Google unveils first-ever VR doodle in honour of Georges Melies

NEW DELHI: Google on Thursday unveiled its first-ever Virtual Reality (VR)/360° interactive Doodle to celebrate the life and creations of French filmmaker Georges Melies on the release date of one of his greatest masterpieces, 'A la conquête du pôle' (The Conquest of the Pole, 1912)


Google Doodle, Google Spotlight Stories, Google Arts & Culture, & Cinémathèque Française teams collaborated to create the interactive doodle that highlights several tricks Méliès pioneered and transports the viewer into a magical world and story.

Melies, born on December 8, 1861, was a trained magician and pioneered numerous technical and narrative film techniques in the early days of cinema, primarily in the use of special effects and creation of some of the earliest films of the science fiction genre, Google said in its post.

Users can see the full VR doodle on mobile, Cardboard, or Daydream by downloading the Google Spotlight Stories app. Or can watch it without a headset as a 360° video on YouTube.

Titled 'Back to the Moon ' the YouTube version of the doodle shows the various film techniques used by the French illusionist.