special fx
From Haunted Houses to 4D Cinemas — we bring your moments to life.
Thematic Development designs, implements, and programs practical special effects systems for dark rides, 4D shows, haunted houses, walkthroughs, and immersive attractions. Whether you're aiming to thrill, surprise, or shock — we have the tools to make it real!
As the exclusive distributor of Back Stage Technologies products in the EU, we offer a powerful range of professional FX hardware — both off-the-shelf and custom special effects — trusted by major parks and purpose-built for the demands of themed entertainment. From fog bursts and scent cannons to flame effects and air blasts, we help you create visceral, unforgettable moments.
All systems are delivered with reliability, repeatability, and rapid servicing in mind — because the themed entertainment industry leaves no room for error.
Let’s make your attraction unforgettable — and your outrageous ideas possible.
Liquid effects including water and rain covers a wide range of equipment from the obvious, like a simple rain effect, to the less obvious like a video projection screen made from water or an underwater explosion.
Water Effects
WATER SPRITZ
- Changeable nozzle
- Uses 2.3 lpm @ 4 Bar
- twin low-voltage valves
- Optional hanging bracket
- Applications:
Theme parks
theatres
4D cinemas
scare attractions
AIR CANON
- Shoot up to 10m in the air
- Tank size 5 - 250 litres
- Surface mounted or submersible
- Super fast “shuttle” valve
- Applications:
Theme parks
water parks
concerts
fountain attractions
SUPER SHOT
- Changeable nozzle
- Uses 2.3 lpm @ 4 Bar
- twin low-voltage valves
- Optional hanging bracket
- Applications:
Theme parks
theatres
4D cinemas
scare attractions
BST’s trademarked Fake Flame™ product is an ideal solution for applications where a flame/fire effect is desirable but just not practical from a safety or logistical perspective. Our solution provides a customisable and incredibly realistic fake fire.
Fake Flame™ is manufactured in standard widths although almost any size can be made to order. Standard sizes include; 0.5, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.5m wide.
The Fake Flame™ system works best in low light levels and indoor applications so is ideal for dark rides and theatre use. Fake Flame™ is manufactured in both a surface mounted version as well as a flush mounting option – ideal if the effect needs to be hidden from view in a stage for example.
FAKE FIRE Effects
Our flames can be used to create fireballs (the typical mushroom-cloud effect seen on TV and movies) and streamers of fire (columns) from just a few centimetres to over 10m in height. Fire-on-water is also a popular effect as are small stage props that catch on fire on cue for dark rides and other theme park attractions.
The range of flame effects produced, uses a range of media including; propane and natural gas, LPG (liquid petroleum gas – used in its liquid form), kerosene, isoparaffinic and more recently alcohol (ethanol) based mediums for coloured flames.
All of our flame special effects are bespoke and therefore built to order.
REAL FIRE Effects
Our flames can be used to create fireballs (the typical mushroom-cloud effect seen on TV and movies) and streamers of fire (columns) from just a few centimetres to over 10m in height. Fire-on-water is also a popular effect as are small stage props that catch on fire on cue for dark rides and other theme park attractions.
The range of flame effects produced, uses a range of media including; propane and natural gas, LPG (liquid petroleum gas – used in its liquid form), kerosene, isoparaffinic and more recently alcohol (ethanol) based mediums for coloured flames.
All of our flame special effects are bespoke and therefore built to order.
SMOKE Effects
![IMG_6431[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66f9ad9fe3acdc0dbdb23212/5fcaa478-e7a8-440f-b4b1-45dbf4b3758d/IMG_6431%5B1%5D.jpg)
Aromas add that extra dimension to any indoor attraction helping build a feeling in the guest of actually being there or evoking memories; heightening the experience and leaving them wanting more.
We have over 400 “standard” aromas that we have developed over the years but we are designing new ones all the time. There is nothing we can’t do, from champagne to old socks and from dinosaur breath to burning car tyres! Let your imagination run wild!
Whether aromas are used to subtly set-the-scene within the queue line on a dark ride, to hit-home a dramatic scene in a movie theatre or just to entice the customer to buy a cup of coffee! Fragrances and aromas are the invisible special effect that is usually the most memorable.
Points to consider, before selecting a machine, are:
- Size of space to be fragranced
- How quickly the fragrance needs to be produced
- Number of fragrances required
We can recommend a machine for your particular application taking into consideration the above points.
FRAGRANCE
