This is what you get when you combine robotics, the projection-mapping of 3D computer graphics, and an actor all working together in perfect synchronization. It's a five-minute short film called "The Box" — and it's nothing short of revolutionary.


The short film was produced by San Francisco-based design and engineering firm Bot & Dolly. It's the first of its kind — an achievement the producers believe will "radically transform theatrical presentations and define new genres of expression." The creators describe the film as being both an “artistic statement and technical demonstration”, one that explores “the synthesis of real and digital space through projection mapping on moving surfaces”.

To create this stunning effect, Bot & Dolly used an actor, two high-resolution projectors, two 2D monitors, and three industrial robots (one for the camera) that were synchronized and controlled by integrating their own software with Autodesk's Maya.


And yes, this live performance was all captured in camera.