Special Effects
Concept Development
and Design

 

Special Effects -
For that sudden shock of excitement or terror
For setting the scene or creating a mood
For dramatic situations or subtle ones
For solving design problems
For getting the point across or teaching the lesson

 

Effective story telling!
Some of the many uses of special effects techniques
are illustrated in the following examples of
effects done by Rick Hardenbrook -

Fanged Princess 
Botanicus 
E.T. Fiber Optic 
Windblown Wizard 
Real Fire 
Dr. Jeekahn 
Erupting Volcano 
Riders on the Moon 
Oman History 

 

Effects to surprise and amaze

The Princess is an example of various "Floating Apparition" techniques available from RLH Enterprises. Free-standing or free-floating images can be made opaque or, better yet, they can appear transparent.

The scene behind the apparition can then be seen right through it, accentuating the free-standing nature of the ghost-like figure, making it all the more mysterious. These effects are often mistaken for holograms, which they almost never actually are.

 
Princess Sarpanaka, an animated free-floating transparent apparition, materializes directly in and above the ride path. She speaks, then magically disappears as the ride vehicle approaches.
(Ramashinta, a dark ride. Dunia Fantasia Theme Park in Jakarta, Indonesia)

Back to the top

 

Floating images magically appear to help tell the story

The transparent magic globe on Botanicus's staff has free-floating mysterious translucent images within that illustrate his message. Even when Botanicus moves about and swings his staff, the animated beings materialize inside the globe and help him tell his story.

 

Design and engineering for Art & Technology, Inc. for E.T.'s Adventure,
Universal Studios Tour, Hollywood and Florida.
(Botanicus Audioanimatronic figure by Creative Presentations)

Back to the top

 

Paths of brilliant points of light travel through air and land, illustrating the events of the scene
72 miles of fiber optic and numerous
illuminators in this "coherent" array 

 

Design and engineering for Art & Technology, Inc. for E.T.'s Adventure, Universal Studios Tour, Hollywood and Florida. 

 

 

Floating apparition effects add mystery and wonder

This free-floating windblown wizard demonstrates the effect for the client.

 

 

Universal Studios Tour, Wakayama, Japan

Back to the top

 

 

Effects enhance the exciting finale of a stage production

Real fire engineering and safety mock up.
The Ramayana - a stage production, Dunia Fantasi Theme Park in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Back to the top

 

Dramatic guest orientation and introduction to the adventure


Dr. Jeekahn, the scientist free-floating inside the capsule, tells the guests of the fabulous adventures that await them in this Tokyo night club.

Floating apparition engineered for Art & Technology, Inc., for Dyflex Creation, Inc. project located in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Back to the top

 

Effect augments a background scene
 
Distant volcano erupts at the horizon to help create an ominous scene.

Voyages of Cheng Ho for Ride & Show Engineering, Inc., Seoul, Korea.

Back to the top

 

Signature effect
Projection with riders sweeping across the moon against an 80 foot wide star field.

 

Design and engineering for Art & Technology, Inc. for E.T.'s Adventure, Universal Studios Tour, Hollywood and Florida.

Back to the top

 

 

Effects that help tell a nation's history
                 Daybreak
                                                Fort Jalali project, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Back to the top