Last Thursday, as part of its Disnery+ Day, which celebrates the meteoric rise of the streaming service, the media conglomerate debuted its first-ever augmented reality (AR) movie.
Elijah Allan-Blitz directed the AR short film Remembering, which stars Brie Larson as a character discovering her inner child and analyzing an individual’s source of creativity.
The inspirational short film features its lead discovering an immersive “World of Imagination” displayed as an AR visualization. The short movie utilizes Remembering: The AR Experience, a Disney+ sister application, to stream the campaign.
To access the experience, iPhone and iPad users scan a QR code on their TV to watch the short film’s AR visualizations. The Disney+ TV application also streams extra 2D footage while the AR assets play.
Director Elijah Allan-Blitz said AR is key to changing how individuals interact with media.
He added,
“The AR experience moves away from a typical passive experience of streaming and allows viewers to engage with it in a deeper way. That makes it something that you’re going to remember on a deeper level than just something you watch. It’s actually something you did”
The application is exclusive to Apple products, but Disney claims an Android version is coming soon.
VR Walkthroughs
The Walt Disney Company is also exploring ways to harness virtual reality (VR). The firm now supplies VR walkthroughs of its Disney Cruise Line Staterooms.
The immersive service enables desktops users to explore a stateroom’s real-time 3D (RT3D) digital twin. Additionally, Disney allows Meta Quest 2 operators to explore a potential holiday room via the headset.
Spatial data company Matterport provides Disney with 21 RT3D interiors of its rooms. Additionally, Disney and Matterport provide a digital twin of the Family Beach Cabana on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, for potential holidaymakers.
XR Initiatives and Accelerators
In July, Disney cemented its dedication to scaling and supporting extended reality (XR) startups. The firm launched a web3 accelerator last month to promote the growth of innovative technology firms, including AR, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and artificial intelligence (AI) services.
Disney says the accelerator will support XR immersive content for audiences and guests over the next 100 years. Selected firms include Polygon Studios, FlickPlay, Lockerverse, Inworld, Obsess, and Red 6.
Disney’s campaign secures the picked firms with investment capital, senior guidance, a dedicated executive mentor, and a technology showcase opportunity at Walt Disney Studios.
The news came after Disney hired Mark Bozon as the VP of Next Generation Storytelling Creative Experiences in June. The Apple veteran is assisting the firm in developing Metaverse experiences for its audiences at home.
