UK games studio creates world’s first augmented reality music video for Chinese star

Independent games studio, Kuato Studios, has developed a new Augmented Reality (AR) app in partnership with the ‘King of Chinese pop’, Leehom Wang. Designed exclusively for the new iOS11 ARKit, ‘My A.I. Date with Leehom Wang’ uses face-mapping technology to allow fans to experience a digital date with the popstar.

The app is the first to merge AR technology with a music video and has been released to coincide with the popstar’s latest album ‘A.I. Love’. By releasing a companion app alongside his latest music video ‘A.I. Love’, Leehom Wang hopes to increase engagement with his global fan base. Users have the ability to share images from their AR experience on social media, providing an additional form of organic publicity for the popstar. 

“Apple’s ARKit has made it quicker and easier than ever to develop AR applications,” said Mark Horneff, managing director at Kuato Studios. “Through AR, we’ve been able to bring to life an experience many fans could only dream of and a mechanism for Leehom to increase engagement with his loyal social media following across the world. I have no doubt that companion apps like this are going to become more and more popular in the entertainment industry and we’re delighted to be blazing a trail with Leehom.”

The app was created in just six weeks using iOS11 ARKit. As well as face-mapping technology, the app offers extensive customisation with users able to choose from a range of skin tones, hairstyles, and eye and mouth shapes, and clothing.

Kuato Studios is renowned for apps that focus on storytelling, providing digital mementos of experiences had through its games, which can be shared with others. In this case, users of  ‘My A.I. Date with Leehom Wang’ are presented with a photo-diary depicting the date, which they can share across social media.

“Just like video killed the radio star, we’re now entering an age of AR killed the video star. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of this technology with my new album, “A.I. Love”, which deals with artificial intelligence, and how it will change the world for humans,” added Leehom Wang.

Leehom Wang is a Chinese-American singer songwriter, music producer, actor, and film director. Leehom is known as the ‘King of Chinese Pop’ for his wide range of musical styles blending pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, classical and traditional Chinese music. Leehom Wang holds honorary doctoral degrees from Williams College and Berklee School of Music, and is one of the most followed musicians in China, with nearly 60 million followers on Weibo (China’s version of Twitter).  Leehom plays over 10 musical instruments.  He is the first pop artist to hold a solo concert at Beijing’s iconic 90,000 seat Bird’s Nest Stadium. Link to A.I. Love Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4DuqEL0ChQ