Behind the scenes magic of DreamWorks Animation to shine at Te Papa this summer

14 August 2015

Te Papa is proud to announce that it will be the exclusive New Zealand home to its blockbuster summer show, DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition, showcasing over 20 years of travelling zoo animals, green ogres and flying dragons.

The creative contribution of DreamWorks Animation to the field of animation is explored in magnificent detail in the first ever large-scale, behind-the-scenes exhibition that celebrates the studio’s much loved feature films, and the talented artists who created them.

With over 400 items on display, the exhibition traces DreamWorks Animation’s creative legacy from Antz to their most recent hit film Home, and draws on the studio’s incredible archive, featuring never-before-seen original artworks and models, behind-the-scenes interviews and spectacular interactive experiences. Visitors of all ages will go beyond the screen and into the creative journey of a DreamWorks Animation film.

“This exhibition is a perfect fit for a city that is known as a creative hub of New Zealand,” says Te Papa’s Chief Executive Rick Ellis.

“We’re excited to showcase such an engaging and interactive exhibition from the world’s largest animation studio. Complemented by a full public programme with local animation talent, we want DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition, Journey From Sketch to Screen to inspire the country’s budding creative minds.”

Charting the creative journey from a rough early sketch, through to the final completed project, the exhibition includes everything from storyboards, to interactive animation software, and creative reconstructions of DreamWorks’ real-life workspaces.

The entire back catalogue of 31 DreamWorks films is explored in the exhibition, including the four beloved major film series: Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda.

Curated by The Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI) in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, the exhibition will open at Te Papa on December 12, following its successful 2014 world premiere at ACMI in Melbourne, and current touring season at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum.

Media contact

Rebecca Edwards
029 601 0010