Into the fray I say, what me controversial, never after all would I bite the hand that feeds me, You betchum Red Rider, and the one that feeds you too. This animation thing has gotten way out of hand. The sad thing is that everyone thinks their so cool, they suck. I saw two good animation's at the show. A talking shrouded skeleton at the Universal Studios booth and another talking seated skeleton at Boneyard Productions booth. Note I said good, I have actually seen better at Chuckie Cheese or Show biz Pizza.
OK, now to seriously back peddle a bit. Animation's are cool, and they do have a place, but the cost AHHH. Now I do not count pop ups as animation's (and are they ever overpriced) I use several pop ups or pop downs or pop outs, you get the idea, a thing that goes pop and its there. That is not animation, that replaces an actor doing the same thing over and over to the point where they begin to do it wrong. A pop up does it the same way every time (unless it poops). The animation's (and I use this word in protest) I saw were more for large area entertainment. You have a waiting area for "x" number of people, this group of people changes every half hour, you entertain them with a show featuring an animation or surround your waiting guests with simple animation's like the mummies (actually pop outs) at the Halloween Productions booth. KISS Keep It Simple Stupid I say this often. I have not said it near enough, loud enough or LOUD ENOUGH. I am a distant voice blowing hot air in the distance, enough to launch a fleet of balloons. Yet, the industry has decided that what we need is another expensive, poorly done (my opinion) animation (more like one cell animation). As for simple pop ups no one should ever have to purchase one of these from a vendor. And yes their were some very cool pop ups. The Morris Evil Jack in the Box was one awesome looking prop, er, but did you notice the price. Lets see, one big box, painted, with hinged lid, mask and air cylinder, POP he's up and then he slowly goes away. No, not for that kinda money, nope, no frickin' way. Of course then you have the elaborate pop up 55 gallon drum, LOL. So you say, but what if I need these. Then do it yourself. Once you have made your first pop up you will know exactly how overpriced they are. So you say, I do not know how. Then I say WAKE UP. Search the web, everything you could possible want to know is on the net, computer illiterate? I'll bet you have a friend who is literate on the net. Animation's are cool and fun, they offer production value for your customers. They are not the answer to making a haunt a success. Purchasing an animation is only the beginning, the scene it is in must be of a quality equal to or greater than the animation itself. With this in mind how is your budget going?JB Corn
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