Papercutz is bringing something new to Free Comic Book Day 2023: Their Smurfs FCBD comic includes an augmented reality (AR) feature that brings the characters off the page and into virtual reality. When the cover is viewed with a smart phone, Smurfette will appear to pop off the page into three dimensions.
The FCBD issue which marks the 65th anniversary of the franchise, will include three original stories by Smurfs creator Peyo, none of which have been published in English before: “A Kiss for Smurfette,” “The Smurf from Outer Space,” and “Smurfs and the Robot X-XIII.” The AR feature will bring the characters into the reader’s space for a new and dynamic experience.
While this is the first FCBD comic to use AR, the technology has been used in the past by Anomaly Productions for its Anomaly graphic novels and the kids’ comic Creative Creature Catcher (see “Anomaly Takes the Next Steps with Augmented Reality Comics”).
The Smurfs will turn 65 years old in 2023; Papercutz, which was acquired by Mad Cave Studios earlier this year (see “Mad Cave Studios Acquires Papercutz”), has held the Smurfs license since 2010 (see “‘Smurfs’ Graphic Novels Return”).
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Source: ICv2
