BBC Earth: Life in VR – California Coast by BBC Studios / Preloaded

This project has been selected in the Digital – Interactive Film & Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality category in The Annual 2019, CR’s award scheme celebrating the best in commercial creativity

Life in VR teaches users about the California coast by taking them on a virtual trip underwater. Users can hitch a ride with a squid, meet some inquisitive otters, and experience life on a microscopic scale while learning about the ecosystems that sustain this stretch of the Pacific Ocean. The experience is filled with surprises, from an encounter with a swarming group of krill to another with a giant sperm whale. And users explore a range of environments, from kelp forests to deep sea trenches. The action unfolds in real time, with animals responding to users’ movements.

Created for Google’s Daydream headset, it combines clever tech with engaging storytelling to create an informative and entertaining experience. “The challenge was to create a new format for delivering nature content using the unique features of VR,” says Preloaded. It has received a 4.5 out of 5 rating on the Google Play Store.

It’s the latest in a series of educational VR experiences from Preloaded: the studio won Best in Book for its Modigliani experience in 2018, which transported viewers to the artist’s Parisien studio.

Credits:
Lead Producer: Kevin Jorge. Head of Digital Ent & Games: Bradley Crooks. Head of Interactive: Tom Burton. Executive Producer: Charlotte Jones. VR: Preloaded. Creative Director: Phil Stuart.