Animal Treasure Island

Shortly after the opening, Looopings described how strongly Gardaland was positioning Animal Treasure Island. The renewed underground boat dark ride became the showcase attraction for the Italian park’s fiftieth anniversary and replaced I Corsari, the pirate ride from 1992. The 10 million euro investment brought new sets, characters and effects across a route of about 6,000 square meters. Gardaland called it a spectacular underground water attraction in which guests go treasure hunting on a mysterious island. The update was not limited to new decoration. Looopings described a ride of around eight and a half minutes with large scenes, animatronics, lighting effects and extensive video projection. Sound also played a leading role: more than 250 speakers and over 25 original tracks were meant to surround the boats with atmosphere. For fans, the most striking element was the arrival of a full cast of characters, with Captain Nine Lives facing Captain Blackbear and his gang. That made Animal Treasure Island more than a refurbishment: it became a new family IP with meet-and-greets and wider ambitions inside Merlin Entertainments.

In March 2025, Gardaland opened the curtain a little further on Animal Treasure Island. In a video, the park introduced Captain Nine Lives, a young adventurer who would play a central role in the new story. That made it clear the former pirate ride was not only receiving a technical upgrade, but a new universe with its own characters. For visitors and fans, this mattered because Merlin Entertainments positioned Animal Treasure Island as a brand that could eventually be used beyond Gardaland. The preview made the tone more concrete: playful, character-led and aimed at a family audience that could follow a recognizable heroine. At the same time, Gardaland shared more technical details. The attraction was due to be ready in April and would include new special effects, more than 250 speakers and a custom soundtrack for each of its 25 scenes. That pointed to a strong emphasis on sound and atmosphere, not just sets. The reveal marked the shift from investment announcement to a recognizable experience with faces, music and story.

In November 2024, the future of I Corsari finally became concrete. Gardaland confirmed that the underground pirate dark ride from 1992 would be transformed into Animal Treasure Island, a new attraction scheduled to open in 2025. The project involved an investment of around 10 million euros, while the existing ride system would remain in place. That made the plan especially interesting: not a full demolition, but a fundamental reinterpretation of a well-known boat ride. The park tied the renewal directly to Gardaland’s fiftieth anniversary. Animal Treasure Island was presented as an adventure experience across 6,000 square meters, with twenty scenes and original characters built around an epic quest and the battle between good and evil. For fans, the wider ambition stood out. Merlin Entertainments wanted Animal Treasure Island not just as a Gardaland project, but as a new brand that could later be used in other parks. That turned the attraction into more than a local makeover: Gardaland became the launch site for a dark ride concept Merlin could test internationally.