Pearl was the Google Spotlight Stories VR short nominated for the 2017 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Directed by Patrick Osborne, Pearl follows a father and daughter traveling in a car while their relationship changes over many years. The story is designed to be viewed from inside the vehicle, allowing the audience to look around rather than watch a conventional fixed-frame animation.
Pearl premiered in 2016 as an interactive 360-degree film and became notable for bringing a personal, music-driven story to mobile and headset-based VR. Its soundtrack and changing car interior carry much of the emotional narrative.
The film is sometimes mixed up with other Google Spotlight Stories productions, including Age of Sail and Windy Day. Pearl is the one associated with the 2017 Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film.