 3 weeks of installation works, LOBO puts a new multimedia attraction in the revolving theater located in Germany's largest theme park into operation.

Lovingly and elaborately designed theme areas as well as a high quality spectrum of attractions meeting any family demands acknowledge Europa Park an extraordinary position in the colorful world of theme parks. While other parks suffer from declining number of visitors, the Europa Park advances speedily to a high-class short holiday domicile with the construction of a new 1,400-bed hotel. In the meantime the Europa Park is even classified as the largest seasonal theme park in the world.

With the multimedia spectacle "Wonders of the World", the Europa Park now has gained an unique laser attraction. Within only three weeks of installation the Germany-based laser specialist LOBO created a multimedia adventure world, designed as an experience for the whole family. LOBO's General Manager Mr. Bopp: "With a total of three laser installations and numerous events, the business relation between the Europa Park and LOBO has become an intense cooperation over the years, of which we are very proud of. And therefore we have been very pleased receiving the possibility to re-design the existing revolving theater by means of the latest laser technology. Everything from the first idea, the storyboard, the complete production of music, video and multimedia technology, the realisation on-site up to services for public relations and the exterior design, the attraction was supplied by LOBO as turn-key solution.

The spectator enters the attraction through a winding tunnel equipped with sporadic light effects and mirrors insuring that the eyes can adapt gently to the darkness. After a short waiting time, the visitor enters a hall which initially appears as a cinema. Shortly after the light dimes down, the screen becomes transparent. In between a machine, filled with technical devices, appears a funnily over-exited professor who explains proudly the invention of a time machine.

But before he gets into details his daughter, driven by her childlike curiosity, sets the mechanism of the time machine into operation. Close to her trails, the spectators accompany the professor on an approx. 10-minutes long journey through time. They experience the ancient 7 Wonders of the World as well as the wonders of the new world. Finally the professor manages to return again with an impressive detour via the future into the Europa Park.

The used technical equipment in the background is quite substantial: Via fibre optics, a central laser system supplies 6 digital and mainly maintenance-free working laser projectors, whereas two of them are mounted on lifts and one is additionally mounted onto the head of an industrial robot. Moving lights and a real armada of light and special effects as well as wind generators involve the spectators directly in the action.

In addition to the use of the most modern media technique, the construction of the theater itself is also very impressive. With every time lap the spectators are transported into a complete new scenery almost without taking notice. After leaving the laboratory the visitors will find themselves in an environment which presents the Seven Wonders of the World in a hologram-like projection. In the next room, a massive setup of technical highlights puts the wonders of the new world to stage and generates a three-dimensional world of laser light and video projections. Via an impressive flight through space the spectators moves into the final scene which is designed as the characteristic outside facade of the attraction. When leaving the attraction many visitors will just notice that the entire theater has moved to another location.

The show is considered to be arguably the most sophisticated laser show of all times. An international team of 30 designers, musicians and software developers have been involved with the completion of the show for the period of almost one year. Director: "The project management of the show resembled a large film production. The special challenge was to match the most diverse representations and new technical possibilities of the laser medium in order to achieve a harmonious spectacle. Especially the application of LOBO's recently developed Scanline Laser Video Technology, which allows for the first time the presentation of high-resolution video images by means of conventional laser projectors, shows in practice to be a true quantum leap in laser show design."

The first few days of operation already showed that the efforts were worth while. First surveys after the initial operation proved that the attraction has been accepted by the visitors with great enthusiasm.