Mosslingen

Developed for TerraTopia as part of NextGen Showcase

About NextGen Showcase

Nextgen Showcase is an educational program that aims to accelerate the careers of aspiring themed entertainment professionals. It runs for 10 months and simulates a creative studio environment, whereby participants work in teams to create a themed attraction in response to a client brief.

The Task

The participants were grouped into 7 international teams and tasked to create a themed area for TerraTopia, a fictional zoo park. TerraTopia is aiming to attract new guests with a unique new area that teaches a message of conservation.

My team and I developed 'Mosslingen' as our proposal for the expansion of TerraTopia.
I was involved in the concept development and acted as a co-writer and my team's media director, which included developing a sound design strategy for our main attraction, an indoor dark ride called 'M.U.U.S.H.'. This strategy covered not only the actual sound content (soundscapes, sound effects, dialogue design), but also designing the systematic placement of speakers on schematic floorplans. Additionally, as media director I produced our team's presentation media and videos.

Mosslingen Bird’s Eye View

Mosslingen is a quirky-but-quaint village in the woods that is the centre of our expansion to Terratopia. To find it, curious explorers will have to follow forgotten paths into the lush green of a dense forest. Once they stumble upon Mosslingen, they are introduced to its inhabitants: the Mosslings.

Mosslings are never-before-seen creatures born from the earth. They are cute, curious, clumsy, creative and friendly. The Mosslings have inhabited these lands for centuries, living their lives in synergy with their surroundings. As such, their knowledge in the ways of nature and amicable character are central tools to deliver Terratopia’s message of sustainability and provide a family friendly experience that everyone can enjoy.

Mosslingen is located between two existing lands of Terratopia, the Wetlands to the west - and the Mountains to the north. The expansion area covers a total surface of 14.500 square meters and provides Terratopia with an immersive themed experience that connects with the core message of the park. It features two food outlets (The Dining Dugout & The Shroom Stump Service), two retail locations (The Mosslingen Many Market & the Attraction Exit Retail), as well as a meet-and-greet spot.

Interactive Master Plan

Secluded from the town square lies an interactive forest, which provides guests with a low sensory environment to relax and learn about local ecosystems.
The main visual draw is a giant tree stump covered in mushrooms called the ‘Great Trunk’. An adventure trail takes guests up into the treetops and past the Great Trunk, giving them a view over the forest and the rest of Terratopia. Underneath, a path guides guests into the hollow interior of the tree stump, where they discover countless mushroom-threads leading to the Central Mycelium below. Here, guests can experience a bright and dazzling light show between decay and rebirth.

Inside the Great Trunk

Mosslingen’s main attraction is M.U.U.S.H.: Mosslingen Underground Understand and Search House. This indoor tracked darkride has a total size of 1.900 square metres - and provides Terratopia with an immersive themed experience. It expands on Mosslingen’s storyline and connects with the core message of the park.

It features 13 scenes with changing speeds through caverns and forests filled with hilarious moments and an underlying educational message.

Mosslingen’s design is quirky and playful, with luscious colours of vegetation contrasted by warm earth tones of ancient woods. The Mossling’s organic way of life is reflected throughout the village and in their culture. An expansive network of fine mushroom threads - referred to as mycelia - is ever-present across Mosslingen. It is not only an integral part of Mosslingen’s sustainability message, but also essential to the story of the e-ticket attraction. Low-light times and areas unveil flashes of electric light speeding through the network of mycelia that also interconnects with the mushrooms to create a warm and organic glow.