In Mashle: Magic and Muscles Episode 8, titled "Mash Burnedead and the Magic Exam," we see our protagonist, Mash, facing a crucial test in order to prove his magical abilities. The episode starts with the announcement of the magic exam and Mash's determination to pass it, despite lacking traditional magical aptitude. As Mash enters the exam room, he is met with skepticism from the other students, who underestimate his capabilities due to his reliance on physical strength rather than magic. However, Mash surprises everyone by effortlessly completing the first task, a written exam, even though he has never studied magic before. This demonstrates his exceptional intelligence and adaptability. In the second task, a practical demonstration of magic, Mash showcases his unique approach by combining physical strength with magic.

The Curse at Alton Manor

The project looked at redeveloping the attraction’s old ‘Duel’ haunted house ride into a new story and experience using modern techniques. MMM's creative team conjured up a brand-new storyline, taking inspiration from a character in the queue line of the original 1992 version of the attraction 'Haunted House'. Framestore, led by Creative Director Gavin Fox, were then tasked with developing the ride story narrative into tangible scenes and special effects.

Framestore worked with Merlin’s MMM to provide the additional creative concept which included: set designs, ride narrative, storyboarding, lighting concepts, music concepts, animatronic placements, special effect concepts, illusion design, facade design, concept art and projection effect concepts.

The original ‘Haunted House’ opened at Alton Towers in 1992, featuring a bespoke ride system. In 2003 it was revamped as “Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back” with the addition of an interactive laser gun game and a more fashionable zombie theme. After 20 years the ride was once again closed for 6 months to be almost completely redesigned as the now award-winning ‘The Curse at Alton Manor’, removing the laser guns in favour of a chilling narrative driven through a Victorian themed haunted house with a whole new storyline, set design and special effects.

The Storyline

The new storyline centres around a young girl named Emily Alton, who lived with her cruel parents in the opulent Alton Manor. In 1892, her parents hosted a lavish New Year’s Eve party in the grand hall, but as usual Emily was banished to her small playroom in the attic with only her cherished dolls house to amuse her. On the stroke of midnight Emily cursed the house, causing the party guests to instantly perish, as Emily and her parents mysteriously disappeared. Today, the house is up for sale and guests are invited inside for a viewing of the dilapidated property. The spirit of Emily joins them on their tour, revealing what happened on that night in 1892. After trying to play some creepy games with the guests she grows angry and shrinks them down to be dolls in her doll house for a terrifying and surreal finale. Weaving through giant demonic toys inside the doll house they eventually confront a huge screaming Emily reaching down from the ceiling.

This story has been carefully crafted to create something uniquely tied to Alton Towers, creating a compelling character in Emily that can carry the attraction’s brand who features heavily in marketing and merchandise.

Within the ride, every scene was reworked with most completely replaced. New lighting and sound design were updated throughout, and many new special effects were added such as projection mapping, media embedded pepper’s ghosts, directional audio, an infinity corridor effect, and a unique mirror illusion (the first of its kind in Europe) that makes the guests appear to disappear and turn into Emily.

The building facade, external queue area, surrounding land area, gift shop and F&B offering were all redesigned to reflect the new storyline and theme including a new musical score.

The ride opened to a tremendous reaction, from lifelong fans of the park through to new guests.

Gavin said: “I grew up with the haunted house at Alton Towers, so this was an amazing opportunity to really deep dive into its inner workings and then be given complete freedom to re-imagine the narrative and complete experience. Waiting for the guest reactions as it opened was completely nerve racking, but as they emerged glowing with praise (and some even in tears of joy), I could not have been prouder, it was a real passion project”.

• Client Merlin Magic Making from Merlin Entertainments
• Creative Lead, MMM John Burton
• Creative Director, MMM Carl Hackett
• Creative Director, Framestore Immersive Gavin Fox
• Executive Producer, Framestore Immersive Lauren Anderson
• Concept Artist Jonathan Ward

The Curse at Alton Manor Is A Return To The Classic Haunted House! DO NOT Miss This At Alton Towers

Alton Towers revealed details at the end of January about their new dark ride which has replaced Duel which shut at the beginning of September 2022. The Curse at Alton Manor opened on March 18 and is "a haunting dark ride, taking you on a hair-raising journey through the spectacular twists and turns of the cursed manor."

We were lucky to visit Alton Towers this week and are excited to report our findings about The Curse of Alton Manor. We will share our views and a range of photos of the attraction. SPOILER ALERT!

Image: Theme Park Tourist

We were pleased to see that the whole area has been given a make over including the shop, treat stand and photo booth and there were cast members dressed as two grave diggers with spades in hand wandering outside the attraction which certainly added atmosphere. The grave of Emily Alton lies in front of the house.

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Firstly due to it being a rainy day our wait time was 0 mins, we literally just walked straight in. Even on the better day it was only recording a maximum of 15 mins maximum throughout the day. The queue goes through the usual grave yard where you can enjoy looking at a whole host of stones with interesting wording which sets the atmosphere of what is to come.

Image: Theme Park Tourist Image: Theme Park Tourist Image: Theme Park Tourist Image: Theme Park Tourist Image: Theme Park Tourist Image: Theme Park Tourist

After winding your way around the grave yard you enter the main house and the first room sets the scene for the attraction. A voice tells you that it is New Year's Eve 1891 and they are holding a party to welcome in 1892. There is a house with projections in the downstairs and upstairs room. Emily Alton is sent upstairs to her bedroom, that night there is a mysterious storm where everyone perishes in the house, apart from the young girl.

In this room which you simply walk through, there are many iconic features including the rocking horse which rocks in a menacing way with nobody actually on it.

Image: Theme Park Tourist

You then head to the ride, each car has three seats across with two rows and you begin your adventure. There are numerous jump scares throughout the attraction, many with disfigured dolls, spiders and Emily Alton makes a number of appearances including at the end in the coffin located in a hearse. Part of the attraction is themed as a hide and seek game and the iconic tunnel remains with words such as "Come play with me, you will be mine". There are also puppets and a jack in the box.

The sound and lighting has been updated and there are state of the art projections throughout the attraction. It is certainly everything you would hope for from a haunted house.

Alton Towers released the official TV ad back in March for The Curse of Alton Manor and as expected Emily Alton appears to feature heavily. In the ad which can be seen below, Emily Alton is leading a game of hide and seek, "ready or not, here I come" and it ends with the words "she just wants to play". It is certainly a fantastic theme and we are very excited to be visiting in April to bring you our account of this new experience.

We invite you to watch the official TV ad for The Curse at Alton Manor, brand new for 2023!

Opening this Saturday, March 18th, find out more about this haunting dark ride and book now: https://t.co/9e4mPnK31Y pic.twitter.com/xq4UXt5J8G

In mid-February, Alton Towers announced that "The Curse at Alton Manor" would officially open on 18th March. Based on the poster advertising for this new attraction, it showed that guests will board a car just like in the original haunted house and in Duel. A girl seems to be featured behind the haunted house with her eyes covered which was rumoured as being Emily Alton who is back to take over the property!

Coming, ready or not! You better have your wits about you…

Dare you ride The Curse At Alton Manor?

The countdown has begun…👻 RT if you’re excited. pic.twitter.com/6RJHvwN4Ee

According to the now retired CEO for Merlin, Mark Fisher, in an interview with Stoke on Trent Live, the new dark ride will be taken back to its roots as a haunted house but will have a completely new story and we expect exciting visual effects to create many scares along the way.

The Curse of Alton Manor will tell the story of Emily Alton:

"Left alone in the attic, with nothing but her doll's house to keep this quiet but curious girl amused. Emily becomes lonely and forgotten, with nothing but the sound of music and laughter of the parties, hosted by her parents to the high of society, echoing through the floors from the grand hall below. Her hatred grew, fuelled by frustration and bitterness. Dark forces began to surround Emily, becoming a vessel for the evil that has seeped into every corner of the Manor."

Image: Alton Towers

In October, walls surrounded the former Duel attraction with posters that read, "Strictly no unwanted visitors. Due to unnatural displays in the area. For more information call 07436377346".

It was brilliant to see these details being added and I enjoyed calling the number to find out more! These small touches are what makes the fun for adults and kids alike and to hold the theming will make the attraction even better when it reopens after its refurbishment.

Towers Times were at Scarefest and in a Facebook post below captured Duel in a purple haze with details of further posters saying, "I want to play". Some fans are guessing this to be Emily Alton who is back to take over the property. There also appears to be peep holes to see some scary goings on inside. We will update you of further details when we have them here at Theme Park Tourist. Are you excited for the make over of Duel?

At the beginning of September there were reports online that a mysterious message had appeared in the queue line for Duel at Alton Towers which said "06 + 09 = The Duel is over. This is my house." It was confirmed that Duel has closed at Alton Towers and it has currently been removed from the queue times App.

The official website page for Duel now simply reads, "Property Repossessed, Strictly no unwanted visitors. Due to unnatural displays in the area." There is an email sign up to be kept up to date with further details when they are released.

Image: Alton Towers

Duel originally opened at Alton Towers in 1992 and was a traditional haunted house and it was in 2003 that laser guns were added and was refurbished to carry a zombie theme. Alton Towers is being very secretive so far regarding the plans for Duel but we are expecting that the laser guns will be removed and it is likely to be changed back to being a traditional haunted house but with a modern twist.

Let us know your thoughts on "The Curse at Alton Manor" by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.

The Curse at Alton Manor – A Review

I’d like to preface this review with two things, firstly I really liked Duel and never rode the original Haunted House. Secondly, I’ve only ridden The Curse at Alton Manor twice, so I might not have seen everything the attraction has to offer.

With that being said, The Curse at Alton Manor is a great ride, but not perfect. The ride takes place inside the same show building that Duel (and The Haunted House before it) used and follows the same track layout. The biggest difference between Duel and Curse at Alton Manor is the lack of guns, so no shooting this time around.

The set pieces use a few of the old Duel props such as the walls that move, giant spiders, a few smaller props as well as the old trommel tunnel which now works properly. Otherwise there are a lot of new props built into entierly new scenes. I’m not going to spoil anything that goes on in any of the scenes as it’s best ridden without know what’s coming, but I will say there is one effect mid ride that gives Hex a run for its money with how it messes with your orientation!

The story of the attraction is that Emily Alton lived with her parents at Alton Manor and on new year’s eve of 1892 a storm hits the house and supposedly kills everyone with Emily disappearing. The preshow tells you all this and then goes on to have Emily tell you exactly what happened. I’ll leave that for you to see as it’s a great preshow in itself.

The first time we rode it, I got off thinking that I did enjoy it but it was little bit overhyped. There are some great effects used in the attraction and the story is excellent but the ride itself seems to run a bit poorly. Our first ride kept stopping and I didn’t know whether it was part of the ride or not. Our second run was much better as the car continues to move throughout the ride and didn’t stop once, but I noticed that some scenes didn’t play the same as they did earlier. Now I hope this is intentional as this makes the ride very reridable and I hope it’s not the case that the attraction wasn’t working correctly.

It’s difficult to say how I truly feel about The Curse at Alton Manor as I didn’t get off with the same kind of excitement as I did when I first got off Gangsta Granny or Hex but I much prefer the story and set pieces of The Curse at Alton Manor. I really, really enjoyed Duel and I think that’s what makes it so difficult to say if it’s good or great when compared with Duel or the other dark rides I’ve mentioned. It’s definitely good and I can’t wait to get back on it but I wasn’t blown away with it like a lot of people have been. I think this one will certainly take a few rerides to fully take it all in and help me properly make up my mind!

The area outside the ride is great though as it now features live actors and props that really add to the charm of the attraction. The same can be said for the shop as you exit. This has had a good bit of attention and is inkeeping with the ride and area’s theme so you never lose the immersion of being in the Alton Manor during the events of the curse.

We’ll be back in a couple of weeks for Festival of Thrills and I’ll make sure to have another ride or two to try and cement what I feel about the ride. It took a few rerides of Flight of the Sky Lion to fully appreciate that, so maybe it’s the same here. For now though, I enjoyed The Curse at Alton Manor and look forward to trying it again throughout the season!

In the second task, a practical demonstration of magic, Mash showcases his unique approach by combining physical strength with magic. He defeats his opponents effortlessly and showcases his impressive combat skills. The episode ends with Mash passing the exam with flying colors, proving that magic is not limited to those with inherent talent but can be mastered through determination and hard work.

This episode emphasizes the main theme of the series: Mash's unconventional journey towards becoming a great magician through the power of his muscles..

Reviews for "Exploring the Themes of Acceptance and Belonging in Mashle Magic and Muscles Ep 8"

1. Sarah - 2/5 - I have been following Mashle: Magic and Muscles since the beginning, but episode 8 was a disappointment. The story seemed to be all over the place, lacking cohesiveness and focus. The comedic elements that I loved from previous episodes were almost absent, leaving me feeling unengaged. Additionally, the action scenes felt rushed and poorly executed. Overall, episode 8 failed to live up to the promising start of the series, and I hope that future episodes can bring back the charm and excitement that initially drew me in.

2. Mark - 1/5 - Mashle: Magic and Muscles episode 8 was a complete letdown. The plot felt forced and uninteresting, with no significant character development or story progression. The jokes, which were a highlight of previous episodes, fell flat and lacked the usual wit I had come to expect. Furthermore, the animation quality was noticeably lower, making the episode visually unappealing. As a fan of the series, I cannot help but be disappointed by this lackluster episode and hope that the next one improves significantly.

3. Emily - 2.5/5 - While I have enjoyed Mashle: Magic and Muscles up until now, episode 8 failed to engage me. The episode felt slow-paced and lacked the excitement and energy that the previous ones had. The humor seemed forced and overshadowed by awkward dialogue. Additionally, the animation quality seemed inconsistent, which was distracting. Overall, episode 8 did not meet my expectations based on the previous episodes, and I can only hope that the series regains its momentum in the upcoming episodes.

4. Alex - 2/5 - I have been a fan of Mashle: Magic and Muscles since its premiere, but episode 8 left much to be desired. The plot felt stagnant, with no substantial developments or interesting twists. The lack of character growth was disappointing, as I had hoped to see more depth and complexity in the storytelling. Furthermore, the fight scenes lacked the intense choreography that made the earlier episodes so captivating. Overall, episode 8 was a letdown, and I hope that the series takes a more engaging direction in the future episodes.

The Incredible World-Building in Mashle Magic and Muscles Ep 8