Batman Adventure – The Ride 2
Encyclopedia
Batman Adventure: The Ride 2 was a Batman
-themed attraction at the Warner Bros. Movie World
theme park on the Gold Coast
, Australia
. It also previously operated at Warner Bros. Movie World Germany (now Movie Park Germany
). The ride opened first at the Australian park in 1993 followed it the opening in 1996 in Germany. It is a motion platform simulator-style ride, much in the vein of Disney Parks
' Star Wars
-themed attraction Star Tours
. On 15 October 2011, the ride closed permanently.
's Batman films, the second of which
was released in 1992. Each of the 4 vehicles seat 20 people and utilise military-style fight simulator motion bases, which allow six degrees of freedom.
The original storyline revolves around Batman's quest to save kidnapped children in Gotham City
and is filmed in live action, with the riders experiencing the adventure from Batman's point of view
(in the tracking module vehicle). The ride is strongly based on the Batman Returns movie, featuring appearances from The Penguin, Catwoman and the Red Triangle Circus gang. Movie Park Germany
used this version until 2004, albeit dubbed into German. In the original Batman Adventure The Ride experience, riders would go through two separate preshow areas 1. Wayne Manor
2. The Batcomputer command center where riders would witness the main preshow while being guided by an animatronic Batman.
instead of live-action was added. This new ride has elements from four of the Batman films as well as the animated series franchise released before Batman Begins
. Reprising their roles from Batman: The Animated Series
, the 2001 revamp featured the voices of Kevin Conroy
as Batman, Mark Hamill
as the Joker, Adrienne Barbeau
as Catwoman, and Tara Strong
as Batgirl. In September 2011, Warner Bros. Movie World announced that Batman Adventure – The Ride 2 would be closed on 15 October 2011 to make way for a new attraction.
as Gotham City
Police Cadets on a tour of the library. Guests were shown a short video detailing WayneTech's latest developments such as the Gotham City Security Network and the new reconnaissance fleet of aircraft, similarly styled to the Batwing
in the 1989 film
. This clip was introduced by the chief of the Wayne Foundation, Lucius Fox
. Just as Mr. Fox started explaining the new network, they were interrupted by an alert directly from Arkham Asylum
, Gotham City's maximum security facility for the city's worst felons. He remarked that it's "probably a false alarm but it doesn't pay to take chances". Batgirl
linked to the computer from the Batcave
to find that all of Gotham's forces are converging on Arkham Asylum. The television screen would go blank. A guide would then open the secret bookcase revealing the Batcave entrance as you walk through the Batcave tunnel through to the grouping queues you may hear dripping water and murmurs of bats flying. As guests reach the end of the queue lines the guide announces "I now present to you the Gotham City security network". At this moment several doors would open to reveal the network. It included 14 minor video monitors and one huge projection screen in the middle as well as Batman's controls in front of the screen. There was an animatronic Batman who talks in the Batcave sitting at the desk with his back facing the audience (previous functionality that allowed Batman to turn around has since been removed). Guests were seated in the audience and witness a second pre-show video introducing the mission to retrieve the Whitney diamond, stolen earlier from the Gotham Museum of Art. This was stolen earlier by Catwoman
and is used to power a freeze cannon operated by Mr. Freeze
. Guests were then split up into groups of 20 and admitted into separate simulators where the ride would take place.
, Catwoman and Mr. Freeze. As the ride featured sudden movements, it was not suitable for those who suffer from motion sickness. For this reason, Movie World operated the ride without the motion at least once a day. The full ride film can be found on YouTube. When guests exited the ride they were greeted with the set of the Tracking module Crashing in to the Penguin's Arctic World Lair from the original ride.
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
-themed attraction at the Warner Bros. Movie World
Warner Bros. Movie World
Warner 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...
theme park on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It also previously operated at Warner Bros. Movie World Germany (now Movie Park Germany
Movie Park Germany
thumb|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...
). The ride opened first at the Australian park in 1993 followed it the opening in 1996 in Germany. It is a motion platform simulator-style ride, much in the vein of Disney Parks
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
' Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
-themed attraction Star Tours
Star Tours
Star Tours is a motion simulator attraction currently operating at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. The ride is based on the successful Star Wars film series created by George Lucas, making it the first Disney attraction based on a non-Disney produced film.The first...
. On 15 October 2011, the ride closed permanently.
Batman Adventure - The Ride
Batman Adventure - The Ride contained screen images synchronised to movement of the simulator base, and was based upon Tim BurtonTim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
's Batman films, the second of which
Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to Burton's Batman , and features Michael Keaton reprising the title role, with Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman.Burton originally did not...
was released in 1992. Each of the 4 vehicles seat 20 people and utilise military-style fight simulator motion bases, which allow six degrees of freedom.
The original storyline revolves around Batman's quest to save kidnapped children in Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
and is filmed in live action, with the riders experiencing the adventure from Batman's point of view
Point of view shot
A point of view shot is a short film scene that shows what a character is looking at . It is usually established by being positioned between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the character's reaction...
(in the tracking module vehicle). The ride is strongly based on the Batman Returns movie, featuring appearances from The Penguin, Catwoman and the Red Triangle Circus gang. Movie Park Germany
Movie Park Germany
thumb|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...
used this version until 2004, albeit dubbed into German. In the original Batman Adventure The Ride experience, riders would go through two separate preshow areas 1. Wayne Manor
Wayne Manor
In DC Comics, Wayne Manor is a fictional setting, the personal residence of Bruce Wayne, who is also Batman. The residence is typically depicted as a huge stately mansion on grounds outside Gotham City, maintained by the Wayne family's servant, Alfred Pennyworth...
2. The Batcomputer command center where riders would witness the main preshow while being guided by an animatronic Batman.
Batman Adventure - The Ride 2
The ride was revamped in 2001 and renamed Batman Adventure: The Ride 2. Despite the addition of the "2" in the ride title, this new ride is hardly a sequel to the 1993 original. It retains the main components of the original including the motion simulator bases (which remain themed as Tracking modules from the original ride) and the pre-show rooms. However, a new ride video made up of computer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
instead of live-action was added. This new ride has elements from four of the Batman films as well as the animated series franchise released before Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is a 2005 American superhero action film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson,...
. Reprising their roles from Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
, the 2001 revamp featured the voices of Kevin Conroy
Kevin Conroy
Kevin Conroy is an American stage, screen, and voice actor, best known for his acclaimed voice role as Batman in numerous animated television series, feature films, and video games that make up the DC Animated Universe.-Early life:...
as Batman, Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice artist, producer, director, and writer, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy of Star Wars. More recently, he has received acclaim for his voice work, in such roles as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Firelord...
as the Joker, Adrienne Barbeau
Adrienne Barbeau
Adrienne Jo Barbeau is an American actress and the author of three books. Barbeau came to prominence in the 1970s as Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical Grease, and as Carol Traynor, the divorced daughter of Maude Findlay in the sitcom Maude...
as Catwoman, and Tara Strong
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
as Batgirl. In September 2011, Warner Bros. Movie World announced that Batman Adventure – The Ride 2 would be closed on 15 October 2011 to make way for a new attraction.
Summary
Pre-shows
Guests were admitted into Wayne ManorWayne Manor
In DC Comics, Wayne Manor is a fictional setting, the personal residence of Bruce Wayne, who is also Batman. The residence is typically depicted as a huge stately mansion on grounds outside Gotham City, maintained by the Wayne family's servant, Alfred Pennyworth...
as Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
Police Cadets on a tour of the library. Guests were shown a short video detailing WayneTech's latest developments such as the Gotham City Security Network and the new reconnaissance fleet of aircraft, similarly styled to the Batwing
Batplane
The Batplane, later known as the Batwing, is the fictional aircraft for the comic book superhero Batman. The vehicle was introduced in "Batman Versus The Vampire, I", published in Detective Comics #31 in 1939, a story which saw Batman travel to continental Europe...
in the 1989 film
Batman (1989 film)
Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Jack Palance...
. This clip was introduced by the chief of the Wayne Foundation, Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox is a fictional character appearing in Batman comic books by DC Comics. He was created by Len Wein and John Calnan, and first appeared in Batman #307 . As a supporting character, he acts as Bruce Wayne's business manager who supposedly unknowingly runs the business interests that supply...
. Just as Mr. Fox started explaining the new network, they were interrupted by an alert directly from Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
, Gotham City's maximum security facility for the city's worst felons. He remarked that it's "probably a false alarm but it doesn't pay to take chances". Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
linked to the computer from the Batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
to find that all of Gotham's forces are converging on Arkham Asylum. The television screen would go blank. A guide would then open the secret bookcase revealing the Batcave entrance as you walk through the Batcave tunnel through to the grouping queues you may hear dripping water and murmurs of bats flying. As guests reach the end of the queue lines the guide announces "I now present to you the Gotham City security network". At this moment several doors would open to reveal the network. It included 14 minor video monitors and one huge projection screen in the middle as well as Batman's controls in front of the screen. There was an animatronic Batman who talks in the Batcave sitting at the desk with his back facing the audience (previous functionality that allowed Batman to turn around has since been removed). Guests were seated in the audience and witness a second pre-show video introducing the mission to retrieve the Whitney diamond, stolen earlier from the Gotham Museum of Art. This was stolen earlier by Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
and is used to power a freeze cannon operated by Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze, real name Dr. Victor Fries , is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Batman. Created by Bob Kane, he first appeared in Batman #121 ....
. Guests were then split up into groups of 20 and admitted into separate simulators where the ride would take place.
Ride
Guests were taken on a chase through the streets of Gotham City in the pursuit of the JokerJoker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
, Catwoman and Mr. Freeze. As the ride featured sudden movements, it was not suitable for those who suffer from motion sickness. For this reason, Movie World operated the ride without the motion at least once a day. The full ride film can be found on YouTube. When guests exited the ride they were greeted with the set of the Tracking module Crashing in to the Penguin's Arctic World Lair from the original ride.