Disney's new short film
Cycles is unlike anything we've ever seen before. That's because it's the studio's first attempt to bridge virtual-reality technology with an animated short. And now, EW has shared with us a first look at the upcoming short film which premiered at Vancouver's SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival in August.
Directed by Jeff Gipson with production lead Lauren Brown,
Cycles will invite audience members into the living room of a midcentury modern home. While wearing a VR headset, viewers are able to look around the home and see things like the foyer, kitchen, and backyard in full, 360-degree view. As the film progresses, viewers will witness their surroundings change as we travel in time from the '50s to the present. EW details:
As the film begins, underscored by an original song penned by Gipson’s mother, participants can look in any direction (although the hope is that they look to their right) as the surroundings change and characters, holidays, and furniture usher the house from the ’50s to the present, telling the story of the people who live there — or did, once upon a time.
Gipson's life as an architect, BMX biker, and grandson greatly influenced the concept and story of
Cycles. The premise, which revolves around this changing home, is inspired by a lesson he learned at architecture school - "that every building can tell a story." As a BMX biker, Gipson spent time in abandoned swimming pools attached to vacant homes with imprints of the former residents. And lastly, his relationship with his grandmother is where
Cycles finds its emotional hook.
“Growing up, I loved being around my grandmother and seeing old photos,” Gipson explained.
“Eventually, my grandfather passed away and we had to have the hard conversation, much like many families do, about moving her into assisted living. And eventually we put the house up for sale, and I remember looking over it one last time and seeing the indentations in the carpet where the furniture sat, and knowing that my name was etched into the back cabinet in the music room, and my handprints in the driveway. It was just like the homes that I go to in Los Angeles, except this home held the story of my family.”
It's really the usage of virtual-reality in telling this story that's truly captivating and Gipson is excited about the technology's future impact on storytelling. He explained:
“I think what draws me to it is that I don’t think anyone knows [what to do with VR]. I feel like we’re starting to scratch on something where you can tell stories in new ways, and I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if there were more things to come from the studio. Since we’ve shown it, there’s been so much excitement and curiosity. In film, there’s a distinct language — how a camera is set up, or how characters move across a screen, or how to compose a frame. But in VR, we’re in a state where we’re still figuring it all out, and I love that. There is no right or wrong answer yet.”
Cycles will be shown at the New York Film Festival, starting September 29. In the meantime, check out some of the new images and concept art below.