We continue to receive a lot of emails asking for an update on The Future is Wild (FiW) VR project. First of all, it is great to see that so many people care deeply about the brand and want to see a major Virtual Reality title based on the IP. As many know, we already produced a Mobile VR preview version, which was shown at special events and exhibitions, with great success. The logical next step will be the commercial VR title featuring the creatures that FiW fans know and love, plus a new batch of additions to the FiW universe, including new creatures, fascinating environments and an innovative take on storytelling. All this is on the way, as it is part of a major brand relaunch that is currently being worked on and that includes not only VR, but other media types and channels, as well.
Due to the extremely high standards in terms of scientific research and scientific credibility, and in terms of the highest requirements for CGI animation to provide the best possible simulation of a future ecosystem, this is no small undertaking: both in terms of production scope, but also in funding and partner line-up. For that reason patience is needed. FiW is still under the same management that made it a global success, so there is reason enough to be optimistic.
It should be noted that STUDIO.CGARTIST is only a contractor in this endeavor. Our previous engagement, to build the preview version for the mobile VR headsets and prototype a number of concepts, was successfully finished, and we hope to be on board when the full NextGen title will go into production.
In the meantime, we will continue to create wild creature concepts and encourage others to do so as well. We are currently planning to do a documentary on the speculative zoologie and creature artist scene under the title “Mondo SpecZoo”. This project is focused more on the creative side of the genre and the creative people behind it, covering not only the hardcore SpecZoo scene, but also creature game & film artists and their work. If you’re interested or active in that field, please drop us an e-mail.
We, as everyone else that cares about the genre, are looking forward to The Future is Wild 2.0, once the brand relaunch rolls out. FiW is THE premium brand of the speculative zoology genre. And thanks to FiW, the genre was propelled from relative obscurity into the spotlight of a global audience.
Here, a few highlights from the history of FiW
The Future is Wild is regarded as one of the most unique brands in TV history, known for its spectacular CGI imagery, original storytelling and inspirational scientific speculation. From 2002 to 2019, the brand has grown its audience and fan-base across the globe with numerous media productions, books, exhibitions and TV series, including a 13-part TV documentary co-produced with the European TV channels Arte, ZDF, ORF, Mediaset, Grupo Planeta, in addition to Animal Planet and Discovery Channels in the United States. The series was released to a worldwide audience and continues to be shown on primetime TV around the globe. The Future is Wild has been featured in various exhibitions in Japan, Australia and Europe, including the world’s first AR dark ride at the Futuroscope Poitiers, France, and a permanent exhibition at the largest open-air dino-park in Germany, which opened in 2016. The full range of international publications includes a Japanese Manga and most recently a new German edition and a first Chinese release in 2016. Since its original release, The Future is Wild has pushed the boundaries of interactive media with stylized animated kids shows, augmented reality installations, multimedia exhibits and most recently with virtual reality (VR) preview showcases for mobile VR headsets.
For more info, please visit: www.thefutureiswild.com