MAPS Perak
Theme parks aren’t a new thing for Malaysians who love the thrill of roller coasters and themed attractions. But when it comes to animation theme parks, we had just one place to visit in the country – MAPS Perak.
Said to be the first animation theme park in Asia when it opened, MAPS was around for just three years until it was forced to close in 2020. It has been left abandoned ever since, following a series of setbacks.
Over 40 attractions in six zones
Image credit: @amir_nawawi via Instagram
MAPS Perak, shortened from Movie Animation Park Studio of Perak, was a joint venture between Perak Corporation Sdn Bhd and Sanderson Group. It was strategically situated at Bandar Meru Raya in Perak’s capital, Ipoh, just a 2-hour drive from KL.
Plans to open MAPS were announced in 2014, with the park slated to welcome visitors a year later. However, it only opened to the public in July 2017.
Image credit: @alyne_rusli via Instagram
A total of RM520 million was invested into the theme park’s creation. It featured over 20 attractions and 15 rides, ranging from gravity-defying swings to family shows. A highlight was the 20-storey high Megamind Megadrop, the tallest of its kind in Malaysia when it was still operating.
Image credit: @gayatravel via Instagram
The attractions were divided into six thematic zones, such as Fantasy Forest and Animation Square, which brought to life international and local animations. These included the beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation’s The Smurfs, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Malaysia’s very own BoBoiBoy.
Image credit: @_nor.azira_ via Instagram
DreamWorks withdraws its licensing agreement
Image credit: Drone Player via YouTube
Despite its initial buzz, MAPS Perak began to face a series of setbacks. For starters, attendance figures to the park lagged significantly, with day-to-day visitors numbering around 200, starkly overshadowed by the 50,000 who visited during its first operational month.
Admission fees were set at RM130 per pax in 2019, which is on the pricier side compared to other theme parks in the country. That same year, it was reported that local authorities offered free admission to all to help spur footfall and keep the park operating.
Image credit: Drone Player via YouTube
Compounding its woes was DreamZone, a critical zone at the theme park that would never be completed as DreamWorks Animation withdrew its licensing agreement. On 3rd January 2020, MAPS temporarily closed due to overdue electricity bills. At the end of the same month, on 28th January, the park closed indefinitely.
Image credit: Drone Player via YouTube
Today, the theme park remains closed to visitors. The area has been left abandoned, its attractions and rides left behind like relics. The rundown condition of the park has given rise to stories of paranormal activity, but none have been proven true.
MAPS Perak in Ipoh
The idea of an animation-themed park was certainly innovative. But the execution of it was certainly fraught with challenges. Hopefully, we can see another theme park with a similar concept in Malaysia.
Cover image adapted from: Drone Player via YouTube