Koncept
As part of the creation of a new attraction mapping the history of Prague in a fun and interactive way at the Máj department store, we were put in charge of the content for the 5D cinema. The content was included in the chronological exhibition and covered the years 1620 to 1945. In close collaboration with the Austrian company Kraftwerk, we developed a concept that fully utilizes the potential of the most modern motion seats and all the effects in the theater. This way, we send the audience on a wild ride through the centuries in a series of vehicles (if we count a dragon as a vehicle) that fit into each historical era all that on almost 180 degree cinema screen that.
Layout
It was crucial to study the layout of the cinema to determine the optimal camera point of view, speed, and focal length. Just as important was crafting a narrative that would guide and engage the viewer’s attention effectively. A key challenge was balancing the pace and camera angles to avoid motion sickness, while still delivering an experience dynamic enough to be unforgettable.
Animatic
An integral part of content development is the animatic, which serves as a clear first version that helps establish timing, speed, and other aspects of motion and animation throughout the entire story. In this case, it also served as a template for the initial seat movements and planning of effects in the theater. The entire animatic was created directly in Blender 3D to ensure a smooth transition into the next stage of production.
Assets
One of the key parts of producing a historical story is gathering references, assets, and 3D models, as well as their optimization, adjustment, and, when necessary, rigging and texture modifications. Since many commonly available 3D models are not historically accurate, a large number of assets had to be either modeled from scratch or heavily modified to fit naturally into the story.
Seat motion
Thanks to the expertise of our project partner, we had the opportunity to fine-tune the seat movements down to the smallest details together with Kraftwerk's technician, along with the precise timing of the effects. The direction took place directly on-site, section by section, and several versions were created, each going through continuous testing with groups of viewers. Their feedback was a valuable input in refining the final result — one that aims to deliver a maximum ride experience with minimal feelings of motion sickness.
Music & SFX
Since music and sound effects are a crucial part of the final experience, great attention was given to both the hardware setup and the final audio mix, which fully leverages the potential of the entire cinema. Even the seats themselves provide feedback that responds to the bass in the sound, pulling the viewer even deeper into the wild ride. Everything had to be carefully mastered specifically for the given space to ensure that the voices of the attraction’s narrators remained clear, without taking away from the impact of the most epic moments.
Where to experience the final result?
Final ride is a part of Back in Time in the mall Máj in Prague as a 6th room exploring the history of the city. It takes approximately 8 minutes from the entire 50 minutes experience and for sure it's the wildest yet slightly educative ride through history you've ever experienced.
More stills from the show
Other projects
