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Houba City: The IP and storytelling behind BoldMove Nation’s new
Urban Experience Centre In the first of this three-part series, we examined the differences between BoldMove Nation’s Urban Experience Centre (UEC) and a family entertainment centre (FEC). Let’s now look at the intellectual property (IP) that will be at the heart of Houba City. Meet the Marsupilamis!
B
y partnering with Mediatoon Licensing, BoldMove Nation activates in attraction form what founder Benoit Cornet
describes as, “One of the last great unexploited IP gems in Europe.”
Created by Andre Franquin and first seen in the Spirou comic books almost 70 years ago, the Marsupilamis have taken on a life of their own. The likeable leopard-like creatures live in the Palombian (South American) Rainforest, therefore lending a lush-themed backdrop to Houba City. The central Marsupilami character, who may look like a yellow monkey to some, is notable for his extremely long tail. This he uses to help him jump, fight and catch fish, even deadly piranhas! ‘Houba’, in case you wondered, is his catchphrase.
“Marsupilami is loyal to his friends,” says Mediatoon Licensing CEO, Jerome Leclercq. “As a superhero of the rainforest, he can get angry when he feels in danger or when a threat
34 This collection of
‘micro stories’, more than just a backstory, are a way of creating lasting audience engagement.
authentic and encourage visitors to embrace him on their mutual journey through the jungle and discovery of the city.”
Lasting audience engagement The Marsupilamis are already featured at Parc Spirou in Provence, South of France, owned by Mediatoon Licensing. But BoldMove’s Houba
hangs over his family or natural environment. A spontaneous creature, he’s also funny, friendly and very, very cute. These traits make him more
City UEC and Houba World FEC, will be the first place where they get a whole indoor environment to themselves.
“Growing up in Denmark, the Marsupilamis were very familiar to us as kids,” says Klaus Sommer Paulsen of AdventureLAB. The concept designer, who has just published a book on Integrated Storytelling, supports BoldMove weave the Marsupilami stories deep into the UEC experience. The IP offers, he adds, “an extremely rich storyverse. There are a lot of little things that we can expand on. That means you might pick up different elements as a visitor to Houba City each time you visit. This collection of these ‘micro stories’, more than just a backstory, is a way of creating lasting audience engagement.”
IP and experience for our time Their cuteness may draw kids into the Houba universe, but parents will take heart from the
SUMMER PART 4 2021
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