If 2016 was the year that VR officially landed, 2017 is the time when those with their hands on the hardware and the software can prove that there’s more to it than racing around in Hover Junkers on your Vive or pretending to be the caped crusader on your PlayStation VR.
It’s already happening in the film industry as virtual reality invades the festival scene whether it’s Sundance, Tribeca or over in Cannes. The idea of using VR for storytelling remains a divisive subject with big Hollywood names like Steven Spielberg still unsure about its value. But that hasn’t stopped high profile filmmakers dabbling with the tech and it looks like it’s already starting to pay off.
Whether Spielberg and Hollywood’s other elite like it or not, VR films are happening and they are showing signs of breaking into the mainstream in a big way.
So what’s happened?
VR got some serious love this week at the most illustrious awards ceremonies of them all, the Academy Awards – better known as the Oscars. Pearl became the first ever VR film to bag a nomination and is up for best animated short.
What’s it about and who made it?
Pearl tells the story of a father and daughter on the road crisscrossing the country chasing their dreams. It’s been directed by Patrick Osbourne who has already bagged an Oscar for his Disney animated short Feast.
Where can I find it?
It’s part of Google’s Spotlight Stories app, a hub for animated shorts and experiences, which also includes Help by Fast and Furious director Justin Lin and the recent Planet of the CouchesVR couch gag created to celebrate the 600th episode of The Simpsons.
How do I watch it?
You’ll need your smartphone and a VR headset like Google Cardboard. Once you’ve downloaded the Spotlight Stories app, you’re good to go. It’s also available on YouTube and we’ve stuck a link below if you want to give it a watch using the 360-degree cursor in the top left of the video to navigate around the scene.
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Source: Wareable