The recent Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, has transformed into something of an AR/VR showcase once again. From Star Wars Jedi Knights to Marvel's League of Legends, Disney's vast array of intellectual property (IP) assets has proven to be a key driver for the industry's growth. Perhaps the saying holds true: when it comes to the mass market, nothing is as strategically important as a big IP. While collaborations with tech giants like Lenovo or Oculus might seem significant, they're just minor highlights compared to Disney's mainstay businesses in film and entertainment.
However, beyond the realm of IPs, Disney's own innovations in animation production, visual effects, and immersive storytelling in VR/AR are equally impressive. These efforts often lead the charge in technological advancements within the industry.
In relation to the VR/AR sector, besides the newly announced Star Wars AR headset and Marvel VR games, Disney also unveiled a special surprise for fans during the D23 Expo weekend—a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming "Lion King" remake.
The new version of Simba, which garnered significant buzz among the 7,000 fans present, is a hybrid live-action and CGI-animated film. The live-action footage was captured by the crew on location in Africa, featuring breathtaking landscapes and wildlife such as elephants and lions. This exclusive content was screened exclusively for D23 attendees and won't be released on any digital platforms. Interestingly, the final shot featured Rafiki, the wise old mandrill, holding a young Simba atop a familiar rock.
The new "Lion King," scheduled for release in July 2019, will be directed by Jon Favreau, who also helmed "The Jungle Book." The visual effects team includes the same VFX team from "The Jungle Book," which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
The director and VFX team have already begun production in Los Angeles, utilizing virtual reality tools and advanced production techniques to bring the film to life. As Rob Legato, the VFX supervisor at MVP, mentioned at the NAB show earlier this year:
"We plan to extensively utilize virtual reality production tools to provide viewers with an immersive experience where they feel as if they're part of the story. Wearing a VR headset, users can 'step into' a real movie scene, much like a photographer exploring a set. Our actors can move freely within these environments, interacting naturally because everything—the trees, characters—are three-dimensional."
Although Disney hasn’t revealed much about its production process, it’s clear they’re pushing boundaries in allowing audiences to explore and interact with the film's universe. While the current "Jungle Book" VR experience offers a basic 360-degree video, the upcoming "Lion King" release could mark a significant leap forward in immersive storytelling.
Disney’s previous foray into immersive narratives came earlier this year with "The Jungle Book," which, while visually stunning, excelled particularly in its VR experience. With the interactive Oculus Touch version, audiences finally got hands-on in a Disney film. Our optimism about VR storytelling isn't just based on Disney's strides in this area but also on their deep roots in visual effects expertise.
We've previously detailed how this year's return of Ridley Scott's "Alien: Covenant" and its accompanying VR experience showcases Hollywood's top-tier special effects talent. For these veterans, creating a movie VR experience or a standalone VR film is relatively straightforward, thanks to their experience in the VR content team.
In terms of using CGI to create virtual reality environments and building virtual sets for actors to preview, MVC's VFX team has unparalleled expertise. During the production of "The Jungle Book," the team spent weeks researching the jungles of India, meticulously recreating every branch, leaf, and moss-covered tree. Young Neel Sethi, the human protagonist, seamlessly interacted with these digital creatures.
With such a robust virtual set-up, reserving certain "interactive moments" for the audience could significantly reduce costs and time, enabling the realization of interactive, immersive stories. The long-term evolution of film visual effects technology has given the VFX team a distinct edge in material acquisition, production tools, virtual set construction, and overall CG technology workflows.
Additionally, MVC's VFX team has achieved remarkable likeness between animated characters and voice actors through facial recognition technology. Remember how the older bear in "The Jungle Book" resembled Bill Murray, who voiced it? The team studied countless animal videos to capture their essence, blending them with the traits of the voice actors to create these iconic animated figures.
For the 2019 "Lion King," the star-studded cast includes Donald Glover (as Simba), James Earl Jones (returning as Mufasa), and others. The new generation of CGI stars is sure to be unforgettable.
In the burgeoning world of VR/AR entertainment content creation, Disney stands as a seasoned veteran, akin to Rafiki in "The Lion King": Follow the old Rafiki, he knows the way!
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