DreamWorks, Belle set ‘edu-tainment’ project

MANILA, Philippines - DreamWorks Animation SKG is bringing popular characters Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Puss In Boots to the Philippines through an “edu-tainment” concept in a $1.3-billion integrated casino project.

The indoor theme park of Dreamworks Animation is set to become the family entertainment component of the City of Dreams Manila, an executive said.

“We launched the partnership with Dreamworks Animation. It will be (for)an indoor theme park called Dream Play,” said Belle Corp. vice-chairman Willy Ocier.

“It will be an edu-tainment center (and)that is our family entertainment component in City of Dreams,” Ocier said.

Belle, the gaming arm and upscale leisure developer of the SM Group, is the builder of the casino and hotel complex in the Manila Bay reclamation area.

While Dreamworks Animation has several attractions at the Universal Studios in Singapore, the indoor theme park will be the first and only Dream Play in the world, Ocier said.

The 2,000-3,000-square meter indoor theme park is also seen to feed into the retail shops and restaurants in the integrated casino project, he added.

Dreamworks Animation is the company behind hit films Shrek, Madagascar, Bee Movie and How to Train Your Dragon.  It was set up by Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen in 1994.

Macau-based casino giant Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. is planning to start operations of its $1.3-billion City of Dreams Manila casino complex in October.

City of Dreams Manila will offer 365 gaming tables, 1,680 slot machines and 1,680 electronic table games. Previously, the casino planned to offer only 242 gaming tables and 1,450 electronic gaming machines.

The integrated casino project is the Melco Crown’s first gaming foray outside Macau where it operates the City of Dreams and Altira Macau casinos. City of Dreams Macau is famous for its world-class gaming and entertainment offerings including the House of Dancing Water Show and party place Club Cubic.

It will be the second casino complex to open at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s 120-hectare Entertainment City, which is groomed to become the Philippines’ version of the Las Vegas strip. In March last year, port mogul Enrique Razon opened the $1.2-billion Solaire Resort and Casino.