MAPS Perak
{{short description|Theme park in Malaysia}}
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = Movie Animation Park Studios
| image =
| caption =
| resort =
| location = Bandar Meru Raya, Ipoh{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/06/26/asias-first-movie-animation-park-studios-opens-its-doors|title=Asia's first Movie Animation Park Studios opens its doors {{!}} The Sun Daily|website=www.thesundaily.my|access-date=2017-06-28}}
| location2 = Perak
| location3 = Malaysia
| coordinates =
| status = Closed
| opening_date = {{Start date|2017|06|26}}
| closing_date = {{End date|2020|01|28}} (permanently)
| theme = Show business (mostly animation)}}
MAPS Perak (Movie Animation Park Studio of Perak) was a theme park in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia which was created from a joint venture between Perak Corporation Berhad and the Sanderson Group. It was originally planned to open in 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2014/03/30/animation-theme-park-zambry/|title=Malaysia's first-ever animation theme park to open in 2015 - Nation {{!}} The Star Online|website=www.thestar.com.my|access-date=2017-06-09}} but the opening date was delayed to 26 June 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/02/21/theme-park-in-ipoh-to-open-its-doors-by-june/|title=Theme park in Ipoh to open its doors by June - Community {{!}} The Star Online|website=www.thestar.com.my|access-date=2017-06-09}} The theme park is the first fully animation-based theme park in Asia which contains attractions based on characters from studios such as DreamWorks Animation, The Smurfs, and BoBoiBoy. It was built at the cost of RM520 million.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapsperak.com/about-maps/|title=About MAPS|website=Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) {{!}} Live Your Dreams!|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-09}} It houses both international and Malaysian intellectual properties including The Smurfs and BoBoiBoy, and has more than 40 attractions in six themed zones.
On January 28, 2020, the theme park was permanently closed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/508635|title=Perak animation theme park closed until further notice|access-date=2019-01-28|language=en}}
Timeline
MAPS Perak was announced in early 2014 and was planned to open in 2015, but the opening was moved. In April 2017, the theme park was said to have 96% of its construction completed,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapsperak.com/asias-first-animation-theme-park-well-on-its-way-to-opening/|title=Asia's First Animation Theme Park Well On {{sic|It's|nolink=y}} Way To Opening|website=Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) {{!}} Live Your Dreams!|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-09
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915133337/http://www.mapsperak.com/asias-first-animation-theme-park-well-on-its-way-to-opening/
|url-status=unfit
|archive-date=2017-09-15
}} and was opened on 26 June 2017 soon after its completion.
Location
MAPS Perak is located at Persiaran Meru Raya 3, Bandar Meru Raya, 30020 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Characters
Attendance and operations
MAPS Perak management claims that the park had as much as 50,000 visitors,{{Cite news|url=http://www.focusmalaysia.my/Mainstream/challenges-in-perak-corp-s-theme-park-business|title=Challenges in Perak Corp’s theme park business|work=Focus Malaysia|access-date=2018-11-29}} however this was only noted in its first month of operation in 2017. State Assemblyman for the Canning Wong Kah Koh was reported to have said daily attendance to MAPS only numbered up to 200 people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.malaymail.com/s/1602017/maps-theme-park-doing-fine-says-management|title=MAPS theme park doing fine, says management {{!}} Malay Mail|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en}} The operations of the park are further hampered with the delays of DreamZone, which eventually resulted with DreamWorks Animation terminating the licensing agreement with the park.{{Cite news|url=https://www.malaymail.com/s/1660851/no-longer-tied-down-by-dreamworks-maps-mulls-water-theme-park|title=No longer tied down by DreamWorks, MAPS mulls water theme park {{!}} Malay Mail|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en}}