Moldovan animation studio Simpals presents a unique VR-cartoon — “ARIPI”.
According to film director Dmitri Voloshin, this project is presently unequaled in scale in Moldova as well as in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Unlike ordinary 3D animated movies, virtual reality technology (VR) based animation allows the viewer to feel the effect of presence.
“ARIPI is an ambitious project. We wanted to make a technological breakthrough, surprise the audience and deliver unique emotions. Our task was to turn the viewers of our cartoon into action participants, make them feel as if they were in outer space, experience the excitement of flight. We had the first script version done, but when we decided to make a cartoon for VR box, the only things left from the original idea were the astronaut and the space. Many moments had to be changed under the requirements of VR. We hope that our film can help many viewers live out to their childhood dream of becoming astronauts, even for a short while,” — says Dmitri Voloshin.
This story is about an astronaut who, as a child, dreamed of flying and being free. One day, minor problems lead to bigger problems, causing the spaceship to lose control and collapse on Earth. due to which the ship loses control and falls to Earth. And now the astronaut will once again spread the wings of his dreams and return to childhood.
“The Romanian word “Aripi” stands for “wings”. It so happened that wings symbolize freedom, and the flight of our imagination. Our cartoon is more than just a form of entertainment. There is, though, another moment, a very personal one. I would like to dedicate this cartoon to my missing friend, who was very fond of flying,” Voloshin underlines.
Note: VR (Virtual Reality) boxes/glasses — a device that allows you to immerse yourself in the world of virtual reality by creating a visual and acoustic effect of presence in a given space.
About Simpals Studio:
Moldovan animation studio — Simpals Animation Studio was founded in 2008 on the basis of a video production studio, which was engaged in the making of video clips and commercials. The decision came out of the creative impulse of the director, Dmitri Voloshin. The same year, 2008, the animation studio released the cartoons:
— Baro and Tagar (2008)
— Gypsy and Death (2008)
— Santa and Death (2008)
In 2012, studio director Dmitri Voloshin and the team began working on a series of short cartoons with Dji in the lead role:
- Dji. Death Fails (2012)
- Dji. Death Sails (2014)
The cartoons caused a big stir in the world of animation industry, having won numerous awards at various specialized festivals. The cartoons have also become very popular on the web — over the years, they have gained more than 5 million views. At the moment, Simpals Studio is working on a third series called “Dji. Death Tales”.
