Disney to debut its first virtual reality film short at SIGGRAPH 2018
Walt Disney Animation Studios first ever virtual reality short “Cycles” will make its world debut at SIGGRAPH 2018 in Vancouver.
The experimental film, from director Jeff Gipson, centers around the true meaning of creating a home and the life it holds inside its walls.
“We wanted to create a story in this single place and be able to have the viewer witness life happening around them. It is an emotionally driven film, expressing the real ups and downs, the happy and sad moments in life,” Gipson said in news release.
The idea for the film is inspired by Gipson’s childhood spending time with his grandparents and creating memories in their home, and later, having to move them to an assisted living residence. “Every house has a story unique to the people, the characters who live there,” he said.
It took about 50 people four months to produce the short. This was part of a professional development program at the studio. This is Gipson’s directorial debut. He has been with Walt Disney Animation since 2013 and has worked on a number of films as a lighting artist, including “Frozen,” “Big Hero 6,” “Moana,” “Zootopia” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”
SIGGRAPH 2018, the world’s leading annual interdisciplinary educational event showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. It will be taking place August 12-16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
