Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” heralded as the iconic theme park’s most ambitious ride ever, was honored for “Outstanding Achievement” in the “Attraction” category by the industry’s highly regarded Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) during the recent 19th Annual Thea Awards. The Thea Award follows the ride’s recognition for “Distinguished Achievement” from the International 3D Society as “Best Themed Attraction” earlier this year – the second consecutive year the honor was bestowed upon Universal Studios Hollywood and the first-ever multi-year win for a theme park.
The prestigious Thea Award ceremony recognizes “breakthrough innovations” among theme parks worldwide. Respectively, the International 3D Society’s awards span the entertainment industry, including feature films. Universal Studios Hollywood’s previous International 3D Society win was for “King Kong 360 3-D,” a signature attraction on the world famous Studio Tour created by Oscar®-winning director Peter Jackson and featuring imagery re-imagined from the film in breathtaking 3D technology.
Proclaimed by critics as a “state of the art marvel” and among the “best rides in the world,” “Transformers: The Ride-3D” has been met with rave reviews since opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in May 2012.
“’Transformers: The Ride-3D’ has not only won over experts in the theme park industry, but has amazed our guests from around the world and is now our most popular attraction,” said Larry Kurzweil, President, Universal Studios Hollywood. “Bringing movies to life in the form of rides, shows and attractions is what we do best, so each time we’re recognized for delivering outstanding next-generation entertainment experiences, it’s a testament to our best-in-class creative team and to all of the talented people at Universal Studios Hollywood.”
“Transformers: The Ride-3D,” celebrated for its multi-generational appeal, inventive storyline, spectacular action sequences and amazing special effects, is based on the iconic brand from Hasbro and globally electrifying film franchise, directed by Michael Bay, who served as Creative Consultant for the immersive themed attraction.
The award-winning thrill ride tells a new “TRANSFORMERS” story using original, photo-realistic 3D-HD media, sophisticated special effects masterminded by Industrial Light & Magic, and one of the most elaborate roaming flight simulator ride systems ever created. Fusing high-tech elements with an epic new “TRANSFORMERS” tale, “Transformers: The Ride-3D” set a new standard in the world of theme park attractions, stretching the medium’s potential as an immersive and powerful storytelling vehicle.
The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) is an international nonprofit alliance founded in 1991 and based in Burbank, Calif. TEA represents some 7,000 creative specialists, from architects to designers, technical specialists to master planners, scenic fabricators to artists, and builders to feasibility analysts working in more than 680 firms in 39 different countries. TEA presents the annual Thea Awards and the TEA Summit and hosts the annual SATE conferences (Story, Architecture, Technology, Experience). TEA also produces a variety of print and electronic publications, including the TEA/AECOM Theme Index, TEA Project Development Guidelines, and TEA Annual & Directory.
The International 3D Society is an organization of professionals devoted to the innovation of art and technologies of stereoscopic 3-D content. The Society provides individuals with opportunities for artistic display, acknowledging accomplishment and encouraging creative development in the art of 3-D.
Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena. World-class rides and attractions include the critically-acclaimed and award-winning mega-attraction, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” the intense, award-winning ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “The Simpsons RideTM,” “Revenge of the MummySM —The Ride” indoor roller coaster and “Jurassic Park® —The Ride.”