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Unwrapped: The Mysterious World of Mummies

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    Unwrapped: The Mysterious World of Mummies

    Client

    Discovery/TLC

    Date

    November 2000

    More Images

    Tags

    Storytelling, Web sites

    Playlists

    • Narrative storytelling
    • Web sites
    • 3-D reconstructions & visualizations

    Users probe beneath layers of linen mummy wrappings to move between story levels and discover the mummies hidden within this media-rich Web site.

    Visitors to Discovery’s TLC site unwrap a world of mummies as they explore “how the dead are living.” The Unwrapped site tells the stories of more than 20 naturally and artificially preserved mummies from around the globe—from South America’s Andes and China’s deserts, to Europe’s bogs and Egypt’s tombs. As audiences explore the site, they find and unravel the secrets of both ancient time travelers and surprisingly modern mummies. A blend of science and imagination reveals how each lived, died, and came to survive the ravages of time. A re-creation of an ancient Egyptian tomb lets audiences discover, unwrap, and create an Egyptian mummy, then explore the tomb as it might have looked when the mummy was first sealed in its sarcophagus. Designed for audiences with high-speed connections, Unwrapped combines animation, story text, music, streaming video, and audio commentary to create an environment that is both cinematic and user-responsive. The site’s design and functionality are inspired by archaeological metaphors and the spirit of exploration. Users probe beneath a layer of linen mummy wrappings to move between story levels and find the mummies hidden underneath. Within each story, a controller lets the user pace the narrative and pause to access media-rich content embedded within animation sequences. In the Egyptian tomb, re-created by 3-D illustrator Jim Ludtke, a custom cursor simulates a flashlight, while a sliding controller lets users make and unwrap a classic Egyptian mummy. Each mummy has a custom soundtrack that transforms 10-second loops into complex, seamless musical scores.

    Press & Awards

    “Sound Advice,” HOW, Megan Lane, February 2003

    [S]ome of the most stunning images and sounds on the internet were created in Portland, OR at Second Story.

    “Behind the Design: I Want My Mummy,” HOW, August 2001
    “The Big Reveal: Theatrical Typography,” Eye, Jessica Helfand, July 2001
    “Exhibit: Unwrapped: The Mysterious World of Mummies,” Communication Arts, Jean A. Coyne, March 2001
    “Mummies and More in Antiquities Roadshow,” The New York Times, Michael Pollak, January 4, 2001

    Second Story Interactive Studios of Portland, Ore., has developed a technically advanced broadband site…The 3-D site lets you explore a virtual Egyptian tomb, from the darkened entrance to the opening of the sarcophagus.

    HOW, Top Ten, 2001
    One Show Interactive, Merit Award, 2001
    Communication Arts, Interactive Design Annual, 2001
    SXSW Web Site Competition, Winner, Broadband, 2001
    Flash Film Festival, Finalist, Original Sound, 2001
    “More To The Story!” The Oregonian, Jeffrey Young, January 1, 2001

    ‘Unwrapped’ showcases a broadband future that unleashes the potential interactivity of the Web to create an experience beyond what is possible with television broadcasting.

    Macromedia, Site of the Day, December 7, 2000
    Yahoo!, Daily Pick, December 3, 2000
    The Scout Report, December 1, 2000

    Simply put, this is just a really neat site that actually makes good on its promise of maximizing the storytelling potential of interactive media.

    USA Today, Hot Sites, November 29, 2000
    “Showcase: Unwrapped: The Mysterious World of Mummies,” Macromedia, November 2000

    Combining storytelling with interactivity, Second Story relies on Macromedia Flash to create Unwrapped—The Mysterious World of Mummies.

    Credits

    Designer
    Gabe Kean
    Developers
    Kim Markegard, Seb Chevrel, Sam Ward, Jeremy Clark
    Editor
    Anmarie Trimble
    Writers
    Kimberly Brown-Seeley, Anmarie Trimble, Tom Allen
    Researchers
    Anmarie Trimble, Julie Beeler
    3-D Illustrator
    Jim Ludtke
    Animator
    Lindsey Hammond
    Narrator
    Bob Brier
    Music Composer
    Brad Purkey
    Sound Designers
    Mary Shokes, Bill Wolford
    © 2013 Second Story, Inc.