For Chester Zoo’s Super-Natural Halloween event, Flipbook Studio, a creative production company based in Manchester, designed and produced an entirely original multi-screen immersive experience titled BEASTS. Using immersive floor projections and 360-degree visual displays, the 8-minute animated adventure takes the viewer on an epic journey through a world inhabited by fantastical creatures.
Scripted by zoologist, children’s TV presenter, and author Dr. Jess French,
the BEASTS experience takes guests on an adventure through unexplored lands, to discover mythical creatures in a prequel to the fantasy novel Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain. Flipbook Studio concepted and brought to life three distinct ecosystems, each featuring mythical creatures uniquely adapted to their environment.
“Our goal was to design a fully immersive experience that would captivate and engage visitors of all ages,” said Flipbook director and co-founder Andrew Lord. “We’ve produced a number of unique experiential projects, and this one marks a significant milestone in our ambition to create innovative, location-based digital experiences that seamlessly blend storytelling, animation, and cutting-edge technology.”
This immersive experience not only entertains but also supports Chester Zoo’s mission to foster a deeper connection to nature and conservation through powerful storytelling.
Helen Dean, Head of Marketing & Brand at Chester Zoo commented, “We’re thrilled to partner with best-selling author Dr. Jess French and the team at Flipbook Studio to bring the mythical creatures of the Beastlands books to life. Halloween gives us the chance to engage families with fun experiences, and throw a spotlight on amazing species which can sometimes be misunderstood but are incredibly important to our ecosystems. As well as mythical creatures, BEASTS also incorporates important species like snakes, frogs, bugs, slugs and moths. And crucially, whenever anyone comes to the zoo to experience BEASTS, they’ll be supporting our charitable conservation efforts to protect many of the world’s most at-risk species.”
In addition to BEASTS, the Super-Natural exhibition features interactive Halloween-themed trails, giant pumpkin sculptures, and family-friendly activities, running until November 3, 2024.