Pacific creates an immersive Ocean Invaders experience at Sea Life London Aquarium using interactive technology, projection and lighting
Working alongside Merlin Entertainments, Pacific delivered a fully immersive jellyfish-themed attraction combining AV, interactive technology, lighting and audio to create a mesmerising visitor experience.
Sea Life London Aquarium is a popular attraction in central London. Since Merlin Entertainments bought and extensively refurbished the aquarium in 2007, it has delighted visitors of all ages with a huge variety of fascinating sea creatures and become a firm favourite with tourists.
Merlin Entertainments approached Pacific with a theme book for a new arm to the attraction named Ocean Invaders. This new section would bring visitors into the world of jellyfish, with distinct theming and lighting setting it apart from the rest of the aquarium in an immersive, informative, interactive and mesmerising experience. Putting our expertise to use, Pacific worked with the Merlin team to execute the plan to the highest standards possible.
The Solution
The Ocean Invaders experience is divided into three zones: “Discover Jellies”, “Understand Jellies” and “Wowed By Jellies”. Each zone has its own unique features while maintaining similar colours, lighting levels and an ambient electronic soundtrack to mirror the hypnotic movement of the jellyfish.
Pacific delivered a complete immersive technology solution, including projection, displays, interactive exhibits, audio, lighting and control systems throughout the attraction.
Zone 1 introduces visitors to the basics of jellyfish, including their life cycle, needs, role in the ocean and how they are bred and looked after at Sea Life. At the entrance, Pacific installed a horizontal mister to produce a constant 1.2m-high stream of mist, acting as a moving screen for an Infocus short-throw projector to create a ghostly mid-air effect of jellyfish swimming across the archway.
The area also features Samsung displays, BrightSign media players, LED RGB lighting, transparent LG displays and integrated jellyfish tanks. Overhead, coloured lighting effects recreate jellyfish tentacles using LED tape and diffusers, while a large moving image of a giant lion’s mane jellyfish is projected onto the wall using an Optoma ultra short-throw projector.
Zone 2 features interactive exhibits designed to stimulate visitors’ imaginations, including a colour-changing jellyfish tank controlled by a touchscreen and a giant interactive video game for up to eight players. The game uses eight Iiyama touchscreen displays and a 7m-wide projected image created using two high-end Optoma projectors with edge blending technology.
Additional interactive features include a Hitachi projector allowing visitors to access information using hand gestures, and a jellyfish sting experience using a CF IV audio player and bass shaker to create an immersive physical response.
The final zone, “Wowed By Jellies”, surrounds visitors with imagery of a giant jellyfish swarm using projection across walls, floors and ceilings. The back wall features a 7.6m-wide image created using five edge-blended Optoma projectors, while ceiling imagery is provided through ultra-black transparent perspex panels. ROBE MiniMe spinning head Gobo projectors create moving video content across the floor.
Teams
Pacific worked closely with Merlin Entertainments and the Sea Life London Aquarium team
How We Did It
Pacific used its expertise across AV, lighting, audio and interactive technology to bring the Ocean Invaders concept to life. Working from Merlin Entertainments’ theme book, Pacific helped execute the design by specifying, integrating and controlling the wide range of technologies required throughout the three zones.
All AV, audio and lighting systems were integrated and controlled via an Alcorn McBride 16-channel Protraxx and a Pharos controller, ensuring the attraction operated seamlessly as a complete immersive experience.
Pacific worked through the challenges presented by the complex environment and delivered solutions that met the highest standards possible, ensuring every element worked together to support the storytelling and visitor journey.
Results
Ocean Invaders provides an enthralling and genuinely memorable closing act to an already thrilling Sea Life London Aquarium experience. By highlighting these misunderstood and fascinating creatures through immersive technology, the attraction has created a unique experience that has proven a hit with visitors.
As Helen Bull, General Manager at Sea Life London Aquarium, commented:
“Pacific have met all the challenges we’ve had face-on and found solutions to all of them. I’m really pleased that we’ve worked on this project with them and have delivered a fantastic solution.”