Lupita Nyong'o Collaborates With Baobab Studios For The First-Ever Live Animated Experience JACK

Leading immersive animation studio Baobab Studios announced today that Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o will lend her voice to the first-ever live animated experience, "Jack." Directed by visionary French director Mathias Chelebourg, "Jack" is an experience unlike any other - brilliantly combining immersive theater with virtual reality technology and gorgeous animation. The first installment of the series, "Jack: Part One" is currently showing at the Tribeca Film Festival Virtual Reality Arcade now through Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Nyong'o joins "Jack" after viewing the experience early in the project's run at the Tribeca Film Festival.

"Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum!" Step into the shoes of Jack, grasp the magic beans in your hand, and feel the thrill of an adventure into the realm of the giants, all in a vibrant new world reimagined from the classic 5,000 year-old fairytale, "Jack and the Beanstalk." Baobab's "Jack" is a complete multisensory VR experience like no other. Each audience member is given a VR headset before stepping through a door and onto a physical stage that becomes magically transformed into animated scenery. Once inside, they are able to roam freely, completely immersed and interacting with a fantastical world and its characters (played by live actors) using the senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch.

"When casting the key role of the Giant we were inspired by the social movements of today to dismantle all preconceived notions of who should play the part," said Baobab Chief Creative Officer, Eric Darnell. "It suddenly came to us that we wanted a dynamic and powerful woman to voice the role and we are overjoyed that Lupita saw the experience and decided to lend her incredible talents to 'Jack'."

"I was incredibly intrigued by the concept of Baobab's 'Jack,' which brilliantly incorporates the best of both art forms through mind-blowing VR technology, said Lupita Nyong'o. "When I experienced 'Jack' firsthand this week and met its revolutionary director Mathias, I knew I had to be a part of this innovative project."

"The opportunity to bring 'Jack' to life with Baobab Studios has been an exhilarating experience for me and my team," said director, Mathias Chelebourg. "The daily response at the Festival is truly overwhelming and humbling. Adding the sheer brilliance of Lupita, a world-renowned star and exceptional talent, has propelled me straight through the clouds and into the land of the giants."

The second installment of "Jack" will build upon the successful collaboration between Baobab Studios and Chelebourg and will introduce viewers to the land of the Giantress.

About Baobab Studios
Baobab Studios inspires you to dream by through immersive VR storytelling experiences that bring out your sense of wonder. Started in 2015 by industry leaders Maureen Fan, Eric Darnell (Madagascar screenwriter and director), and Larry Cutler, Baobab's first project is the award-winning "INVASION!," a top performing VR animation available on multiple VR platforms. "ASTEROIDS!" is the studio's follow-up VR animation, with the full episode schedule for release in 2017. Baobab just completed Series B funding of $25M, bringing their total raised to $31M, making them one of the largest in independent VR studios today. Funding comes from: Comcast Ventures, HTC, Samsung, Shari Redstone's Advancit Capital, The Chernin Group, Horizons Ventures, Twentieth Century Fox, Evolution Media Partners (backed by TPG Growth and CAA), China's Shanghai Media Group, Youku Global Media Fund and LDV Partners, Zynga co-founder Mark Pincus, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.