Each animation cycle was programmed using a complex math equation to traverse the five bays that encompass the Space Frame, each of which had different dimensions. And due to both the scale and the technology involved, Jane commented that, "the subtly we are accustomed to in animation just didn't work. We were lucky to get it right the first time because we tried to tell too much of a story. We learned from our experience to use much broader elements in our design."

Scenes from the Fremont Street Experience. © The Fremont Street Experience Company.

Rodeo features large blocked images of legendary cowboy heroes crisscross across the arc of the Space Frame and ends with a beautiful array of constellations streaming across the screen. Some of the eight animated cycles display the words to the song as in the old Fleischer sing-a-longs. "People at the show really get involved, singing and dancing along. It was exciting to watch first hand," Jane remarked. Her favorite part, though, is the opening, which is animated to Willie Nelson's "Don't Let Your Sons Grow Up to be Cowboys."

The Fremont Street Experience has had some success in attracting traffic downtown, with gaming revenues alone having increasing almost 16% since March, the biggest month-to-month increase in 4 years. It is not often that animation can both pioneer a new technique and bring a new vitality to a major urban landscape. We shouldn't expect any less from the glimmering lights and minds of Las Vegas.

Frankie Kowalski is Associate Editor of Animation World Magazine and is currently on ASIFA-Hollywood's Board of Directors. She was a recent contributor to Daily Variety's Special Animation Issue.