The Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS), a mammoth RM450 million project currently underway in Meru Raya, near Ipoh, Perak, is on track to be completed by March or April next year.
Darren McLean, MAPS founder and CEO, told The Star Online that the construction schedule for the theme park, originally slated to conclude by the end of this year, had to be extended by three months.
“When we performed the ground-breaking ceremony last year, we expected the project to be completed by the end of 2015.
“The wet weather has set us back a little. But overall, everything is going on smoothly. The equipment for the park rides are being imported and the structures for the buildings are already up,” he said.
The 20.8ha site will play host to animated characters and properties from homegrown production houses and Hollywood movie studios alike, with the cast of local favourite series Boboiboy hobnobbing with the likes of Dreamworks Studios’ Megamind, The Croods, and Casper the Friendly Ghost, all of which will have their own signature park rides and attractions.
MAPS will also feature Southeast Asia’s first park attraction featuring classic property The Smurfs, incorporating a live animation theatre and meet and greet sessions by character performers with the fans.
McLean said a soft-launch date will be determined by year’s end, and recruitment for 460 full-time positions in the park will be held six months before the official opening.
“Though we have not finalised the pricing for the tickets, the average family will be able to visit the park.
“The tickets will cover admission fee, food, souvenirs and photographs,” he said, adding that the people of Perak would get a special rate.
He expects the theme park to receive 1.4 million visitors in its first year of operations, with 80% of those tickets coming from the Malaysian market.
