A Google-made short film has become the first VR movie nominated for an Oscar

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January 31, 2017 2:45 PM

Released as part of the Google Spotlight Story series, Pearl is a heartwarming story of the relationship between a father and his daughter over the duration of their lives.

If you have not tried out Virtual Reality yet, the Oscars just gave you and everyone else a reason to pay attention to the emerging format.

Pearl, a VR film made by Google, has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of best animated short film.

The story seamlessly goes from high and low moments in the lives of the characters as you, the viewer, get to experience the passage of time and emotions immersively from the passenger seat of the car, right next to the characters in the film.

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"I continue to feel proud of the world wide team of artists and coders that made Pearl a reality," Patrick Osborne, the director of the film, said in a statement, according to Mashable. "Thanks especially to the pirates of Google ATAP for rallying behind our little labor of love and thanks to the Academy for this morning's recognition!"

The five-minute plus film can be viewed for free using the HTC Vive or on YouTube as a 360-degree video (See above), optimized for the chrome browser.

"Pearl is dedicated to all parents and those that create beauty and possibility out of everyday life," David Eisenmann, the film's producer said, Mashable reports. "Thanks to the Academy and the heart and spirit behind Google Spotlight Stories and our global crew that made it possible."

Pearl being nominated for the most coveted award in Hollywood is the first time a headset compatible film will ever be selected for the honour.

It sets the path for more VR films to compete for the attention of mainstream viewers as the platform expands beyond just gaming.

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