Japanese telecommunication firm KDDI has unveiled its new Web3 metaverse platform Alpha-U in partnership with marketing communications agency Geometry Ogilvy Japan.
Working with Sydney-based production house Alt.vfx, and their subsidiary T&DA, along with New Holland Creative and THINKR, the agency released a 30-second clip which showcases up to four artistic illustrations made by GenZ artist Mayu Yukishita.
The 30-second clip was created by using AI platforms Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to generate interpolated animation. VFX technology was also used to assemble the scenes, mixed with music and narration using the Japanese language.
Yasushi Arikawa, executive creative director of Geometry Ogilvy Japan commented, “The new creative expression generated by AI was inevitable for KDDI’s new brand, αU, which aims to offer services centred on Web3 and the metaverse.”
“This film, in which AI and a virtual singer tell a story about the concept of “Already, one world” that blends the real and virtual worlds, takes us beyond the ‘uncanny valley’ to an emotionally charged story,” said Arikawa.
Building a metaverse ecosystem
Geometry Ogilvy is focused on supporting all the creative direction for the new Alpha U collaboration from branding, communication design, events, and press conferences.
Japan is also gradually making big moves to launch its metaverse ecosystem after releasing a policy speech that revealed its plans to join the likes of Dubai and South Korea in the digital realm by investing in NFTs and the metaverse.
In partnership with other top Japanese companies, one of the country’s primary metaverse projects is to create Ryugukoku, which will include gamification, fintech, and information and communication technologies.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.