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Magic of DreamWorks Animation lands at Te Papa

9 December 2015

Visitors to Te Papa can lose themselves in the extraordinary worlds of Po the Panda, Shrek the Ogre and Alex the Lion, when DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition opens on Saturday.

Showcasing over twenty years of DreamWorks Animation, the exhibition explores the creative legacy of the studio and artists that brought to life animated classics like Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon.

“This exhibition really draws back the curtain on the artistry and creative process that goes into creating these films. Visitors can immerse themselves in a creative journey here in the creative capital,” says Te Papa Chief Executive Rick Ellis.

“Te Papa is a place that inspires creative thinking, and DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition is sure to do just that for visitors this summer.”

Charting the creative journey from a rough early sketch, through to the final completed project, the exhibition draws on the studio’s incredible archive, exploring the entire back catalogue of 31 DreamWorks animated films from Antz (1998) through to Home (2015).

"Te Papa is the ideal venue to host and celebrate the incredible artistry of DreamWorks Animation’s films and we are thrilled to be able to share the experience with our amazing fans in New Zealand," said DreamWorks Animation’s Co-Presidents of Feature Animation Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria in a joint statement.

"We are incredibly proud of this exhibition created in partnership with Australia’s ACMI and are excited for animation and art fans of all ages to go behind the scenes into this amazing collaborative process."

The exhibition features never-before-seen original artworks and models, behind-the-scenes interviews and spectacular interactive experiences, including one of the exhibition’s highlights Dragon Flight: a Dragon’s-Eye View of Berk. The spectacular, 180-degree environment takes visitors on an exhilarating panoramic dragon ride on the back of Toothless, unveiling never-before-seen vision of Berk, the Viking township from How to Train Your Dragon, and revealing the creative process that goes into building the world of a DreamWorks Animation film.

Curated by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, the exhibition opens to the public at Te Papa on Saturday December 12, following its successful 2014 world premiere at ACMI in Melbourne.

  • Adults: $15

  • Children 3 – 15 years: $6

  • Children under 3: free

  • Family, student and concession tickets also available

Notes to editors: Media preview opportunity

ACMI’s Head of Exhibitions & Collections Russell Briggs, will be available for interviews during a media preview of the exhibition on Friday December 11th at 10.00am.

Interested media need to register their attendance with Te Papa’s Communication team no later than Thursday.

Media contact

Rebecca Edwards
029 601 0010