David Farnor | On 08, Oct 2017

Discovery and Google are teaming up for a new VR series, TRVLR.

The immersive series from Discovery VR and Google’s VR team spans 38 episodes and is the first VR series to take viewers to all seven continents. It can be experienced in VR with the new Google Daydream View headset as well as with Cardboard. The series can also be viewed through the web, Android and iOS phones.

The one-of-a-kind show takes viewers and drops them directly into the lives of fascinating locals in every corner of the globe, exploring unique cultures through a visceral 360-degree storytelling experience. Discovery TRVLR explores the mind-blowing rituals, obscure traditions and life-threatening quests that define a variety of cultures in North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa, Antarctica and Europe. As viewers enter these worlds, they will be surrounded by extraordinary environments; sights, sounds and stories that reveal the extremes of human nature.

Discovery Communications has a history of using emerging technologies, and Discovery VR continues that tradition by creating stimulating content across a robust programming lineup of over 160 experiences, with new content added regularly across multiple platforms. Launched in August 2015, the Discovery VR app has accrued 4.3 million downloads and over 123 million organic views to date.

“Discovery’s viewers look to us for innovation and expect to be taken places that satisfy their desire for exploration and adventure,” says Rebecca Howard, SVP Emerging Platforms and Partnerships, Discovery VR. “Like Discovery, Google’s VR team shares a passion for VR storytelling and we are thrilled to partner with them on Discovery TRVLR, our most ambitious endeavour to date.”

There are seven chapters in TRVLR, each exploring a different continent. Every chapter begins with an amazing sunrise and each chapter closes with a magnificent sunset. In between these bookends, the episodes are centered around locals including the Guru, the Renegade, the Entertainer and the Explorer, who will share the unique rituals, traditions and quests that encompass their culture. Chapters for North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia consist of six episodes each, while the chapter for Antarctica features two episodes.

Episodes filmed in North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe were written and directed by Addison O’Dea and produced by experience studio Here Be Dragons. Episodes filmed in Antarctica were directed by Barry Pousman and produced by Yes Please Thank You. Emmy Award-winner Saschka Unseld served as Creative Producer for the series.

The first episode will launch on Friday 3rd November on YouTube, DiscoveryVR.com and on the Discovery VR app. Here’s a trailer:

https://youtu.be/FeGYlnDPugMa

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