Popular animation series Ninjago comes to Legoland

Let the show begin: Mirza (right) and Germyn hitting the gong during the launch of the Lego ‘Ninjago and The Realm of Shadows’ show at the theme park in Nusajaya.

NUSAJAYA: The first ever Lego Ninjago Live Show has made its debut at Legoland Malaysia Resort, captivating audiences.

Entitled Lego “Ninjago and The Realm of Shadows”, visitors to the theme park can now watch characters of popular animation television series Ninjago — Masters of Spinjitsu perform in a 20-minute show incorporating puppetry, video mapping, illusion, stage effects and music.

The resort’s general manager Mark Germyn said the show would feature a total of six puppets, each standing at approximately 1.2m in height with every puppet uniquely designed and hand built by specialists.

He explained that it took a team of some 12 to 15 craftsmen slightly over 180 hours to complete the puppets.

“We are proud to be the first Legoland Park in the world to launch this attraction,” he said during the launch.

Germyn said that the mix of technology with traditional Banraku style puppetry should prove a hit.

In the live show, the ninjas namely Kai, Nya, Zane, Cole, Jay and Lloyd are on a mission to protect Bandit, a dragon, who would one day grow up to be powerful.

The Ninjas would also have to work together to protect the land from evil Clouse and his shadow minions, who want to steal Bandit and plunge Ninjago into the Realms of the Shadows.

Scripted by award-winning Hollywood movie writers Kevin and Dan Hageman, the show was created by an international team from seven countries and will be performed between three to six times daily.

“Initially we thought of bringing in foreign puppeteers but we realised there were locals who were very much interested to learn the art of puppetry,” he said adding that a team of 17 puppeteers took about a month to prepare for the show.

Children from two to 12 years old will get a 50% discount, with any paying adult, if they come dressed in a Ninja outfit until Sept 30.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab who was present, said the new attraction would help boost tourism.