Thidwick's Big-
Hearted Adventure
Thidwick's
Big-Hearted Adventure
A fun theme park ride inspired by Dr. Seuss that teaches audiences about the importance of balancing kindness with self-care and boundaries.
A fun theme park ride inspired by Dr. Seuss that teaches audiences about the importance of balancing kindness with self-care and boundaries.
Overview
Overview
TIMELINE
3 weeks
Nov - Dec 2024
TIMELINE
3 weeks
Nov - Dec 2024
DISCIPLINES
Entertainment Design
Themed Attraction Design
DISCIPLINES
Entertainment Design
Themed Attraction Design
ROLES
Roblox Prototype Lead
Ideation
ROLES
Roblox Prototype Lead
Ideation
TOOLS
Roblox Studio
Procreate
Suno AI
TOOLS
Roblox Studio
Procreate
Suno AI
ROLES
Roblox Prototype Lead
Ideation
TOOLS
Roblox Studio
Procreate
Suno AI
TIMELINE
3 weeks
Nov - Dec 2024
DISCIPLINES
Entertainment Design
Themed Attraction Design
The Challenge
The Challenge
Dr. Seuss has a special way of teaching life's big lessons through whimsical stories – something that's stuck with many audiences long after childhood. This insight inspired our creative project at the Iovine and Young Academy: designing an interactive and fun, yet educational play area for the new Dr. Seuss Playgrounds theme park. Working on a pitch for Meow Wolf artist Jesse Wilson, our team focused on bringing “Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose,” to life in a way that would let visitors not just play, but discover the heart of the story through experience. As we prepared to transform Dr. Seuss’ words into an adventure, we found ourselves asking:
Dr. Seuss has a special way of teaching life's big lessons through whimsical stories – something that's stuck with many audiences long after childhood. This insight inspired our creative project at the Iovine and Young Academy: designing an interactive and fun, yet educational play area for the new Dr. Seuss Playgrounds theme park. Working on a pitch for Meow Wolf artist Jesse Wilson, our team focused on bringing “Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose,” to life in a way that would let visitors not just play, but discover the heart of the story through experience. As we prepared to transform Dr. Seuss’ words into an adventure, we found ourselves asking:
How can we transform the theme of “Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose” into an unforgettable, hands-on experience?
How can we transform the theme of “Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose” into an unforgettable, hands-on experience?
The Process
The Process
Deciding on an Idea
Deciding on an Idea
“Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose” is a tale of a generous moose named Thidwick, who lets animals live on his antlers. As more creatures take advantage of his hospitality, his kindness becomes overwhelming. Our team discussed themes for the attraction to focus on and concluded that the main takeaway is that while kindness is important, it's essential to balance generosity with self-care – being kind without losing yourself in the process. As for the attraction itself, we considered multiple forms of immersive experiences, such as projection mapping and art installations. However, with this being a theme park, we agreed on creating a ride, drawing inspiration from Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World.”
“Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose” is a tale of a generous moose named Thidwick, who lets animals live on his antlers. As more creatures take advantage of his hospitality, his kindness becomes overwhelming. Our team discussed themes for the attraction to focus on and concluded that the main takeaway is that while kindness is important, it's essential to balance generosity with self-care – being kind without losing yourself in the process. As for the attraction itself, we considered multiple forms of immersive experiences, such as projection mapping and art installations. However, with this being a theme park, we agreed on creating a ride, drawing inspiration from Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World.”
Psychology Behind the Attraction
Psychology Behind the Attraction
We wanted to include music in our ride, complete with lyrics that highlight the lessons from the book. Through music generated by Suno AI, this experience uses passive learning – a process in which visitors are not required to actively choose or make decisions in real time, but instead absorb information naturally as they progress through the narrative. Repeated exposure to the lyrics and ideas helps reinforce values such as empathy and kindness, with emotional resonance enhancing memory retention and learning without active involvement.
We wanted to include music in our ride, complete with lyrics that highlight the lessons from the book. Through music generated by Suno AI, this experience uses passive learning – a process in which visitors are not required to actively choose or make decisions in real time, but instead absorb information naturally as they progress through the narrative. Repeated exposure to the lyrics and ideas helps reinforce values such as empathy and kindness, with emotional resonance enhancing memory retention and learning without active involvement.
Final Product
Final Product
The final ride design, named “Thidwick’s Big-Hearted Adventure,” is built in Roblox Studio using open-source community models. The storyline is broken into three sections that flow seamlessly into one another: the exposition in line area, the climax in the main ride, and the resolution in a room following the ride. Through this implementation, our team conveys the importance of balancing kindness with self-care. As such, audiences learn to apply these important lessons in their own lives. Feel free to experience our Roblox demo here.
The final ride design, named “Thidwick’s Big-Hearted Adventure,” is built in Roblox Studio using open-source community models. The storyline is broken into three sections that flow seamlessly into one another: the exposition in line area, the climax in the main ride, and the resolution in a room following the ride. Through this implementation, our team conveys the importance of balancing kindness with self-care. As such, audiences learn to apply these important lessons in their own lives. Feel free to experience our Roblox demo here.
Before boarding the ride, audiences will pass through a line that tells the exposition of Thidwick’s story, helping them connect with the narrative and introduces them to the themes of kindness, boundaries, and self-respect before they get on the ride. If implemented in real life, audiences would be able to interact with the characters and hear their voicelines through AR elements on their phones.
Before boarding the ride, audiences will pass through a line that tells the exposition of Thidwick’s story, helping them connect with the narrative and introduces them to the themes of kindness, boundaries, and self-respect before they get on the ride. If implemented in real life, audiences would be able to interact with the characters and hear their voicelines through AR elements on their phones.
As audiences board the ride, they are presented with the core question of “what does kindness really mean?” Audiences go on a journey with Thidwick as he meets more and more animals who make his antlers their home, to the point where he is overwhelmed, illustrating how his kindness begins to create complications. Along the way, audiences encounter and learn from Thidwick’s friends, who warn him about the consequences of being too generous.
As audiences board the ride, they are presented with the core question of “what does kindness really mean?” Audiences go on a journey with Thidwick as he meets more and more animals who make his antlers their home, to the point where he is overwhelmed, illustrating how his kindness begins to create complications. Along the way, audiences encounter and learn from Thidwick’s friends, who warn him about the consequences of being too generous.
Upon entering the ending room, audiences are faced with TV screens labeled with a direct quote from the story: “Well, what would YOU do if it happened to YOU?” The TV screens show Thidwick, conflicted about whether he should continue allowing his guests to use his antlers. Audiences can place themselves in Thidwick’s situation, pressing the button to set boundaries to their kindness, which would trigger an animation of Thidwick shedding his antlers. Near the exit, audiences can see his shedded antlers with the animals still residing there, then take a photo with Thidwick, which can be customized through an AR element on audiences’ phones.
Upon entering the ending room, audiences are faced with TV screens labeled with a direct quote from the story: “Well, what would YOU do if it happened to YOU?” The TV screens show Thidwick, conflicted about whether he should continue allowing his guests to use his antlers. Audiences can place themselves in Thidwick’s situation, pressing the button to set boundaries to their kindness, which would trigger an animation of Thidwick shedding his antlers. Near the exit, audiences can see his shedded antlers with the animals still residing there, then take a photo with Thidwick, which can be customized through an AR element on audiences’ phones.
