National Geographic Encounter opens to the public in Times Square today, with Ocean Odyssey, a first-in-kind immersive entertainment experience that transports audiences on a breathtaking undersea journey from the South Pacific across the ocean to the west coast of North America. SPE Partners, creators and producers of National Geographic Encounter, has engaged a world-class global team of Academy, GRAMMY®, and Emmy® Award-winning artists to produce this innovative experience.

Located in the former headquarters of The New York Times, National Geographic Encounter works to push the boundaries of visual effects with high resolution, high frame rate photo-real animation that includes sharks, a 50-foot humpback whale, life-size battling Humboldt squids and more.

Note that this is not an aquarium, and there are no real living creatures housed here.

This is the first attraction that National Geographic has created, and 25% of the proceeds go to this organization’s endeavors.

In advance of the public opening,  a ceremonial “Kelp Cutting” press conference and press preview was hosted.

 

NYC & Company President & CEO Fred Dixon; National Geographic VP Rosa Zeegers; New York Senator Brad Hoylman; Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins; SPE Partners; Peterson Companies; and many more were on hand to answer questions and provide more info.

I enjoyed this informative and entertaining attraction that included multiple beautifully created interactive areas.

 

The 3D aquatic experience was also fun, and there were several attendees who later noted that they wished they could have taken the cool goggles home.

 

And created with the goal of being “entertainment with a purpose” for visitors as well as for school children, this experience closed with a large room of educational  displays.

 

Lots of fun! For more info as to when and how much, click HERE.