For re:publica 2022, German television channel ZDF organised an event to introduce a first audience to their upcoming sci-fi series, Der Schwarm, based on the bestselling novel by Frank Schätzing. After ZDF approached Berlin's flora&faunavisions about creating an immersive experience for the event, the studio quickly became inspired by elements of the book, which revolves around a mysterious underwater creature that brings deadly consequences for humans–a reminder of the effects our actions have had on Earth's oceans.
flora&faunavisions began by imagining four different water worlds across the event space's 22-metre wall and LED screen to evoke the same mystery found in Schätzing's novel. The water worlds morphed in mood, accompanying different topics discussed by an onstage panel. Within the opening sequence, for instance, a large wave slowly formed out of particles in the water, rolled along the wall past the audience, and swirled together in a mysterious circle on the large stage screen.
