Keshet International (KI) has partnered with SandStone Global Productions and Snapchat’s AR Studio in Paris to create an at-home augmented reality (AR) experience to accompany its new three-part history documentary series Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The series launches on broadcaster 5 in the UK on Saturday August 2, and has already sold to numerous territories around the world. The AR experience has been made available to all international buyers and will be accessible to viewers via an on-screen QR code.
Kelly Wright, KI’s MD of distribution, said: “Incorporating this interactive tech into Seven Wonders of the Ancient World really is a point-of-difference and the QR codes will allow viewers around the world to explore, learn and connect with these famous historic sites from the comfort of their own homes.”
In Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes follows in the footsteps of ancient warriors, pilgrims, emperors and tourists on a journey across Greece, Egypt, and Turkey in search of the Seven Wonders. To show why these incredible creations still resonate today, the docuseries creates state-of-the-art digital reconstructions that allow her to interact with CGI-replicas of these ancient feats of engineering in the sites where the wonders once stood.
Viewers can use their phones to scan on-screen QR codes that will bring to life each of these digital reconstructions of the Seven Wonders in a virtual, immersive experience in their own homes. They will be able to explore ancient sites such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia at home.
Hughes said: “The past is a living place, a place that’s relevant to all of us. Using this meticulously researched augmented reality allows viewers at home to explore right inside these ancient wonders. It’s an immersive experience that we hope will bring the past to life for millions!”
