Category: Studios

The voice talent behind the lovable furry stars of Illumination’s global blockbuster hits The Secret Life of Pets and The Secret Life of Pets 2 unleash their animal instincts to reprise their roles in Universal Studios Hollywood’s lively new ride, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!,” opening in Spring 2020, which answer the question, “What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home?”

This marks the first time the ensemble cast perform the voices of their iconic characters for a theme park attraction. The film’s talent and their alter egos include Patton Oswalt as Max, Kevin Hart as Snowball, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, Jenny Slate as Gidget, Tiffany Haddish as Daisy, Lake Bell as Chloe, Dana Carvey as Pops, Steve Coogan as Ozone, Chris Renaud as Norman, Hannibal Buress as Buddy, Bobby Moynihan as Mel, Jessica DiCicco as Princess and Tara Strong as Pickles.

Illumination recently launched two original properties that captivated audiences worldwide: The Secret Life of Pets, which achieved the best opening for an original movie, animated or otherwise, in U.S. history, and the global smash, Sing. And in 2018, Illumination’s Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch had the biggest opening weekend of any Christmas-themed movie in history.

Illumination’s upcoming films include Minions: The Rise of Gru in July 2020 and Sing 2 in Summer 2021.

Adoption day is the ultimate rite of passage for every domesticated animal and the inspiration for this all-new immersive experience as guests assume the roles of stray puppies on the ultimate quest to find their forever homes.

The innovative ride will blend live, dimensional and animated characters with hyper-realistic media and projection mapping to fully immerse guests in a bustling New York City landscape.  Seated within ride vehicles that resemble cardboard boxes—reminiscent of where Katie first finds her beloved Max as a puppy—guests will travel along a track towards the Pet Adoption event and the ultimate happy ending: forever homes.

The state-of-the-art ride will employ a series of technological firsts that combine sophisticated facial recognition with enhanced gesture tracking, which helps to identify each guest as a unique stray puppy for the duration of the ride.  Every time guests experience “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” they will likely see themselves characterized as a different stray puppy, creating a uniquely new experience with each ride.

“The Secret Life of Pets:  Off the Leash!” will be located on Pets Place, previously referred to as Baker Street, and adjacent to the popular “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” attractions. With the installation of all-new store front facades, Pets Place will capture the charm of a busy NY street, including an iconic NYC subway station.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, an Annual Pass invites guests to experience the theme park’s thrill and adventure over and over again. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details and to save up to $60 on an Annual Pass when purchased online. Offer valid through March 2, 2020. Restrictions apply.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Universal Studios Hollywood is seeking energetic actors and puppeteers to impersonate the voice of Snowball. To learn more and book an audition by appointment only, please visit www.USHAuditions.com.

In August WAMG had the chance to visit Universal Studios Hollywood to check out the mega attraction “Jurassic World—The Ride” and things just got real!

Watch this behind-the-scenes of look at the ride to see what it takes to bring dinosaurs to life.

The update to the Jurassic World ride are on line, and things did indeed get real! From the moment that you get an eyeful of the enormous Mososaurus in its tank, gracefully swimming, despite it’s gigantic size, it is a sight to behold, and can be a bit frightening as it seems to notice you.

The rest of the ride is still fun, with raptors, dilophosaurs, and even the Tyrannosaurus and many others waiting for you as you twist and turn through the forest adventure. It doesn’t get much better, especially if you love dinosaurs!

The elaborately themed all-new “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies, engages with guests, including us, in daring face-to-face encounters, along with the addition of two new dinosaurs – a Baby Raptor with her Raptor Handler and a life-size Triceratops who greet guests outside the “Jurassic World—The Ride” entrance, further enhance the entire experience.

Brought to life by employing the exact computer-generated model and images used to create her for the big screen, Blue tips the scales at a hefty 750 pounds, towering 15 feet in height and 13 feet from tail to snout, and succumbs to highly skilled handlers who adeptly guide her to within feet of guests.

Plus, a new interactive “Dino Play” area is designed to inspire children of all ages to explore and excavate giant dinosaur fossils.

If you can’t make it out to Hollywood, Universal has a great alternative.

See Jurassic World dinosaurs come to life and experience the thrill and adventure of Jurassic World Live Tour in a city near you.

Learn More and Get Tickets: https://feld.ly/livetour

Your trip to Isla Nublar takes a terrifying turn after the Indominus rex escapes and causes chaos in the park! The adventure continues as you join forces with a team of scientists to unravel a corrupt plan and save Jeanie, an all-new dinosaur, from a terrible fate. Along the way, experience some of Jurassic World’s most iconic dinosaurs including Blue the Raptor, Triceratops, Pteranodons and the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex!

Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience while an array of souvenir collectible, limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures from the Jurassic Outfitters store invite guests to savor a piece of this exciting thrill ride even after they have gone home.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is a site to behold. From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they read about in the stories or watched on the silver screen.

Upon entering the land through the archway, Hogsmeade bustles to life with the same vitality of a quaint local village: merchants hard at work, a train conductor welcoming new arrivals and a pub packed to the gills with hungry patrons, but with the added element of enthusiastic guests intent on experiencing them all, including the land’s signature ride, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.”

From the moment that you have to leap aboard, buckle in, and get ready for a ride like you’ve never experienced before.

You are taken in to the magical world, completely immersed in a Wizarding World adventure, racing along with Harry and Ron, trying to escape a dragon, dodging dementors, spiders, and obstacles. It is dizzying at times, but thrilling at the entire time, and we found ourselves laughing, gasping, and amazed from the moment it started until the moment it ended. This entire section of the park is in character, right down to the sounds and design of the public restrooms, with Moaning Myrtle reminding you that she’s nearby at all times.

And then there’s the classic revenge of the Mummy ride, a high speed indoor rollercoaster that gives you the sights and sounds of The Mummy, and man is it fast (and quite fun). This one isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s worth riding a few times, and your adrenaline will never be the same.

For those that love giant robots (and who doesn’t) we got to ride the Transformers: The Ride 3D and it WILL be your cup of tea (or oil). Based on the iconic brand from Hasbro and the electrifying film franchise, directed by Michael Bay, the film has been celebrated for its multi-generational appeal, inventive storyline, spectacular action sequences and amazing special effects. This fun ride revolutionizes theme park ride perceptions as a cutting-edge mega- attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The dynamic, motion-based thrill ride tells an original “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.

It’s a 3D ride, meaning that you DO have to wear the 3D glasses, but you won’t mind doing it at all. Optimus Prime and his heroic cohort of Autobot soldiers fight Megatron  while you are whisked and swirled and buffeted from all angles. 

Altogether, these rides are awesome for kids of all ages, and give you entertainment that you just can’t get anywhere else, PERIOD.  

For those who like their rides on the scary side, Halloween Horror Nights begins this month and runs select nights September 13 through November 3.

Check it out here: https://hollywood.halloweenhorrornights.com/

Contributed by Michelle Hannett and Marc Butterfield

 It’s official:  Universal Studios Hollywood’s mega attraction “Jurassic World—The Ride” has opened.

Inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s JURASSIC WORLD blockbuster films, this spectacular new thrill ride features the film’s stars, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong, who reprise their roles as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu, and soars to new heights with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus.

Here’s our look at the 25th anniversary celebrated last summer:
https://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2018/05/dinos-still-rule-universal-studios-hollywoods-celebration-25th-anniversary-jurassic-park/

“Jurassic World—The Ride” captures the essence of the blockbuster movies and comes to life in collaboration with the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award^®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

The elaborately themed all-new “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies, engages with guests in daring face-to-face encounters, along with the addition of two new dinosaurs – a Baby Raptor with her Raptor Handler and a life-size Triceratops who greet guests outside the “Jurassic World—The Ride” entrance, further enhance the entire experience. Plus, a new interactive “Dino Play” area is designed to inspire children of all ages to explore and excavate giant dinosaur fossils.

Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience while an array of souvenir collectible, limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures from the Jurassic Outfitters store invite guests to savor a piece of this exciting thrill ride even after they have gone home.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the California Neighbor Pass invites guests to experience 175 days of fun for $149 when purchased online. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Universal Studios Hollywood is very welcoming to people with disabilities. Check out this Guide for Rider Safety and for Guests with Disabilities

Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to experience an exciting new dimension of sorcery at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” with the introduction of the “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle,” a powerful, original and breathtaking projection experience.

Guests will be asked to summon their inner strength and bravery in the face of the all-consuming Dark Arts as some of the awe-inspiring moments and creatures inspired by the films come to life within the majestic light display. The “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” will illuminate Hogwarts castle and “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood from May 25 – 27.

As darkness falls at Hogwarts™ castle, Dementors™, Death Eaters™ and other unspeakable creatures rise to cloak the stone walls in sinister images and fiendish magic. Chaos erupts as the image of Lord Voldemort™ joins the fray, summoning his cruel legions to swarm the castle. Experience the fire-engulfed army of Inferi and the soul-draining breath of Dementors™ as you stare in awe at the castle’s takeover. Accompanied by an atmospheric music score created by John Williams, this powerful spectacle is an unforgettable end to your day.

More than two decades ago, a young Harry Potter was whisked onto Platform 93⁄4 at King’s Cross Station, and readers everywhere were swept along with him into a magical universe, created by J.K. Rowling. In the years since, the seven Harry Potter bestsellers have inspired eight blockbuster movies, an award-winning stage play, and, more recently, the start of the Fantastic Beasts five-film series. People of all ages have been enthralled by these extraordinary adventures, set within an expanding universe, inspired by the vision of J.K. Rowling.

For today’s growing worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, the Wizarding World welcomes everyone to explore more of this magical universe — past, present and future. The Wizarding World also provides fans with an instant, trusted kite-mark of quality and authenticity.