DreamWorks Animation Brings On-Screen Magic, Colourful Characters to Canadian Museum of History

December 7, 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, December 7, 2017 — The Canadian Museum of History is deep in dragons, teeming with trolls and packed with penguins as DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition – Journey From Sketch to Screen celebrates 20 years of movie magic. These and many other colourful characters are in the spotlight as visitors discover the secrets of digital animation from the makers of How To Train Your Dragon, TrollsMadagascar and other modern classics.

“Animated features today are much more than children’s entertainment; they are masterpieces of art, technology and storytelling, appealing to fans of all ages,” said Jean-Marc Blais, Director General of the Canadian Museum of History. “DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition engages visitors in a collections-based exploration of cultural history and expression, telling the contemporary history of animation.”

With over 400 objects, including a model of Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon, this is one of the largest and most diverse exhibitions showcasing the art of animation ever created. The exhibition highlights rare and never-before displayed models, photographs, posters, props, concept drawings, storyboards and original artwork from the DreamWorks archive, as well as interviews and behind-the-scenes footage that shed light on the complex and creative animation process, from sketch to screen.

From the insects’ perspective of Antz (1998) and the claymation techniques of Chicken Run (2000) to the hyper-realistic world of Academy Award®-winning Shrek (2001) — and from the musical and colourful world of Trolls (2016), with its Grammy-winning feature song, to the riveting martial-arts scenes in Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) — DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition draws on some of the best known releases from the world’s largest animation studio to illustrate unique animation techniques.

The films may be visually distinct from each other, but all follow DreamWorks’ three-part approach: developing iconic characters, building an original story and creating the magical landscapes where everything comes together. Through interactive digital experiences, visitors can immerse themselves in these worlds, experiment with beloved characters’ facial expressions, experience cutting-edge visual, sound and lighting effects, and even create their own 2D animation.

DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition, developed by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in collaboration with Universal Brand Development, on behalf of DreamWorks, opens at the Museum on December 8 and will be presented until April 8, 2018. The Museum will offer a variety of activities in conjunction with the exhibition, and CINÉ+ will present a selection of DreamWorks films during the exhibition’s run.


About the Canadian Museum of History
Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Canadian Museum of History welcomes over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum’s principal role is to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the events, experiences, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history and identity, as well as to enhance Canadians’ awareness of world history and culture. Work of the Canadian Museum of History is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

About the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)
ACMI is Australia’s national museum of film, video games, digital culture and art — situated at the very heart of Melbourne, in Federation Square. The world’s most visited moving image or film museum, ACMI exists to celebrate, support and explore the past, present and future of the moving image through a vibrant calendar of exhibitions, screenings, installations and commissions, festivals, workshops, as well as public and education programs, in Australia and beyond. More at acmi.net.au.

About Universal Brand Development
Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development’s core businesses include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Live Entertainment based on the company’s extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks, and NBCUniversal cable and television. Universal Brand Development is a business segment of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. For more information visit: universalbranddevelopment.com

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Media contacts:

Stéphanie Verner
Media Relations Officer
Telephone: 819-776-7169
stephanie.verner@historymuseum.ca