Knifedge : The Creative Network | Theatrical Case Study - FINA World Swimming Championships

Theatrical Case Study

FINA World Swimming Championships

Award Winning Projections

Innovative projected illusion for the opening of the 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships

Knifedge and The Dream Engine were commissioned by Manchester City Council to create the beginning of the opening ceremony of the FINA World Swimming Championships 2008 (25m). Working closely with Dream Engine’s Creative Director, Steve Edgar, and Manchester’s Mike Parrott, the Knifedge team led by Creative Director Timothy Bird produced an animated swimmer contained within a watery sphere.

With the use of some projection trickery, the animation appears to be taking place inside the 6.5m diameter Heliosphere. As the “water” drains out, the Heliosphere rises, revealing the swimmer – apparently reincarnated as an aerial dancer – as the live part of the Heliosphere performance starts.

The piece was presented with the 2008 Global Achievement Award by the International Visual Communications Association.

Projection Design: Timothy Bird Animation: Dan Mellor, Paul Van Gaans, Marc Khachfe Project Management: Jonathan Brigden, Vicky Owen Programming: Hugh Davies-Webb Heliospheres: Steve Edgar & The Dream Engine Projection Equipment: XL Video

What Our Clients Say

Manchester as a city aspires to meet challenges with innovative solutions. As host for the World Swimming Championships 2008 the ambition was to create a sense of theatre in the venue that served to change peoples perceptions of swimming as a sporting spectacle. Knifedge and the Heliosphere took a broad idea and delivered an innovative, inspiring solution that went beyond the original brief and created a visually stunning, perfectly choreographed animation that captured the spirit of the occasion and launched a world class event in world class style.

Mike Parrott

Opening Ceremony Producer

Manchester City Council