Groove Jones and gnet Agency Bring My Hero Academia Statue to Life Using AR
gnet Agency partnered with Groove Jones and Crunchyroll to deliver an extraordinary activation for My Hero Academia. This collaboration involved adding an augmented reality (AR) effect to a custom-made statue featuring characters from the series, available on Crunchyroll, to transport fans into the world of My Hero Academia and enhance engagement with the franchise.
The statue commemorates the Historical Battle in Kamino of All Might vs All For One (My Hero Academia, Season 3, Episode 48).
gnet commissioned artist Greg Aronowitz to sculpt the statue depicting the intense battle between All Might and All For One.
The statues began as small Maquettes and were eventually realized as full life-size models.
To further enhance the fan experience, gnet partnered with Groove Jones to create an immersive AR activation that would accompany the statue. The AR experience includes the opportunity for fans to take photos or videos to post to their favorite social channels.
Animating the VFX from the actual show for AR was created frame by frame, to simulate what viewers saw in the show.
Below is an image of the statue that fans flocked to see at events likes Anime NYC and Anime Expo in Los Angeles.
The AR Experience
Groove Jones developed the unique AR experience that would complement the physical statue and give fans an interactive journey. The AR experience is launched by scanning a QR code positioned next to the statue.
Once the users are in the experience, they are able to scan the accompanying statue and bring it to life, where they can explore and engage with some of their favorite My Hero Academia characters.
The primary tech stack to create the AR experience:
- 8th Wall (AR SDK)
- js and WebGL (Web Graphics)
- React (Web Development)
The San Diego Comic-Con Museum Exhibition
The culmination of this project was the unveiling of the statue and AR activation at the San Diego Comic-Con Museum in July 2023. For the next six months, attendees have the opportunity to visit the My Hero Academia Statue and AR experience. We hope this unique exhibition captivates fans and brings them into the world of the anime series.