The World Beyond – Michael Mack and the Emotioneers of Tomorrow

“What comes after the smartphone? After screens, apps, and interfaces that already feel like yesterday’s paper?” This question has driven Keiichi Matsuda for years – and it sits at the very heart of this episode of THE WORLD BEYOND. Matsuda is widely regarded as one of the most influential visionaries of our time when it comes to the future of technology, space, and the human experience. Trained a...

„Man spürt bei Michael Mack: Hier arbeitet jemand nicht nur unternehmerisch, sondern auch kulturell, visionär und mit Haltung.“ – Kurz vor der großen Jubiläumsgala zum 50. Geburtstag des Europa-Park kommt es zu einem besonderen, spontanen Treffen im Studio78: Bundespräsident a. D. Christian Wulff ist zu Gast bei Michael Mack – CEO von MACK One, kreativer Kopf hinter dem Europa-Park und Produzent d...

„Die Musik war schon immer im Film. Ohne sie wäre das Kinoerlebnis unvollständig.“ – Volker Bertelmann ist der Komponist hinter dem Soundtrack des ersten Kinofilms des Europa-Park: Für den Animationsfilm Grand Prix of Europe, produziert von MACK Magic und Warner Bros., hat Bertelmann die emotionale und treibende Filmmusik komponiert und dabei ein akustisches Erlebnis geschaffen, das die rasante St...

„Man muss nicht mit Ed und Edda aufgewachsen sein, um bei Grand Prix of Europe mitzufiebern. Der Film spricht wirklich jeden an.“ David Ginnuttis ist Creative-Head, Storyteller und Autor bei MACK Magic und einer der kreativen Köpfe hinter dem ersten internationalen Kinofilm des Europa-Park. In dieser Folge von The World Beyond spricht Podcast-Host Michael Mack mit ihm über eines der ambitioniertes...

“Tangibility was a problem. LEGO is the king of tangibility.” – When Brian Schwab reflects on his work, it’s more than nostalgia, it’s a call to rethink how we design technology. As Head of AI & Creative Technology at LEGO and a veteran of the gaming industry, Brian blends decades of interactive experience with a deep belief in human-centric design. — In this episode of THE WORLD BEYOND, podcast h...

“We can show you your breath like stardust.” – When Nanea Reeves talks about her work, it sounds poetic — but it’s also deeply rooted in cutting-edge technology. As the founder and CEO of TRIPP, Nanea is at the forefront of a revolution that blends immersive virtual reality, emotional wellness and artificial intelligence into one powerful experience. — In this episode of THE WORLD BEYOND, podcast...

„The internet will transform into spatial experiences. So, of course, we need virtual cities.“ Patrik Schumacher, CEO of legendary Zaha Hadid Architects and a true visionary, envisions a future where architecture exists in both the physical and digital realms. As the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds blur, urban planning must undergo a radical transformation. In this episode of THE WO...

“I’m not afraid of evil AI; I’m much more afraid of evil people misusing the AI superpowers given to them.” – Alvin Wang Graylin is a true pioneer in the fields of Virtual and Augmented Reality. Over 30 years ago, he recognized that artificial intelligence would play a significant role in shaping the future and transforming our lives. Today, he serves as the Global Vice President of Corporate Deve...

„Wir haben 400 Rechner bei uns stehen, die über ein Jahr lang Tag und Nacht rendern“ - Bernd Bohnert ist Produktionsleiter bei MACK Animation und gibt einen exklusiven Einblick in die Produktionsprozesse des ersten 90-minütigen Kinoabenteuers mit den Europa Park Maskottchen-Stars Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE. Der Kinofilm ist eine Co-Produktion von MACK Magic und Warner Bros. Film Productions G...

„Dass Voltron ein absoluter Kracher wird, war relativ schnell klar – denn das war auch die Anforderung! Eine Anlage in dieser Größenordnung bauen wir nur alle 10 bis 15 Jahre, da muss es einfach sitzen.“ - Patrick Marx, Head of Masterplanning bei MACK One, und Lukas Metzger, Head of Park Operations im Europa Park, sind näher dran an der „besten neuen Achterbahn der Welt“ als jeder andere: Seit der...

“Horror is not about the monster. It’s about hope.” - Bill McCoy is a world-renowned make-up artist who has been creating incredible and often terrifying characters for film, TV, and live events for over 25 years. His exceptional work can be seen in major Hollywood productions such as “Stranger Things,” “The Walking Dead,” and many more. Join podcast host Michael Mack, founder and CEO of MACK One,...

“The next big change is how we achieve performances for these figures — how we create an experience that feels organic, as if it's happening in real time.” Bill Butler is a brilliant mind in the field of creating and programming hyper-realistic mechatronic puppets (animatronics) controlled by multiple machines to move fluidly. Join podcast host Christina Rees, one of the Emotioneers from MACK Magi...

"With immersive media, if it’s done well, we can recreate a kind of reality — and this is pretty cool because it brings that reality into your home," says Dr. Thomas Wagner, one of Germany’s leading figures in the field of virtual reality games, VR, and AR. As the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Managing Director at Munich-based K5 Factory, he and his team are currently developing the only official...

„I was eight or nine years old when I finally made the decision about what I was going to do with the rest of my life: I wanted to be a roller coaster designer." - Jeff Pike is a prominent figure in the amusement industry for his contributions to the development of modern theme park attractions, where he combines creative design with technical expertise. As a designer and co-founder of Skyline Att...

"With game engines, AI, and 5G, you can make the park much more programmable, allowing you to change and tailor the experience for your guests. Based on your guests' data, you can alter the story, and the adventure can take a different turn.“ - Thierry Coup has profoundly shaped the way theme parks are experienced and continues to set new standards in the entertainment industry: He has been behind...

„I am quite confident that the generation after us will also find solutions in regular play and regular toys“ - Christopher Becker is an internationally sought-after professional in the fields of licensing and franchising, as well as an expert in children’s toys, consumer goods and much more. He was the Senior Licensing Manager for Lucasfilm, Disney and Marvel for all three German-speaking countri...

"In the next several years, we will have an augmented personal assistant in a wearable device, but not necessarily in our pocket“ - Emily Olman is one of the leading figures in creating relevant use cases for VR and AR. As CEO and Chief Media Officer at her very own company, Hopscotch Interactive, she has a deep understanding of emerging technologies. Join podcast host Marcus Ernst, one of the Emo...

„I think that we are going to really look at how we can all find solutions for problems within the world. Everything is changing and sustainability is terribly important to everyone“ - Amanda Thompson is an inspiring figure in the amusement park industry with an impressive family tradition and a remarkable commitment to creativity and shows. Join podcast host Lukas Metzger, Head of Operations at E...

„Technology is going to make it easier for guests to be guests and easier for us as operator to treat them as guests“ - in this special episode, podcast host Lukas Metzger, Head of Operations at Europa Park, meets exciting personalities from the entertainment industry at the Hot Ice Show 2024 premiere in Blackpool. This legendary ice skating show is running since 1936 and is a real benchmark for s...

Every week, Michael Mack and his team from MACK One welcomes the leading experts, courageous entrepreneurs, professors and future-shaping inventors from various areas of expertise as guest in this podcast. Take an exclusive peek into the future and tune in to some true highlights of 50 Episodes: 1 - Mate Rimac, Founder and CEO of "Rimac Automobili", named "The European Elon Musk" 2 - Sir Richard T...

“Be friendly to AI! Say always `thank you´ when you get an answer from a bot. When it takes over the world - you’re on the right side“ - Joel Allenspach is a prominent figure in the field of immersive 3D experiences and extended reality (XR) technologies. His swiss based company Jamaze AG is known for its innovative solutions in enhancing customer experiences through advanced technology. Join podc...

„The biggest problem is usually trying to get the technology to balance with the storytelling” - Lou Doye is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible: The british based creative director helps launch the latest immersive storytelling technology and has realized ground-breaking productions for the META Quest, the Apple Vision Pro and many more. Join podcast host Christina Rees, one of t...

“KI fehlt einfach das Herz. Und das hört man“ - Sebastian Kübler prägt mit seinen einzigartigen Kompositionen seit über 15 Jahren die Freizeitpark-Branche. Der Lead Composer der 2112 Studios (MACK One) kreiert mit seinem Team einen Sound ala Hollywood - made im Europa Park in Rust. Podcast-Host Michael Mack spricht mit dem gefragten Komponisten über die Zukunft der Musikproduktion: Wie beeinflußt...

“I think nothing is off the limits if the director wants to go for it“ - Sarah Ellis pushes the envelope and enriches Shakespeare’s iconic works with innovative and creative storytelling techniques, innovative technologies and exciting partnerships. Join podcast host Christina Rees, one of the Emotioneers from MACK Magic, in this inspiring conversation about the legacy of Shakespeare, his timeless...

“We have reached this point that the question is not what is possible - we have come to the point what is useful” - Rolf Schumann is an outstanding leading entrepreneurial figure in the fields of technology and innovation. Working as Co-CEO for Schwarz Digits (Schwarz Group is the world's fourth largest goods retailer with approx. 154 billion EURO in sales in 2022), he’s responsible for transformi...