Aardman Digital‘s first full virtual reality project, We Wait, has been unveiled at the Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Produced in collaboration with the BBC, it uses cutting edge animation techniques to place the viewer among migrants making the perilous journey from Syria to Greece.

Although fictionalised, the story is based on BBC news reports of real events and is intended to foster a visceral understanding of what it’s like to cross the Mediterranean in an overcrowded boat.

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Dan Efergan, Aardman’s creative director of digital, told trade journal Screen Daily: “When the brief came out, our ears pricked up in the interactive team. Aardman has always been about story and characters, and being a load of geeks in a room, we were excited to explore how VR could help us tell stories better and increase emotional engagement, rather than just being a shiny toy.”

To add to the sense of realism, viewers are able to make eye contact and interact with different characters during the journey. We Wait is available to download now on the BBC Taster website, which showcases new ideas in digital content and emerging technology. The catch is that you need a swanky Oculus Rift VR headset and a powerful PC to experience it.

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