Baobab’s upcoming immersive short features a stacked cast of Oscar-winning talent.
This past June award-winning immersive animation studio Baobab Studios revealed its next project, Baba Yaga, a dark and mysterious fairy-tale adventure centered around themes of “love, fortitude, and magic.” In this VR animated short, audiences join 10-year-old protagonist Magda—voiced by Daisy Ridley (Star Wars, Murder on the Orient Express)—on a mission to locate the mysterious Baba Yaga in hopes of saving your sickly mother.
Today it was announced that Oscar-winners Glenn Close, Jennifer Hudson, and Kate Winslet have officially joined the cast alongside Ridley, establishing what could easily be considered the most impressive all-female cast featured in a VR/AR film thus far.
According to director and studio co-founder, Eric Darnell, the production faced its fair share of challenges as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, however, each of the four actors “rose to this unique occasion with tremendous energy and passion in creating their characters and I’m proud of what we accomplished together. It is validating to have our work recognized by the Venice Film Festival and we look forward to sharing the experience with VR audiences around the globe.”
As previously stated, Baba Yaga is brought to us by Emmy award-Baobab Studios, the same team behind VR films such as Crow: The Legend, Asteroids!, and Bonfire just to name a few.
Baba Yaga will make its world premiere September 2nd – 12th as part of the 2020 International Venice Film Festival before launching later this year exclusively on Oculus Quest. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s festivities will be conducted online thanks to new partnerships with Oculus, HTC Vive, and VRChat. Those without a VR headset can check out the experience in-person at select cultural centers and locations, including the Invr. Space Center in Berlin and the Portland Art Museum’s Northwest Film Center.
Image Credit: Baobab Studios / Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic; Brigitte Lacombe; Frederic Auerbach
