World’s First Gruffalo Lantern Marks Milestone for IP Partnerships in the UK Attractions Sector

On 15 November 2025, Twycross Zoo in the West Midlands unveiled something never seen before in the global attractions industry: the world’s first officially licensed Gruffalo lantern installation, created as part of the new winter trail Lanterns of the Wild.

Running on select evenings until 22 February 2026, the event transforms the zoo with more than 2,000 handcrafted lanterns, illuminating wildlife, habitats and stories from around the world.

More than 3,000 guests attended opening night, witnessing a project that has quickly become a benchmark for how high-quality visual design and precise IP fidelity can unlock collaboration with world-renowned story brands. To learn more about the spectacular light festival, please visit our recent project.

When Craftsmanship Unlocks IP: A Landmark Approval from The Gruffalo’s Creators

Securing approval to produce The Gruffalo—a globally beloved character by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler—as a 3D illuminated lantern required more than artistic talent. It required proof of:

• Accuracy to the original illustrations
• Ability to sculpt expressive, emotionally resonant figures
• Confidence in build quality, safety and material durability
• A production style that respects the character’s cultural and commercial value

InLight Festival’s production team, known for decades of specialized lantern artistry, achieved a level of likeness and character expression that convinced one of the most selective IP owners in children’s publishing to greenlight their first-ever lantern adaptation.

The result is a living example of how exceptional workmanship opens doors to premium licensing collaborations—creating a new template for zoos, parks and attractions seeking IP-led seasonal content.

A Study in Craftsmanship: From Monumental Structures to Fine Detail

Behind Lanterns of the Wild is a team of 185 artisans from Zigong, the home of China’s lantern-making heritage.

Forty experts spent two months onsite in the UK shaping, welding, painting and refining every sculpture—ranging from monumental icons to delicately detailed natural forms.

Signature highlights include:

A Mount Rushmore-style installation spanning 25 meters long and 8 meters high, a giant octopus, eight meters tall and eight meters wide, detailed lantern wildlife representing ecosystems from Asia, Africa, the Amazon and the North Atlantic.

Thousands of illuminated plants and insects designed with scientifically informed colors and textures. Each element showcases InLight’s dual capability: grand spectacle and meticulous realism—a combination that is crucial when working with IP owners who expect precision, recognizability and emotional fidelity.

Why It Matters to Attractions: A Blueprint for IP-Driven Light Festivals

Lanterns of the Wild is more than a beautiful night trail. It represents a new operational model for modern attractions, demonstrating what licensed light festivals can offer:

1. Built-in audience trust and recognition

A beloved IP like The Gruffalo accelerates marketing traction and broadens family appeal.

2. Seamless integration of character storytelling and environmental themes

The trail merges narrative, wildlife interpretation and conservation messages—turning lanterns into education tools.

3. Coherent design aligned with brand guidelines

Every lantern, color tone and scenic transition reflects both the zoo’s identity and the IP’s signature visual language.

4. Increased night-time revenue and off-season activation

Projected attendance of hundreds of thousands + visitors positions the trail as a major winter draw for the Midlands.

5. A replicable model for other venues

The partnership provides a proof-of-concept for zoos, botanical gardens and parks seeking licensed evening products that deliver both cultural value and commercial performance.

If your organization is exploring IP-driven festivals, family light trails or new ways to activate your site after dark, InLight’s team would be happy to discuss what a customized project could look like for you.

A Transformative Winter Experience for the Midlands Region

Located between Birmingham and Leicester, Twycross Zoo has gained a high-profile evening attraction for the first time in its history.

The lantern festival is expected to support: regional tourism, local hospitality businesses, winter visitation growth, new family and group segments, increased engagement with conservation messaging, The event has been widely praised for balancing spectacle, learning and accessibility, with families responding strongly to the visual richness and recognisable characters.

Lanterns of the wild is a New Standard for Licensed Lantern Festivals. It demonstrates what is possible when: a rights-holder protects a valuable brand, a venue seeks innovative seasonal programming, and a lantern producer delivers world-class design and IP-compliant artistry.

For attractions considering their next step in seasonal activation—whether through known characters, environmental themes or cultural partnerships—this project stands as a compelling case study.