Disney+ just released “Remembering,” a short film that marks the company’s first foray into augmented reality storytelling. Directed by Elijah Allan-Blitz and starring Brie Larson, this eight-minute film explores the creative process through the story of a writer who loses an idea when her phone interrupts her thoughts. Her inner child, played by young actress Dusty Peak, helps her recover this lost idea, visualized as a flying cluster of light.
What truly sets this release apart is its innovative AR companion experience. While Disney has created numerous AR applications in the past and VR walkthroughs of its cruise line, this is the first that directly connects and synchronizes with content streaming on the Disney+ platform. The experience, developed by technology studio Magnopus and Walt Disney StudioLab, transforms your living room into the film’s magical “World of Imagination” through your iPhone or iPad.
“A charming fairytale that uses technology to bring magic off the screen and into your living room”
The AR integration works through a clever yet simple process. Viewers scan a QR code on their TV screen to download the “Remembering: The AR Experience” app on their iOS device. With the app open during the film, it listens for specific audio cues using Apple’s ShazamKit technology. Around three minutes into the film, when it recognizes a key audio moment, the device chimes and prompts viewers to point their device at the TV. A 10-second countdown begins, building anticipation for the immersive experience.
When the AR activates, viewers see a digital waterfall flowing from their TV screen along with various plants and animals – all extending into their physical space. The film continues playing during this sequence, so they can watch either on their TV or device. The AR experience lasts less than a minute and doesn’t offer interactive elements.
The production of “Remembering” was pretty cool. The film was shot on a volumetric stage at NantStudios using live on-set projection mapping, allowing the actors to perform while actually seeing the fantastical landscapes around them.
It carries a deeper message beyond its technological innovation, described as a “Trojan horse” designed to encourage adults to reconnect with their younger selves and the creativity they once had. The film explores concepts like the origin of ideas and why adults sometimes resist using their imaginations. As Larson puts it, the project invites viewers to “participate in” storytelling rather than merely viewing it from the outside.
“This is part of the future of how humanity will interact with entertainment. The AR experience moves away from a typical passive experience of streaming and allows viewers to engage with it in a deeper way. That makes it something that you’re going to remember on a deeper level than just something you watch. It’s actually something you did.”
This release represents the latest project from The Great Unknown Productions, Larson and Allan-Blitz’s film and television company focused on using technology to advance storytelling. The company previously produced “The Messy Truth,” a virtual reality series that won an Emmy in 2020 for Outstanding Original Interactive Program.
What distinguishes Disney’s approach from competitors is how it integrates AR directly into the storytelling experience rather than using it merely as a marketing tool. While HBO Max promoted “House of the Dragon” with a dragon-raising AR app and Apple TV+ created an interactive “For All Mankind” experience, Disney’s implementation enhances the actual content rather than just promoting it.
As streaming platforms continue to evolve and experiment with new technologies, “Remembering” offers an early glimpse into how AR might transform home entertainment. By bridging the gap between passive viewing and active participation, Disney has taken a significant step toward redefining what it means to “watch” a film in the digital age.