Disneyland Nightastic "augmented reality" marketing campaign is fantastic !

The highly-awaited Fantasmic dragon may be broken, but that will not stop you to have it on your computer, roaring, breathing fire, and in 3D!

Disneyland new Nightastic marketing campaign is using incredible "augmented reality" 3D effect, and you're going to like it! Here is what you have to do to enjoy this amazing effect: First go on the Disneyland website HERE

When you arrive on this page below click on the bottom right on "Fantasmic 3D", or, if it doesn't work go HERE.



Then, when the page below appear, choose "Full interactive experience" and click on "Print your marker and full instructions". A PDF will download, and the page to be print is the one of the left with the Nightastic image. It's the same image you have on the top of this D&M article, so if you have a problem with the PDF you can print the one on the top. Now,once this is done, click on "Launch". You'll have to download and install a small program (it works for both Mac and PC) but go ahead, do it, it will take 5 minutes only, it's safe and you need it for the great 3D effect. Just close your internet browser before, and start it again when the program is installed. Everything is clearly written in the PDF instructions page.



Once all of this is done click on "Launch" again, and when your face appear in the webcam, take the page you've printed - the one with the Nightastic image - and put it in front of the webcam... and be amaze by what will happen!

Just to give you a preview of what awaits you, i did a little video with the help of my young cousin, holding the page while i'm filming. Here it is below.
Now, once you hold the page in front of the webcam, there is more special effects you can do. Just push and hold some letters on the keyboard and you will make the dragon roar, breathing fire, call TInkerbell, launch fireworks over Disneyland castle or a video, etc...



And now, here is the video, which is better than thousand words.



It looks magical, doesn't it? Basically, this is what is called "augmented reality" effect. In two words, an element which doesn't exist in real is added to reality. When you show the flat Nightastic image print to your webcam, thanks to the software you've installed previously, the webcam detect it and add automatically the 3D elements you've seen in the video.

Now, go ahead, do it yourself, you will enjoy it a LOT!

Screen Capture Pictures: copyright Disney

Video by Alain Littaye - Disney and more