There’s no more exciting format for virtual reality than animation. If Guillermo Del Toro claims that “animation is cinema”, it’s obvious that the creative and escapist capacity of animation is perfectly in tune with the possibilities of VR. And if we add real-time engines, which by their very nature create multi-dimensional images, the field of investigation is immense! Animation offers some of the classics of immersive creation, supported by international studios and talents.
Gloomy Eyes
Directed by Fernando Maldonado and Jorge Tereso
In a landscape worthy of the greatest films by Tim Burton and Henry Selick (“The Strange Christmas of Mr. Jack”), young zombie Gloomy is looking for love. This Franco-Argentine co-production, released in 2019, has become the benchmark for what virtual reality could offer in terms of narrative and visual creation. A pop classic with a fascinating universe, voiced by Tahar Rahim in French and Colin Farrell in English.
Flow
Directed by Adriaan Lokman
Dutch director Adriaan Lokman adapts his own 2D short for this breathtakingly minimalist film, in which vanishing lines build up a deeply moving story. An award-winner at the recent Venice Film Festival, this film perfectly demonstrates that virtual reality can offer innovative forms of storytelling.
Dear Angelica
Directed by Saschka Unseld
When virtual reality first emerged as a creative medium, Oculus (which became Meta in 2023) launched its own Oculus Story Studio. Closed in 2019, this “Pixar of VR” produced some of the finest animated shorts the medium is known for. A film about grief, Dear Angelica is one of the first works to use the capacity of 3D animation software (Quill) to draw the story live. An instant masterpiece.
The Line
Directed by Ricardo Laganaro
How do you fall in love? In this miniature game, follow the twists and turns of Pedro and Rosa’s encounter. Help the young hero find his sweetheart in scenes where you’re in control. An interactive and entertaining story, The Line stands out for its strong romantic vocation, and a lightness that feels good. Don’t miss the surprises the story has to offer!
Wolves in the Walls
Directed by Pete Billington
Adapted from the book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, Wolves in the Walls follows the adventures of Lucy, a young girl exploring her new home and strange cries coming from… the walls!One of the first experiences to feature intelligent interaction with the heroine, and the ability to participate in the story across several chapters.A dense and particularly enjoyable experience for those who enjoy solving haunted house mysteries.
Battlescar
Directed by Martin Allais and Nico Casavecchia
Let’s rock! Or rather, punk.Battlescar plunges you into the New York underground of the 70s, with a visual frenzy and unprecedented creative inventiveness. The full potential of virtual reality is brought to life in this story of two heroines on the run. As beautiful as it is entertaining, Battlescar imposes its style and free spirit on the world.
Madrid Noir
Directed by James Castillo
Noir novels also have their place in virtual reality. At the heart of a story where you can play detective, as the niece of a missing man, wander the streets of Madrid to solve the mystery.With a smoky atmosphere, cinematic settings, maximum interaction and exploration, you really are the hero (or heroine) of the story.
Biolum
Directed by Abel Kohen
Claustrophobes abstain! Biolum plunges you into the depths of the ocean for a metaphysical experience that begins with a discovery of the seabed… and ends with an adventure worthy of the greatest science-fiction stories.A videogame-like proposition, where you have to find the resources to get out of the trap of the abyss. Exciting stuff.
Blind Vaysha
Directed by Theodore Ushev
Inspired by Georgi Gospodinov’s “Vaysha, the Blind”, this is a magnificent metaphorical tale that uses virtual reality to bring you face to face with a double story: that of the heroine’s past, and that of her present. A demonstration that immersive narration can offer highly sensitive stories, in a more independent approach than some big productions.
Gravity
Directed by Fabito Rychter and Amir Admoni
A true fantasy that goes off the beaten track with this free-fall story, in which two protagonists try to swap places. This Brazilian production plunges straight into an absurd and very funny universe, playing with the idea of immersion. A real festival hit!
