4-D film
Encyclopedia
4-D film is a marketing term that describes an entertainment presentation system combining a 3-D film
with physical effects
in the theatre, which occur in synchronization with the film
(note that 4-D films are not actually, geometrically, 4-dimensional). Because physical effects can be expensive to install, 4-D films are usually presented only at special venues, such as theme parks and amusement park
s. However, in Mexico, Hong Kong, Nepal, South Korea, and India, some movie theatres also have the ability to present a 4-D film, and the film Avatar was one of 10 films that have received the treatment, starting with Journey to the Center of the Earth
.
Some of the effects simulated in 4-D films include rain, wind, strobe lights, and vibration. The use of water sprays and air jets is also common. A 4-D film is not shown in a motion simulator
, although some seats in 4-D venues vibrate or may move a few inches during the presentation.
Due to the fast growth of movies, video, and the entertainment industry, 3-D Theatres have been enhanced by the addition of special simulations. The combination of 3-D movies with chair movement (vibration, sway, tilt, drop, wave motion, or movement in any direction) and other chair effects, such as wind blowing, water spraying, leg and back ticklers, is usually considered a 4-D experience. Using additional hall effects, such as smoke, rain, lightning, air bubbles, and special smells (for example, fireworks smells at the London Eye's Experience and gassy smells, when the stinkbug sprays it in It's Tough to be a Bug) is often regarded by many as 5-D. However, since there is no standard for using these terms, each company uses its own terminology and it is often confusing. It is important to disregard the marketing slogans (4-5-6-7D) used by different companies and to check what is exactly offered for both the visual and sensory experience.
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
with physical effects
Physical effects
Physical effects is a sub-category of special effects in which mechanical or physical effects are recorded. Physical effects are usually planned in preproduction and created in production.Physical effects may be divided into at least four categories:...
in the theatre, which occur in synchronization with the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
(note that 4-D films are not actually, geometrically, 4-dimensional). Because physical effects can be expensive to install, 4-D films are usually presented only at special venues, such as theme parks and amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
s. However, in Mexico, Hong Kong, Nepal, South Korea, and India, some movie theatres also have the ability to present a 4-D film, and the film Avatar was one of 10 films that have received the treatment, starting with Journey to the Center of the Earth
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008 film)
Journey to the Center of the Earth is an American 2008 3D adventure film starring Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, and Anita Briem...
.
Some of the effects simulated in 4-D films include rain, wind, strobe lights, and vibration. The use of water sprays and air jets is also common. A 4-D film is not shown in a motion simulator
Motion simulator
A motion simulator or motion platform is a mechanism that encapsulates occupants and creates the effect/feelings of being in a moving vehicle...
, although some seats in 4-D venues vibrate or may move a few inches during the presentation.
Due to the fast growth of movies, video, and the entertainment industry, 3-D Theatres have been enhanced by the addition of special simulations. The combination of 3-D movies with chair movement (vibration, sway, tilt, drop, wave motion, or movement in any direction) and other chair effects, such as wind blowing, water spraying, leg and back ticklers, is usually considered a 4-D experience. Using additional hall effects, such as smoke, rain, lightning, air bubbles, and special smells (for example, fireworks smells at the London Eye's Experience and gassy smells, when the stinkbug sprays it in It's Tough to be a Bug) is often regarded by many as 5-D. However, since there is no standard for using these terms, each company uses its own terminology and it is often confusing. It is important to disregard the marketing slogans (4-5-6-7D) used by different companies and to check what is exactly offered for both the visual and sensory experience.
Selected filmography
- The Sensorium (1984), at Six Flags Power Plant, Baltimore, MD (the first 4-D film)
- Captain EOCaptain EOCaptain EO is a 3-D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through the 1990s...
(1986), at EpcotEpcotEpcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneylandTokyo Disneylandis a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983... - Muppet*Vision 3D (1991), at Disney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
and Disney California Adventure - Honey, I Shrunk the AudienceHoney, I Shrunk the AudienceHoney, I Shrunk The Audience! was a 3-D film spin off of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids film series that was shown at several Disney theme parks.-Synopsis:...
(1994), at EpcotEpcotEpcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Warner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie World is a popular movie related theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia. It is owned and operated by Village Roadshow since the take over from Time Warner and is the only movie related park in Australia...
and Tokyo DisneylandTokyo Disneylandis a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983...
, where it is known as MicroAdventure - Terminator 2 3D: Battle Across TimeT2 3-D: Battle Across TimeT2 3-D: Battle Across Time is an attraction at various Universal Studios parks around the world including those at Florida, Hollywood and Japan...
(1996), at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan - It's Tough To Be A Bug (1998), at Disney's Animal KingdomDisney's Animal KingdomDisney's Animal Kingdom is an animal theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort. The fourth park built at the resort, it opened on April 22, 1998, and it is the largest single Disney theme park in the world, covering more than . It is also the first Disney theme park to be themed entirely...
and Disney's California AdventureDisney's California AdventureDisney California Adventure, or simply California Adventure, is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park. The park is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and... - ITIT-Organizations:* Institutes of Technology in Ireland* Intelligent Transit, a public transportation service in West Virginia* Intercity Transit, a public transportation service in the state of Washington-Media:* The Irish Times...
(2001) - PandaDroomPandaVisionPandaVision is a 4-D film show in themepark Efteling based on the interests of the World Wide Fund for Nature . It was inaugurated on June 19, 2002 by Prince Bernhard.-Main show:...
(2002), at the EftelingEftelingEfteling is the largest theme park in the Netherlands, and as it opened in 1952, it is one of the oldest theme parks in the world. Efteling is located in the town of Kaatsheuvel, in the municipality of Loon op Zand, and has received over 100 million visitors....
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... - Mickey's PhilharMagicMickey's PhilharMagicMickey's PhilharMagic is a 4-D film attraction found at the Magic Kingdom theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and at Tokyo Disneyland. The film was directed by George Scribner, who is best known for directing Disney's 1988 animated film, Oliver and Company...
(2003), at Magic KingdomMagic KingdomMagic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
and Hong Kong DisneylandHong Kong DisneylandHong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005...
and Tokyo DisneylandTokyo Disneylandis a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983... - Pirates 4DPirates 4DPirates 4-D is a 3-D short film produced exclusively for theme park usage. The "attraction" is located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, the Luxor casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Phantasialand in Brühl, Germany, SeaWorld San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas and formerly, Busch Gardens Europe...
(1999), at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, SeaWorld San AntonioSeaWorld San AntonioSeaWorld San Antonio is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, located in the Westover Hills area of San Antonio, Texas. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group, and the world's...
, Noah's Ark Waterpark, Thorpe ParkThorpe ParkThorpe Park is a theme park located in Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK. It was built in 1979 on the site of a gravel pit which was partially flooded, the intention of creating a water based theme for the park. The park's first large roller coaster, Colossus, was added in 2002...
in the UK, Enchanted KingdomEnchanted KingdomEnchanted Kingdom is a theme park in the Philippines. It is located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, about from Manila. It has a land area of 17 hectares...
in the Philippines, SentosaSentosaSentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay , is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year...
Singapore and PhantasialandPhantasialandPhantasialand is an amusement park in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany that attracts approximately 2 million visitors annually. The park was opened in 1967 by Gottlieb Löffelhardt and Richard Schmidt. Although starting as a family-oriented park, Phantasialand has also added thrill rides,... - Haunted LighthouseHaunted LighthouseR.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse is a short 4-D film. It debuted in several United States theme parks, including SeaWorld San Diego & SeaWorld San Antonio, in 2003, and stars Sara Paxton, Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Matt Weinberg, and Bobby Edner. "Weird Al" Yankovic has a bit...
(2003), (aka R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4-D) at Flamingo Land Theme Park and ZooFlamingo Land Theme Park and ZooFlamingo Land is a theme park and resort located in North Yorkshire, England. It attracts about 1.8 million visitors per year. Flamingo Land is also the 12th most visited theme park in Europe.Some of the major attractions at Flamingo Land include:... - Shrek 4-DShrek 4-DShrek 4-D is a 4-D film at various theme parks around the world. Universal Parks & Resorts owns the main rights to the film which is currently shown at their parks in Hollywood, Florida, Japan and Singapore...
(2003), at Universal Studios FloridaUniversal Studios FloridaUniversal Studios Florida is an American theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and...
, Warner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie World is a popular movie related theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia. It is owned and operated by Village Roadshow since the take over from Time Warner and is the only movie related park in Australia...
, Universal Studios HollywoodUniversal Studios HollywoodUniversal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
, Universal Studios JapanUniversal Studios Japan, located in Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. . The park is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, since it contains many of the same rides. Most visitors are Japanese tourists or tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong,...
, and Universal Studios SingaporeUniversal Studios SingaporeUniversal Studios Singapore is a theme park located within Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island, Singapore. It was a key component of Genting's bid for the right to build Singapore's second integrated resort. On 8 December 2006, the Singapore government announced that the consortium had won the...
mnjnjn/nmkmnaknsjba/.dbj* SpongeBob SquarePants 4-DSpongeBob SquarePants 4-DSpongeBob SquarePants 4-D is an 4-D film based upon the popular television series SpongeBob SquarePants. It can be found at many aquariums and theme parks across the world. The ride consists of a pre-show which then leads into a stadium seated auditorium...
(2002, 2006), at Six Flags over TexasSix Flags Over TexasSix Flags Over Texas is a major amusement park located in Arlington, Texas , east of Fort Worth and about west of Dallas. It is the oldest park of the Six Flags chain. The park opened on August 5, 1961 following just a year of construction and an initial investment of US$10 million by real estate...
, Moody GardensMoody GardensMoody Gardens is a tourist complex in Galveston, Texas. It is owned, through a complex agreement, by the City of Galveston but funded, operated, and supported by the multi-billion dollar Moody Foundation....
, Shedd AquariumShedd AquariumThe John G. Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains over 25,000 fish, and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with of water. The Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with...
, Adventure Dome, Six Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
, Movie Park GermanyMovie Park Germanythumb|Movie Park Germanythumb|[[Bermuda Triangle]] - Alien Encounterthumb|The Old Westthumb|[[Hollywood]] FilmmuseumThe Movie Park Germany is a theme park with real movie studios in Bottrop-Kirchhellen. It consists of 6 areas based on the topic "fascination film".The park was opened in June 1996 as...
, Adventure AquariumAdventure AquariumThe Adventure Aquarium, formerly the New Jersey State Aquarium, is a for-profit educational entertainment attraction operated in Camden, New Jersey on the Delaware River waterfront by the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation...
, Kings Dominion, (formerly at Paramount ParksParamount ParksParamount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
), Pier 39Pier 39Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California. At Pier 39, there are shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, an interpretive center for the Marine Mammal Center, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides, and views of...
, Indianapolis ZooIndianapolis ZooThe Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, first opened to the public in 1964. Its current home in White River State Park was opened in 1988 with a size of . The zoo hosts more than a million visitors each year and plays a role in worldwide conservation and research, including...
, Carowinds, Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando, Florida, and other locations. - Fly Me to the MoonFly Me to the Moon (film)Fly Me to the Moon is a Belgian CGI animated 3-D feature film. It was released in digital 3D in Belgium on 30 January 2008 and in the USA and Canada on 15 August 2008. The film was also released in IMAX 3D in the USA and Canada starting 8 August 2008...
(2008), at Six Flags over TexasSix Flags Over TexasSix Flags Over Texas is a major amusement park located in Arlington, Texas , east of Fort Worth and about west of Dallas. It is the oldest park of the Six Flags chain. The park opened on August 5, 1961 following just a year of construction and an initial investment of US$10 million by real estate... - Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D AdventureJourney to the Center of the Earth 4-D AdventureJourney to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure is a 4-D film currently showing at various amusement parks and entertainment attractions across the world including Dollywood, Enchanted Kingdom, The Great 4-D Movie Ride, Stone Mountain and Warner Bros. Movie World. The film is a montage of clips...
(2008), at Stone Mountain Park, DollywoodDollywoodDollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community....
, Warner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie World is a popular movie related theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia. It is owned and operated by Village Roadshow since the take over from Time Warner and is the only movie related park in Australia... - Pokemon 4-D: Pikachu's Ocean Adventure (2008) at Comcast IMAX 3D Theater in Avon, Massachusetts, as well as in Japan.
- Avatar in 4-D (2009), in South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... - London Eye 4D Experience (2009), at London Eye
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a 2010 3D fantasy-adventure film based on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third novel in C. S. Lewis's epic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia . It is the third installment in The Chronicles of Narnia film series from Walden Media...
(2010), in South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger TidesPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger TidesPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series...
(2011) CinépolisCinépolisCinépolis is a Mexican chain of movie theaters. Its name means City of Cinéma and its slogan is La Capital del Cine .Cinépolis is the biggest cineplex chain in Mexico with 205 theaters in 65 cities,...
4DX Theater, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey - Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) CinépolisCinépolisCinépolis is a Mexican chain of movie theaters. Its name means City of Cinéma and its slogan is La Capital del Cine .Cinépolis is the biggest cineplex chain in Mexico with 205 theaters in 65 cities,...
4DX Theater, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... - Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) CinépolisCinépolisCinépolis is a Mexican chain of movie theaters. Its name means City of Cinéma and its slogan is La Capital del Cine .Cinépolis is the biggest cineplex chain in Mexico with 205 theaters in 65 cities,...
4DX Theater, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... - Star Tours II (2011) at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
- Shalem, a 3000-year-old guide to Jerusalem's history at the Jerusalem Time Elevator, Jerusalem
- Cars 2Cars 2Cars 2 is a 2011 American computer-animated action film produced by Pixar, and it is the sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. In the film, race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater head to Japan and Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix, but Mater becomes sidetracked with international espionage...
(2011), in Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... - Final Destination 5Final Destination 5Final Destination 5 is a 2011 supernatural horror film written by Eric Heisserer and directed by Steven Quale. It is the fifth installment in the Final Destination film franchise and stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, and Tony Todd .The motion...
(2011), in Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... - Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)
External links
- Modern 5D - a 5D theater manufacturer in India
- MCL 4D Extreme Screen - a 4D screen in Hong Kong