Disney to launch first VR film this August

Walt Disney Animation Studios has announced that it will be launching its first ever virtual reality (VR) short film next month.

Entitled Cycles, the clip has been directed by Jeff Gipson and is designed to transport viewers inside a house where they will be able to immerse themselves in the characters' personal stories and home life.

A team of 50 helped to bring the moving story - inspired by Mr Gipson's own grandparents - to life, learning how to translate their animation skills to a VR platform as they worked.

Mr Gipson highlighted that the VR tech itself is often the point of focus for these innovations, but he wants more people to understand how it can be used to add an extra dimension to an emotional narrative. 

"With Cycles in particular, we hope they will feel the emotions we aimed to convey with our story," he continued.

The short film's debut will take place at computer graphic conference SIGGRAPH in August.