Immersive Storytelling: How VR and AR are Leading Animation Trends
Do you want to know two advanced technologies that are making immersive experiences for audiences to communicate with a three-dimensional world? These are surely augmented reality (AR) and Virtual reality (VR). These technologies empower both storytellers as well as animators to break the limitations of traditional media. Here, in this blog, we are going to highlight how these technologies are leading these animation trends, their role play in the industry and how they are creating unique experiences.
A brief overview of AR and VR
Before diving into their influence on animation trends, let’s have a look at these two current technologies.
Augmented Reality (AR): This technology enriches your perception of reality by overlaying digital elements onto the real world. So, with the help of devices such as AR glasses or smartphones, you can see and communicate with animated objects or characters in your real surroundings. Despite replacement, AR helps enhance the existing world.
Virtual Reality (VR): By replacing the real world, VR can immerse you in a total digital environment. As a result, by using VR headsets, you can explore the 3D animated world, engage with the story of the world and directly interact with its characters.
So, we can say that both AR and VR provide unique platforms for animators in personalised, immersive, and interactive storytelling processes.
How AR and VR are leading current trends of animation?
These two new technologies have introduced an innovative era in storytelling approach in animation trends. As a benefit, it is creating a positive role on audience engagement and interactive capabilities. Let’s check out how they are leading the current trends.
Immersive World-Building
With the help of AR and VR, animators can create richly-detailed and expansive worlds that you can explore in 360 degrees. Whether these worlds are grounded or fantastical in reality, these technologies offer a remarkable immersion level. In traditional animations, the actions are framed through a static lens. In contrast, when VR is used, inside the scene, you can look around and explore each detail.
For instance, when you have a VR animated experience, you can explore a beautifully crafted world while following the love story of two miniature dolls. Despite just watching, you can perform different activities such as physical interaction with objects, moving through different environments, opening doors and others thanks to the immersive experience.
Interactive Storytelling
In traditional media, the story unfolds in a linear and predetermined way. However, AR and VR focuses on interactive and non-linear storytelling, where you can influence the story’s direction as per your choice.
Isn’t that “choose-your-own-adventure” amazing?
So, don’t just watch passively, where you can explore the world, interact with characters, and give the narrative a new dimension in real time.
For example, Wolves in the Walls is considered as a successful immersive VR film. Here, you can communicate with the characters and animated world.
Collaborative Storytelling
In current animation trends, collaborative Storytelling is all about participation of multiple users in a shared animated AR or VR experience. In VR, you and your friends can join the same virtual environment, communicate with each other and create impacts on the narrative collectively. As a benefit, it opens a new chapter of multiplayer storytelling. For example-, you and your friends can work together to complete quests, experience an animated storyline, or solve puzzles.
On the other hand, in AR, you can have a similar collaborative experience, however, it is rooted in the real world. Consider the example of AR filters in Snapchat where multiple users can communicate with the same animated elements in a shared physical space. As a positive outcome, this real-time collaboration makes storytelling more social and dynamic than the traditional one.
Personalised Experiences
Talking about the uniqueness of AR, it can create personalised animation experiences. Due to AR applications, the animated characters are visible in their own environment. Take the example of Pokémon Go. It made AR technology famous as players can catch animated creatures in real-world locations. As a result, this blend of digital and physical worlds widens the possibilities for personalised storytelling.
Currently, animators are working on different ways of narrative and character creation that can be variable according to the interactions of viewers. Here, animated characters can respond to body language, spoken words, and user emotions. So, unlike traditional animation, it creates a two-way interaction.
How Does the Integration of VR and AR into Animation Production Impact?
This advanced integration is modifying the way of storytelling as well as animation production. So, traditional 3D and 2D techniques of animation need to evolve so that they can meet new platform requirements in current animation trends.
Real-Time Rendering
Real-time rendering has become an important element with AR and VR. In traditional animation, you have no control over the camera as a viewer. In contrast, AR and VR need the environment for quick response to user actions. Presently, engines of real-time rendering, such as Unity and Unreal Engine have become important tools for animators. These engines enable instant interaction and feedback in virtual environments.
Motion Capture and 3D Modelling
AR and VR demands a high level of realism and detailing in animated environments. For this, animators need to invest in motion capture and advanced 3D modelling technology. With motion capture, animators can create lifelike characters, moving and reacting naturally in a virtual environment.
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Wrapping Up
AR and VR are leading trends of animation by transforming the storytelling experience. These technologies bring interactive, immersive, and personalised content that engages viewers in ways traditional media cannot. So, with continuous modification of VR and AR, It will definitely transform the future of animation. As a benefit, you can enjoy an interactive and immersive medium than ever before.
