Photo credit: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

What to expect at Avatar: The Experience at Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest

The experience is the first of its kind to be held anywhere in the world.

Sherlyn Sim

Considers knowing how to use a rice cooker an achievement.

Published: 28 October 2022, 8:28 PM

Want to meet a Banshee in real life? How about flying one of your very own? At Gardens by the Bay’s Avatar: The Experience, you can do all that and more.

The experience was officially launched on Friday (Oct 28) by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, and will run until Mar 31, 2023.

An immersive environment

Upon stepping in, guests will come face-to-face with a statue of a Mountain Banshee, sitting right in front of one of Cloud Forest’s iconic waterfalls.

 

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The Mountain Banshee displayed here is only a juvenile. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

Besides the Banshee, there are numerous other elements nearby, like the Avatar Stone Logo right opposite it. As guests make their way up, they can see renditions of plant life that can be found in Pandora.

 

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The mist that hangs in the air adds to the mysterious vibe of the space. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

Guests will also find different creatures along the path as they continue forward, including a gigantic Hammerhead Titanothere.

 

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The juvenile Hammerhead Titanothere looms over the guests passing by. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

Lastly, guests can find a Na’vi family as they walk under an archway, with one parent holding the younger child.

 

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There are a total of four Na’vi on display. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

Interactive experiences

Along the same path, guests can find the Fire Pod, an interactive zone which utilises the guests’ shadows to create a unique silhouette. Guests will see a tail and ears projected along with their shadows, resembling the Na’vi race.

 

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Guests can also learn more about Mountain Banshees within the Fire Pod. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

Further along the path, guests can interact with the Avatarize Yourself machines. They can have a photo taken of them, which will then be digitally edited in real-time to turn them into a Na’vi.

 

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There are multiple machines, but guests should expect a queue as the editing process takes some time. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

Up close and personal

Guests will also get to witness a life-size animatronic Banshee that is six metres tall. It is hand-painted with hundreds of colours, and perches on a rock in the middle of the space.

 

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The Banshee is programmed to react to crowds and can also let out roars. GIF CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

A baby Banshee will be brought out from time to time by an “expert”, allowing guests to get a unique photo opportunity. The puppet also comes equipped with a sensor that allows it to interact with the larger Banshee when they are brought closer.

 

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There will also be a short talk on Banshees and their behaviour by the expert. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

Pandora comes alive

Although the whole area is enthralling as it is, it truly shines at night. As most of the displays utilise coloured lighting, the area gains a whole new sense of wonder when the light becomes more visible in the dark.

 

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The vibrant lights enhance each installation when viewed at night. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

At the end of their journey through Pandora, guests will pass through the mystical Path of Transition, which leads them to a room where a looping multimedia show transforms the space. 

 

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In the Path of Transition, luminous branches from the Tree of Souls will cascade down onto guests as they walk by. PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTHOPIA/SHERLYN SIM

 

The show features interactive elements, and offers guests a glimpse into the connection between the Na’vi and nature.

Tickets to Avatar: The Experience are on sale now, at $27 for adults and $23 for seniors (60 years old and above) and children (3 to 12 years old) who are Singapore Residents.

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