Disney Creates Virtual ‘Avatar’ Pandoran Ocean Where You Can Help Real Animals
Image via Avatar
Disney is activating the eco warrior in audiences through the story of Avatar, where the idea of protecting one’s natural world rings true. With the long-awaited Avatar: The Way of Water splashing into theaters on December 16, the entertainment giant, which owns 20th Century Studios, is inviting viewers to peer into and safeguard their own oceans.
Avatar: The Way of Water, set over a decade after the events of the first film, introduces a new oceanic Na’vi clan, along with an ecosystem of mythical marine creatures. Together with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Disney is drawing parallels with Earth’s oceans to protect the lives of animals found in waters around the world—namely beluga whales, blue whales, hawksbill sea turtles, manatees, manta rays, parrotfish, sea lions, staghorn coral, and whale sharks—which also share some attributes with the marine biodiversity of Pandora.
Image via The Walt Disney Company
The project, Keep Our Oceans Amazing, also looks to conserve mangroves—coastal habitats that provide shade for many oceanic creatures. It endeavors to bring TNC closer to its goal of protecting 10% of the ocean by 2030.
At the heart of the magical campaign is a Virtual Pandoran Ocean that invites fans to bring mystical ocean creatures to life. By playing creator, they’ll hopefully connect the beauty of Pandora’s marine life with our planet’s.
With every creature created, Disney has pledged to donate US$5, and up to US$1 million, to the conservation group.
The experience will stay up through the end of the year, and requires a mobile device for the best view.
“The Avatar ethos is that we are all connected to each other and our planet, and therefore are responsible for positively impacting the people and world around us,” describes Jon Landau, who is producing the movie with James Cameron. “The Keep Our Oceans Amazing campaign is a way for us to invite fans from around the world to join us in creating that impact.”
[via Marketing Interactive and Collider, images via various sources]
