On this auspicious day in the event of Christmas, Google has created the ‘reason for the season’ on YouTube by one of its “Spotlight Stories” called Special Delivery. This animated short is way different from other animated films because it is literally interactive in all terms!
Created by the renowned Studio Aardman Animation (creators of Shaun the Sheep), this 4:14 min animated short is based on a Santa themed story. The whole film features a mysterious Santa leaving gifts in different houses on a cold Christmas night. And, the mystery continues as a custodian tries to get hold of the Santa but misses him by a slight notch every time.
But, how this new form of storytelling designed by Google is interactive and unique? Well, the navigation and sensors on your desktop and phone will allow to view the story in any possible angle. So, you can be a part of the story in a whole 360 degree angle. In short, you can see everything right from the expanse of the night sky till the depth of the white snow.
This animated short is not just One story! There are 10 subplots that you may want to unwind as you view it from different angles. To add to the excitement, there are three ways to view the ending and over 60 moments where you can choose to follow the story in different ways. Thus, you unlock several mini stories as you travel along one single story.
Google has also concentrated specifically on music to bring the feel of Christmas alive as the story ends with a Christmas carol. And the entire story has a suspense background music which enhances the suspense element and ropes in the viewers.
This animated short is available on YouTube worldwide and also on the YouTube app on an array of Android-powered smartphones. Along with this, Google has also created a YouTube version 360 so those with other Android devices can still view the short, as well as those on iOS devices and the web. And there’s a Google Cardboard viewing option, too.
The technology for making these mini-movies was first developed by Motorola Mobility’s Advanced Technology and Products (ATAP) division, but Google continued to fund its development. And with this highly interactive, innovative and interesting animated short, Google has definitely fabricated a paradigm shift from the point of creation of animated films and also viewing the same.