Live 3D Attraction Coming to Black Bear Jamboree Theater

A new interactive attraction is coming to the Black Bear Jamboree Theater, and it features a talking goat! Hilda the Talking Goat combines live 3D animation, literary storytelling, and real-life acting into a new form of interactive technology. The new attraction is based on a character in the newly-released book, Cole Family Christmas, a true, tender, and wholly unforgettable tale of a coal miner’s family residing in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. The new attraction will be at the theater beginning Saturday, Oct. 4.

In the book, Hilda is the family’s pet goat. In the attraction, Hilda can identify and converse with individual audience members, respond to their reactions and create a spontaneous, one-of-a-kind live performance—all from a barn-themed stage set. Hilda was created using a combination of cutting-edge animation and ground-breaking technology, which allows the audience to become part of the show. Action and speech are rendered in real-time at feature quality and appear to be completely realistic. Each interaction is a totally unique experience.

The book’s publishing company, Next Chapter Press, asked 3DSite studio based in Topanga, Calif., to bring Hilda to life for this interactive attraction. The industry leader for creating real-time animation, the studio’s work is featured in leading theme parks around the world and in the Hollywood film industry.

Next Chapter Press released 60,000 copies of Cole Family Christmas in September 2008. The reading level of the book is appropriate for children in fourth through sixth grade to read on their own. However, this book is appropriate for the entire family to read together leading up to the holiday season.

The Black Bear Jamboree Theater will host co-authors Hazel Cole Kendle and Jennifer Liu Bryan during a book signing from 4:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 in the theater lobby. The Cole Family Christmas book will be available in the theater’s gift shop through the end of this year.

The book’s corresponding 3D attraction has been featured at BookExpo America 2008 in Los Angeles and at the 2008 Atlanta Fall Gift and Home Furnishings Market. The Black Bear Jamboree in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. is the third location in the United States hosting the attraction.

Hilda in 3D will appear at the theater through Nov. 17. The attraction is part of the “Black Bear Christmas Spectacular Dinner and Show” theater experience which begins on Nov. 1 and runs through the end of the year.

Now in its seventh season, The Black Bear Jamboree Theater has entertained more than 2 million visitors. The theater is open year round with dinner shows at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. nightly (Sunday show times can vary). The Black Bear Jamboree Theater is located at 119 Music Road between traffic lights 0 and 1 on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

Information courtesy of Black Bear Jamboree