Disney is no stranger to the world of VR, having invested in companies like Jaunt, as well as commissioning Epic Games to produce a fun VR demo based in the Star Wars universe. But now, thanks to a new partnership with Nokia Technologies, it has some fun new demos that immerse viewers into its hit movies.
The company released a series of new virtual reality demos that are available for download free of charge on Steam, each featuring a popular Disney franchise. Demos based on The Jungle Book, Captain America: Civil War and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are available, providing viewers a quick but entertaining look around each respective universe.
For instance, in one of the demos for The Jungle Book, viewers will be engaged by Kaa, the female snake voiced by Scarlett Johannsen, who tries to comfort you before swallowing the viewer whole. Meanwhile, Civil War features a recreation of the movie’s big Hollywood premiere, while The Force Awakens whisks you around the Star Wars universe, complete with an appearance from the BB-8 droid.
The demos utilize Nokia’s OZO technology to enable virtual reality experiences, immersing viewers in better ways than ever before.
“Virtual reality represents a new frontier in storytelling, and we’re thrilled to be bringing this VR technology to the team at Disney,” said Ramzi Haidamus, president at Nokia Technologies, regarding the partnering with Disney last month. “OZO will help Disney bring their film properties to life in new ways through immersive entertainment experiences, and our focus will be on helping them get the most out of VR as they begin to uncover all that it has to offer.”
The companies previously worked together to produce special 360-degree videos for the premiere of The Jungle Book, including the red carpet premiere and interviews with the cast.
With this deal and the introduction of these demo videos, Disney is likely just getting started in the VR world, and could introduce more experiences with upcoming films like Alice Through the Looking Glass and Finding Dory.
