Depth of Story


Some of the most effective storytelling in a theme park environment is that where details throughout a land or area, not just within the boundaries of a specific attraction, work together to tell the tale. Take, for example, these elements from Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Fliers like the one pictured above can be found plastered throughout the village of Anandapur. Some of the local population are clearly upset about the logging activity happening in the nearby forest. These fliers add color and richness to the village, but also start to tell the story of Kali River Rapids, where our peaceful journey down the Chakranadi River is suddenly interrupted when our raft encounters a Tetak Logging crew.

Read further down, and the flier gives a call to action. There's a meeting Thursday night at Atavika Station #12. This may not register right away, but pay attention later when exploring the Maharajah Jungle Trek. The path brings you to a community center. Today, the center is hosting an educational session on fruit bats that inhabit the adjacent caves. Look around inside, and you'll notice a posted schedule of other upcoming events... including a protest rally.


As it turns out, this community center is Atavika Station #12. A tiny white sign at the entrance tells us so and in the process further solidifies the sense that Anandapur is a real place.

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