Meta Quest users can step into an immersive, animated storybook for a unique take on a tale of love and friendship in Pepitos: The Beak Saga, a new VR project from Ruxandra Gabriela Popescu (a.k.a. Ruxandra GP). The story follows a little creature called Pepitos, who is confronted with a difficult decision when two strangers arrive on his planet to claim his magical beak for themselves. Audiences can now enjoy the Venice Immersive-selected work through their own headsets.
The director & creator says her goal for the experience was to “bring a fresh perspective to immersive storytelling through a harmonious blend of humor, drama and unique visuals” in “a magical world where we could explore complex themes and emotions without overwhelming [viewers],” anchored in themes of cross-cultural collaboration, acceptance and the shared human experience.
Popescu, who was born in Romania and is now based in Belfast, where she worked for award-winning animation & children’s television studio Sixteen South before venturing into XR media, directed the 15-minute adventure from a screenplay by Eleanor Thibeaux (Mahal, Rebels). Popescu also served as a producer alongside Ryan Genji Thomas and Goro Fujita for Meta, both of whom are DreamWorks Animation alums. Pepitos features music by Ethan Schreiber, with voice overs performed by Will Jennings, Emma Ballantine, David Elliott, Kate Arneil and Adianez Buch.
Pepitos: The Beak Saga is now available for Meta Quest through the Oculus store. See more of Popescu’s work at ruxandragp.com.
