In a historical move, Universal Studios Hollywood’s acclaimed theme park attraction, “King Kong 360 3-D” was awarded “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project” at the 9th Annual Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards.  This prestigious award is the first-ever presented to a theme park ride.

Universal Studios Hollywood broke new ground in themed entertainment and re-set the bar for immersive theme park attractions with the landmark introduction of “King Kong 360 3-D,” the world’s largest, most intense 3-D experience.  The attraction, based on Peter Jackson’s 2005 blockbuster, integrates spectacular three-dimensional visual media and the world’s largest 3-D projection installation ever produced with physical effects.

A signature ride on the world famous, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “King Kong 360 3-D,” transports guests to Skull Island and catapults them into the middle of a terrifying struggle between a giant T-Rex and “the eighth wonder of the world” – King Kong.  Guests find themselves launched into the film, projected on the world’s largest wrap around 3-D compound curved screens.

The VES Award winners were announced during a ceremony on February 1, 2011 and were broadcast on REELZ Channel on Saturday, February 19 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The VES is the entertainment industry’s only organization dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest uniform standards and procedures for the visual effects profession.  The organization represents the extended community of visual effects practitioners including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives.  VES is comprised of a diverse group of more than 2,200 members in 20 countries.

To learn more about this theme park attraction, visit http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/attraction_king_kong.html.