Circus Roncalli impressed audiences with an all-holographic animal show, completing a phase-out of live animals the circus had begun in the 1990s.
Some of the holographic performances are replicates of the traditional circus acts, like the performing elephant and ethereal ring of horses galloping around the top. However, other acts are fantastical, where the spectators were treated to the sight of a large goldfish floating in the middle of the ring.
The holographic projections come in a 360-degree visibility for the spectators seated around ring.
The German production started shifting to 3-D holograms at a time when activists and governments are cracking down on cruelty to animals in circuses, according to the Smithsonian.
Animal-rights groups have been targeting circuses for years, following reports of horrifying animal cruelty. Activist groups like PETA hounded the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey until they went out of business in 2017.
Meanwhile, seven US states and 149 counties, towns and cities have joined more than 40 countries in restricting or banning animal performances.
Taking Circus Roncalli as an example, we can safely say that this concern over the treatment of animals does not mean that they can be completely absent from the performances, but with help of technology, the show can go on.
