In the evolving spectrum of virtual reality companies, Baobab Studios Inc. stands out as an early, significant player in the creation of high-end VR-animated experiences. With nearly $31 million in financing from companies such as Samsung, HTC and Twentieth Century Fox, the fledgling studio has already released immersive experiences called “Invasion!” and “Asteroids!”

The key, as with most VR content these days, is to create plotlines that allows users to bond with characters. That emotional experience has become a major factor in getting users to strap on VR headsets and repeat the journey.

“The trickiest part of VR is repeat views,“ said Kane Lee (pictured), head of content at Baobab Studios. “If you can create a bond between the user and other characters that they believe is real — and we use psychology, technology and storytelling to do that — then they want to come back again and again.”

Lee stopped by the set of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and spoke with host John Furrier (@furrier). They discussed the studio’s commitment to animation technology and plans for the release of new VR content. (* Disclosure below.)

Following in Pixar’s footsteps

In many ways, Baobab is following the playbook of one of the great animation studio success stories of all time — Pixar Animation Studios. When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs joined Pixar in its early days, he turned the reins over to an animation professional named John Lassiter, whose vision helped propel the venture to multi-billion-dollar heights.

Baobab’s advisors include executives from Pixar, along with Dreamworks and Disney. The company also bolstered its animation credibility with the hire last year of former Pixar and Dreamworks executive Larry Cutler as chief technical officer.

“Our mission is to inspire your childlike sense of wonder using two mediums that were meant for each other, which are animation and VR,” Lee said. “We’re so focused on characters, so focused on them making eye contact with you.”

The company has a new release in the works called “Legend of Crow.” It’s based on the actor John Legend, who starred in an earlier release, “Rainbow Crow.” It will be about a beautiful bird with a gorgeous voice who takes a hero’s journey to bring light back to the world, according to Lee.

“We’re in the middle of a great sea change going on because technology and art are coming together at such a fast pace to really usher in the new generation of storytelling,” Lee said. “This is a very unique period in our history, as humans and for our culture.”

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the Sundance Film Festival. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the Sundance Film Festival event. Neither Intel, the event sponsor, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE