SpongeBob SubPants Adventure, 2016 TEA Thea Award Recipient

BURBANK, California USA, Nov 17, 2015 — “This year’s international slate of projects named for TEA Thea Awards reflects the delivery of story, media, content and experience with ever more sophisticated technology and tools,” said Steve Birket (Birket Engineering), president of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). “It’s a safari or parade of the exotic and the familiar – characters, creatures, cultures, themes – conveying the power of the moment, of story and of place. From Disney’s re-imagined Electric Light Parade (Paint the Night) to Wuyishan’s transformation of a natural water feature into a multimedia spectacle, to places where nature and environment are foremost such as the San Diego Zoo and Rory Meyers Children’s Garden… to placemaking that roots you in history such as One World Observatory and Les Amoureux de Verdun…

With the annual Thea Awards, TEA lauds the visionary project owner and the team that helped create something never done before. The Thea Awards are when we take a moment to review where the attractions industry has come in the past year or two, and to appreciate who and what got us there, including people such as Keith James (JRA) and John Robinett (AECOM), both honored this year, and the tech breakthroughs that enhance both the project process and the guest experience. We invite everyone to discover these great achievements and join us in Anaheim on April 2, 2015 for the formal presentation of the Thea Awards.”

Tickets/more information: Follow the official Thea Awards blog.

The prestigious TEA Thea Award is considered one of the attractions industry’s greatest honors. The 22nd Annual Thea Awards Gala presented by Chimelong Group and set for April 2, 2016, is a ticketed, black-tie dinner affair at the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim USA. Tickets go on sale in December 2015, and are available to the general public as well as to the industry. The 2016 Thea Awards Gala is produced by The Hettema Group (Producer). AECOM is the Theme Index Partner.

Prior to the Thea Awards Gala, full case studies of the Thea awardees will be presented by the award recipients at the TEA Summit, a 2-day conference. Summit dates are March 31-April 1, 2016.

The Thea Awards Nominating Committee recommended the current slate of Thea Award recipients, with final approval by the TEA International Board of Directors. For more information on the Thea Awards, including past awardees, click here.

The 2016 Thea Awards Gala

is presented by Chimelong Group

Hashtag: #TEAtheas

SpongeBob SubPants Adventure, Moody Gardens (Galveston, TX, USA) – AOA, Attraction — The SpongeBob SubPants Adventure at Moody Gardens combines 3D film, 4D effects, a live performer, and a real-time animated character who interacts with guests – all in an attraction which allows the audience to choose their destination on a delightful undersea journey.

Beginning with a preshow which features touch tanks and educational interactive exhibits, guests soon enter “Le Plunger,” the submarine (4D theater) to experience a simulated descent to Bikini Bottom, where an animated Patrick Starr from the SpongeBob Square Pants series helps them decide where they want to travel.

The different elements combine to evoke the world of SpongeBob Square Pants to quirky and comical effect, all in perfect sync with the characters and sensibility of the franchise. The attraction uses the new Geppetto Animation programming system to achieve the seamless integration of the real time animated character in the show