Experience The Lion King Musical in Virtual Reality
By Anna Green

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.