Themed Entertainment : Animatronic Dinosaurs and Proto-Feathers

Friday, March 20, 2009 Themed Entertainment : Animatronic Dinosaurs and Proto-Feathers Prehistoric beasts are big business, whether eating lawyers at the local cinema (Jurassic Park’s T-Rex showing questionable or admirable taste depending on your point of view) or wowing crowds at our major museums in skeletal form.

This week has seen the long awaited arrival on British shores of the animatronic stars of the “Walking with Dinosaurs” show , the live event inspired (and co-produced) by the BBC as a follow up to its immensely successful TV series of the same name. Having received critical acclaim in both Australia and the US (seen by 2.4 million people since 2007, it has grossed over $110 million /£77 million in ticket sales) the new show promises an even more impressive experience. From a business perspective of course, the BBC’s globally recognized and respected brand allied with the enduring appeal of dinosaurs plus the proven success of the TV show might seem to have been obvious ingredients for a hit arena show. But it is worth remembering how ground-breaking this unique production is and how, as the Guardian points out, “The real heroes of the 96-minute show are, arguably, the engineers, skin makers, painters and animatronic experts who created the dinosaurs”. As if to herald the arrival of the show, Palaeontologists have announced two fascinating discoveries this week, each revealing just that little bit more about prehistoric worlds: 1. Fossil hints at “Fuzzy” Dinosaurs. Remains of a dinosaur found in China bearing rudimentary feather-like structures have shed further light (and perhaps muddied the waters) on the evolution of feathers (see below). The discovery hints at both warm-bloodedness and a world of vibrant coloured dinosaurs. 2. The remains of a massive sea reptile (top), a species of short necked pliosaur, were found on a remote artic island. Estimated to have weighed 45 tonnes and boasting a massive head packed with foot long teeth this super-predator roamed the oceans some 147 million year ago. How long before those animatronic experts are working on a feathered T-Rex? See also: T-Rex Appeal : Prehistoric Production Notes from Walking with Dinosaurs High-Tech Animatronics bring Dinosaurs to Life Images: bottom, copyright Nature and top Artist's impression of a 45-tonne Pliosaur attacking a Plesiosaur. Photograph: Atlantic Productions
Posted By Charles Read -- At 6:37 PM \| Comments (4) \| Trackbacks (0)
Add Comment
Categories Tags animatronics, Design, walking with dinosaurs
	(What are these?)	Recommend to a Friend

Trackbacks :
http://www.blooloop.com/blog/track.aspx?id=108

Comments :

I was pleased to hear that this show is going to tour around. So many exhibitions seem to stay in London but I understand this is going to come to Manchester in due course - among other venues. Something for us Northerners to look forward to!

Comment By Susan Darby At 3/20/2009 7:41 PM

Absolutely fantastic show.

Comment By Christian Bonner At 3/24/2009 8:37 PM

here is our allsaurs
please log on http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinosaurschina/
My email:dinosaurschina@yahoo.com
Thanks a lot
Manager
Abel Zheng

Comment By abel At 12/18/2009 10:31 AM

Here is our Allsaurs:
please log on:http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinosaurschina/
My email:dinosaurschina@yahoo.com
Manager
abel Zheng

Comment By abel At 12/18/2009 10:44 AM