WORK

Presented as a daytime participatory event at the Water Plaza of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, “Magical Dance of Water and Air” was developed in conjunction with the nighttime water spectacle show “Ao and the Night Rainbow Parade.”

The nighttime show captivated audiences through a spectacular production centered around a monumental structure measuring 18 meters high and 17 meters wide, combined with approximately 300 fountains and large-scale water-screen projections.

By contrast, “Magical Dance of Water and Air” invited visitors to interact directly with the fountain system. Responding to participants’ gestures and movements, approximately 300 fountains produced a variety of water patterns, creating the impression of controlling water through magic.

Guinness World Records™ officially recognized “Magical Dance of Water and Air” as the world’s largest interactive fountain experience controlled by the public.

For “Magical Dance of Water and Air,” we defined the core objective as creating a space that would be enjoyable for everyone, from children to adults. To achieve this, we designed an experience that gave participants the feeling of controlling the world’s largest fountain installation through gestures, as if performing magic. Bringing this experience to life required solving a range of technical and design challenges across a system of approximately 300 fountains.

From an experience design perspective, we designed how gestures would correspond to fountain behaviors while shaping the overall user journey to reinforce the sensation of controlling water through movement. On the technical side, we developed an outdoor gesture-recognition system and created methods for incorporating fountain response delays into the experience design. We also addressed a creative requirement to conceal sensors from view, providing solutions that balanced both aesthetic and functional considerations.

Throughout development, we prioritized validating the experience through minimum viable prototypes. To support this process, we built a testing environment that combined simulators, projection systems, and physical mockups designed to replicate key aspects of the final installation. These prototypes allowed us to evaluate gesture responsiveness, the effectiveness of the “omnipotent” experience, and the overall user experience in stages, informing the final design. By approaching the project from both technical and experiential perspectives, we played a key role in delivering the world’s largest interactive fountain experience, later recognized by Guinness World Records™.

For the nighttime show “Ao and the Night Rainbow Parade,” we also provided overall technical direction during the project’s initial development phase in 2023. Working alongside Dentsu Lab Tokyo, which led the creative direction, we analyzed the technical risks and experiential limitations of the original AR-centered concept in pursuit of a truly impactful experience. By helping clarify and redefine the core experience, we supported the project’s evolution toward a more achievable and compelling direction.