Experience The Lion King Musical in Virtual Reality

Disney’s The Lion King is one of the most beloved Broadway musicals of all time. The play is the third-longest running show in history, and the highest grossing Broadway musical of all time. Now, they're taking the show on the road—not as a touring company production, but as a virtual reality experience.

Disney Theatrical Productions didn’t actually record the entire musical in VR—rather, they’ve released a breathtaking five-minute virtual reality recording of the show’s opening number, “The Circle of Life.” The video, which can be viewed on a range of VR platforms as well as on a traditional web browser, captures the full spectacle of the musical, from the vibrant costumes and set design, to the phenomenal music and choreography.

“To me, this is an ambitious piece, a one-of-a-kind piece,” Craig Gilbert, co-founder of Total Cinema 360, the production company behind the VR video, told WIRED. “Not just because it’s the first time we’re doing a Broadway show, but I think in terms of the language of storytelling in virtual reality, it’s really sort of pushing the limits … We wanted to shy away from just putting a camera in the middle and letting it roll. Following the action of the song, which is already such a dynamic and vibrant piece of music, and the absolutely legendary choreography, gave us a really broad canvas to work with.” Check it out above. 

[h/t: WIRED]

Banner Image Credit: WIRED, YouTube.