Circuses have had a pretty bad rap in recent years with animals attacking trainers, children in the audience and even collapsing under stress.
The Wild Animals in Circuses Bill was discussed in the House of Commons yesterday as a UK ban comes into force - but could holographic shows be the answer to the future of the circus?
The brains behind this beautiful display is German performance group Circus Roncalli. They phased out the use of animals back in the nineties and have now opted to use projections of them instead.
Advert
The move has been dubbed a 'wonderful stop to the cruelty of animals' with others calling it a 'brilliant idea'.
Markus Strobl, media director of the circus, told German publication RP Online: "Most of the numbers in the show would already be done by the artists and clowns today anyway. The focus of the Circus Roncalli is on poetic and acrobatic numbers."
If you were thinking you'd seen this before, you're probably right because the show has been around since last year - but only recently went viral.
Advert
At 32 metres (105ft) wide and five metre (16ft) tall, the projections can't really be missed. Or forgotten easily either.
Bernhard Paul who founded the company put over 500,000 euros (£443,000) into the venture which now has over 600,000 visitors all paying between 29 and 70 euros (£25-62).
It's clear that Circus Roncalli are way ahead of the game and speaking about the advancements in technology Jan Creamer, told The Dodo: "Thankfully the public is voting with their feet, and increasingly visiting shows where the performers get to choose instead of being forced to perform."
Advert
The President of the Animal Defenders International, added: "This is the future of circus - a performance everyone can enjoy and for which intelligent, sentient beings are not used and depicted as objects of entertainment".
Back in May, Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced that a new Bill would prevent animals such as reindeer, zebras and camels - which are currently used - from performing as part of travelling circuses.
The Wild Animals in Circuses Bill will make it illegal for circus operators in England to use wild animals in a bid to further the conservation of our understanding of wild animals.
Advert
In a statement, Mr Gove explained: "Travelling circuses are no place for wild animals in the 21st century and I am pleased that this legislation will put an end to this practice for good."
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Optoma EMEATopics: News, Germany, Circus, Animals