As the animation art form evolves in the 21st century, it has the potential to transcend its history as a passive viewing experience and become an immersive and interactive experience in which the viewer experiences the cartoon world from within. We’re not there and won’t be yet for a few years, but baby steps toward this goal are being taken everyday.
The latest step toward this new frontier is the news that show creator Bruce Timm is working with tech company Otoy to recreate the Batcave from Batman: The Animated Series as an immersive entertainment experience. Being produced in collaboration with Warner Digital Series and DC Entertainment, Batman’s space will be brought to life via interactive holographic video for consumer VR devices such as the Samsung GALAXY Gear VR, the Oculus Rift, and forthcoming ‘glasses-free’ light field displays.