[PHOTOS] 'Asia's First Movie Animation Theme Park' In Perak Now Sits Abandoned. Here's Why
MAPS Perak was once a magnet for thousands of visitors.
By Tamara Jayne — 09 Nov 2023, 04:58 PM
'Asia's first animation theme park' opened its doors to visitors in Ipoh, Perak in 2017
Movie Animation Park Studios, also known as MAPS Perak, saw as many as 7,000 visitors at its soft launch six years ago.
The theme park, which cost RM520 million to be built, showcased over 40 attractions across six thematic zones for visitors of all age groups.
It featured attractions based on popular cartoon themes like The Smurfs, DreamWorks Animation figures such as Casper the Friendly Ghost and The Croods, as well as local favourites like BoBoiBoy
Other attactions included the 20-storey high Megamind Megadrop, which was Malaysia's tallest drop tower at the time, and a 'spaceship' featuring three levels of outer space-themed restaurants.
Even though thousands of visitors had passed through its doors since its opening, things took a dramatic turn three years later, resulting in the issuance of a closure notice
Videos of the once-vibrant theme park, now hidden beneath overgrown weeds, create a desolate and eerie scene.
YouTuber naemJD flew a drone over the theme park, revealing a scene reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic horror film.
So, what really happened to the theme park and how did it get to such a state?
According to Focus Malaysia, MAPS Perak was a joint venture (JV) project between Bursa Malaysia-listed Perak Corp Bhd and the Sanderson Group.
In August 2018, Bursa Malaysia said that Animation Theme Park Sdn Bhd (ATP), an indirect subsidiary with a 51% ownership by Perak Corp, had terminated the licence agreement it had entered into with the US-based DreamWorks Animation LLC on 1 January 2013.
The agreement was for the establishment and operation of DreamWorks' attractions within MAPS Perak.
The theme park was eventually shut down in 2020.
Ipoh Echo reported that in March 2022, a notice offering the sale of the property was published in a newspaper, and it remained open for consideration until 1 April that same year.
However, there has not been any update since.
