_edited_.png){kind=logo}
Partners
PGAV
Zooceanarium
MediaMation
DesignShop
Smart Monkeys
Float4
Vision Forge
Groove Jones
Hangman Digital
Project Name
Client Name
Year Delivered
Creative Provided
St. Louis Aquarium
LHM
2019
Character Design
Modeling
Texture
VFX
Rigging
Animation
Brief
Inside the historic St. Louis Union Station you’ll find this one-of-a-kind aquarium, featuring several interactive exhibits and media attractions designed and handcrafted by the imaginative artists and technical magicians of Moondog Animation Studio
Related Projects
The Setting
St. Louis Union Station is a 125 year old train station that served as the key hub of transportation as early Americans ventured from the East to the booming West. This site and the surrounding city has a deep history in American society, culture, and transportation. Elements of this historical significance and train station themed elements can be found throughout the aquarium, including within Moondog’s digital exhibits
Project Overview
AQUARIUM MASCOTS
Creative Provided
Project Media
Character Design
Modeling
Texture
VFX
Rigging
Concept
We created a cast of Animal Ambassadors designed to educate and entertain guests at the St. Louis Aquarium.
OTTER TALK
Creative Provided
Character Design
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Asset Creation
Theming Design
Interactive Development
Content Creation
Concept
Have a chat with Tom the Otter in this live digital character show, learning about the North American River Otter and the surrounding environment.
Behind the scenes an actor uses a virtual puppeteering interface to bring life to the digital character and engage with guests of all ages.
The performer is located in a separate room, utilizing a custom designed performance capture and show control system which uses a combination of facial tracking, Valve Index VR hand controllers, and software purpose-built for the experience, allowing the performer to engage with audience members in a natural, intuitive way.
Project Media
FISH DRAW
Creative Provided
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design
Audiovisual Design
Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Theming Design
Interactive Development
Content Creation
Concept
The Fish Draw sponsored by Tetra is a popular destination for Aquarium guests both young and young-at-heart. Guest can add their flair to one of the fish coloring sheets, scan it in, and watch it swim in a virtual Mississippi River!
This interactive experience is located in the Conservation and Education Center of the St. Louis Aquarium which is comprised of interactive science-based exhibits on the topics of water conservation, our local waterways, and the effects of plastic on our rivers and oceans.
This exhibit has recently been featured on the front page of Reddit, has over 2 million views on TikTok, and over 6 million views on Facebook.
Project Media
AUGMENTED REALITY SANDBOX
Creative Provided
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design
Audiovisual Design
Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Theming Design
Interactive Development
Content Creation
Concept
Guests are invited to transform the terrain in this interactive sandbox.
The animated wall mural is updated in realtime, driven by changes in the surrounding sand.
Project Media
ANIMATED TICKET BOARD
Creative Provided
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design
Audiovisual Design
Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Interactive Development
Content Creation
Concept
In the style of a classic train station split-flap “clicky board”, this dynamic display provides guests with admissions information and experience showtimes.
Magical moments featuring animated aquatic life add an extra layer of life to this experience.
A custom backend interface provides operational control of information, data, and display of promotional graphic and video content.
Project Media
SPECIES ID KIOSKS
Creative Provided
Project Media
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design
Audiovisual Design, Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Interactive Development
Content Creation
UI/UX
Concept
Custom-designed steampunk-themed touchscreen kiosks where guests learn about species found in surrounding tank exhibits.
Nearly every species found in the aquarium was accurately created as a 3D model enabling guests to explore from any angle.
Guests can also access an aquarium map and search for fish throughout the aquarium.
INTERACTIVE SCAVENGER HUNT
Creative Provided
Project Media
Concept
Located throughout the aquarium, each of these ten interactive stations features games and trivia related to the various galleries, educating younger guests about local and global rivers, river otters, oceans, and deep sea creatures.
RFID cards assigned to one of three age groups create an age-appropriate experience.
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design
Audiovisual Design
Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Interactive Development
Content Creation
UI/UX
BIOLUMINESCENT HALLWAY
Creative Provided
Project Media
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design
Audiovisual Design
Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Interactive Development
Content Creation
Concept
Journey down this magical transition that bridges the main Ocean and Deep Sea galleries
VIRTUAL DEEP OCEAN TANK
Creative Provided
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Technology Design Engineering
Procurement
Installation
Interactive Development
Content Creation
Concept
Virtual tank featuring creatures of the deep sea that are unable to be exhibited in an aquarium setting.
This multi-dimensional video array is housed within a rock formation giving a realistic sense of depth and presents these animals at real-life scale, from the tiniest lanternfish to the enormous giant squid
Project Media
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Creative Provided
Project Media
Experience Design
Creative Direction
Concept Art
Character Design
Storyboard
Animation
Concept
The aquarium was such a large project that it would be hard to show you everything. Along with our partners, we had a lot of amazing ideas and content come out of this project. Take a peek below for just a glimpse at what else we can do.
