Venice, Calif.-based Blur Studio recently joined forces with MGM Consumer Products, ProFun Management Group and Matilda Production Services to create a motion simulator ride based on the MGM feature Stargate and the popular syndicated series Stargate SG-1.
The attraction, dubbed Stargate SG-3000, makes its debut with the opening of ProFun’s Space Center at Space Park Bremen in Germany. Europe’s largest indoor space adventure park is set for a soft launch on Dec. 19, followed by the official grand opening on Feb. 12, 2004. Stargate SG-3000 will be one of six main attractions at the site.
Blur Studio created the computer-animated film portion of the attraction and the event’s pre-ride film for Matilda Production Services. Blur directors Aaron Powell and Yas Takata, along with creative director Tim Miller, led the team of animators. Powell and Takata also wrote the story.
Stargate SG-3000 casts park patrons as deputy SGs and sends them on a mission to foil the plans of the diabolical Satra–a character created expressly for the attraction–who has acquired an ancient relic containing the codes to all Stargates in the universe. Boarding shuttles, patrons rocket through the Stargate and into a series of exotic alien worlds to do battle a formidable opponent and her murderous army for the control of the universe.
Powell visited the set of the Stargate SG-1 television series in Vancouver to talk with the show’s cast and crew and to photograph the sets, props and costumes so that they could be accurately recreated by Blur’s animation team.
Blur animators were tasked with bringing four distinct alien environments to life. In addition to replicating the Stargate structure, the team dreamed up a thrilling ride through a wormhole, constructed a towering and armed GateKey fortress, fabricated a floating nature park for an alien world and built a sinister temple peopled by gigantic, Egyptian-like statuary. "Rendering was a challenge because it was produced entirely in HD and we pushed the details to the maximum," explains Powell. "The fans of the show have high expectations and we wanted to exceed them in the production value we delivered."
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