Martin Garrix’s ANIMA show will be touring until the end of the year (photo: Alive Coverage)
The Netherlands - Superstar Dutch DJ Martin Garrix launched his new ANIMA live performance concept with two hi-energy, hi-profile nights at Amsterdam’s RAI with the five-day 2018 Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) festival and conference as the backdrop, an event drawing dance music, media and technology professionals and enthusiasts from worldwide to this vibrant city right at the hub of dance music culture.
Garrix’s lighting designer Gabe Fraboni once again had the chance to create a spectacular new visual experience - to be enjoyed by Martin Garrix fans globally for the next 12 months - which he did with the help of nearly 300 Robe moving lights - 80 x MegaPointes, 166 x Spikies and 52 x LEDBeam 150s.
Gabe uses Robe for all of his designs, and comments: “Robe is my default brand of moving light right now! The products are so versatile and the range so diverse that it fulfils everything I need.”
Once again, he worked closely with scenic designer Bart Straver and VJ / video content creator Lorenzo de Pascalis in a rich, provocative and imaginative creative collaboration that rocked some breath-taking results and ensured that Garrix’ shows are right up there among the best and most exciting in the world of dance music.
While last year’s show had been all about asymmetry, this year Gabe wanted something completely different, but that also retained some threads of continuity like the industrial look and style.
At the artist’s request, the central LED ’plus’ sign right behind the DJ booth remained. Gabe again wanted to be able echo this shape and form across the rig, but this time with the harmony and balance of symmetry.
In embracing this mindset, another important factor was involving the audience in the action - pulling them right into the show making it an immersive and fully four-dimensional experience, rather than a passive viewing equation.
The grid of MegaPointe / LED pods above the crowd was created utilizing 30 of the Robe MegaPointes each rigged on an individual Cyberhoist motor for up / down movement.
Out in the house, the LEDBeam 150s were located between each of the LED / MegaPointe / Cyberhoist pods. They provided additional effects, fabulous beams, more crowd interaction and effectively lit the audience for an upcoming You Tube stream.
As well as the Robe fixtures, the design featured 76 x LED strobes, 100 x 1-lite blinders and 21 x 4-lite blinders, all supplied to the show by lighting vendor Focus / RentAll.
Thirty lasers were integrated into these RAI shows, provided by Laser Image from the Netherlands.
Gabe operated the show using a two grandMA2 full size consoles and a light, also triggering the Pangolin laser control. Lorenzo operated a Resolume and Notch VFX Server for video content and camera control.
(Jim Evans)

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