Nathalie Habib, the Executive Producer and General Manager at Blink Studios, speaks to Games MEA about the opportunities present with mixed reality offerings
What is Blink Studios all about?
Blink Studios is a UAE-born award-winning script-to-screen creation and production house delivering original and commissioned content since 2005 using the latest technologies in connection with 3D /2D Animation; Live Action; Chroma Shooting; VFX; Virtual Reality; Augmented Reality; and the first MENA-based studio to be positioned as a global pioneer in creating and producing Mixed Reality content experiences. Blink Studios operates out of its Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles set ups.
Karim & Noor.
What are your products and solutions?
Blink Studios began in 2005 by using ground breaking technologies in content creation in connection to CGI, 2D Animation and complex mixed media-led productions. It was a natural evolution for our studio to develop and grow the in-house pipeline in the last 5 years to produce more immersive experiences including AR, VR and MR. Our clients vary from various verticals, however our passion for the filmmaking industry has allowed us in the course of 12 years to produce and be recognized for 3 award winning animated short films, international co-productions with the BBC’s CBeebies channel and Sesame New York, as well as, the production of our own children shows form the region to a global audience.
Hololens.
Which markets do you currently target?
We operate out of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and recently Los Angeles serving the MENA region who is quickly and solidly embracing new technologies in content creation specifically in KSA and the UAE.
Tell us about your mixed reality offerings?
We are working on developing and introducing MR technology-led original and commissioned content productions and experiences in connection with the latest MR devices available in the market including Microsoft HoloLens and the Microsoft MR Kits such as the Samsung Odyssey. Our latest investment went into creating an Arab-created original children’s show called “Karim & Noor”, the world’s first “Holotoon”. Its first season launched as a short animated series on its dedicated YouTube channel and its 2nd season is currently in production for both linear and mixed reality experiences.
Who are your partners in the MR project?
From a tech development standpoint, we have been collaborating with a tech development company, Playing Forward, which is based in LA, and have been receiving support as Microsoft MENA partners in pioneering Content Creation in Mixed Reality.
What sort of content do you offer through the MR project?
Main verticals we focus on creating content for are: Entrainment (Film making and Series production), Education, Real Estate, Oil & Gas and Retail.
What is the value proposition of MR? What sort of applications can be used with MR?
The value proposition of MR is the ability to experience immersive content while still engaging with our reality and enjoying the virtual content we engage with on a daily basis. There is no disconnection from reality as experienced in VR. Apps are already being developed worldwide as the technology is becoming less complex, and the devices are slowly but surely becoming more mainstream and accessible.