Review: INVASION!

I'm a big fan of virtual reality, so when I saw a VR animated short film, I watched it almost immediately. "INVASION!" is an animated short currently on most VR platforms. It was made by Baobab Studios, led by previous employees of Pixar and Dreamworks, so I expected something great.

The story is about a rabbit and his encounter with some aliens, but despite the simple premise, it's pulled off really well. From a nice establishing shot in space (narrated by Ethan Hawke), all the way to the "Invasion" the short is named for, everything goes together very nicely. The character designs are all really beautiful, and their expressions tell the viewer exactly what they're thinking, since there is no dialogue (in english, anyway. The aliens talk, but in a cute gibberish). The aliens, named Mac and Cheez, are really what drive the story, being the source of most of the comedy, which reminds me of some of the old Mickey Mouse or Looney Tunes shows; a childish, slapstick feel. But just because it looks like a kids movie, anyone would really appreciate it.

The VR works well, too. It always makes you feel like part of the action. A lot of 360 degree videos are confusing, with nothing really directing your eyes where to look, but it works well in this short. Since there is 3-D audio, you can usually hear where the action is going on, and if you get turned around, you can just look at the rabbit (who is standing right over your shoulder for most of the video, further making you feel immersed)  to see where to look. His eyes are always clearly pointed towards the action, which is a really nice detail.

In conclusion, I think "INVASION!" really shows that animation, as well as other video entertainment has a good future in virtual reality. "INVASION!" even won a Daytime Emmy earlier this year, which hopefully inspires others to explore this medium. When Baobab releases the sequel, "ASTEROIDS!", later this year, I hope even more people will be able to see this awesome storytelling experience.

Baobab's website: http://www.baobabstudios.com/invasion/