Oculus’ virtual reality film Henry wins an Emmy
Henry the lonely hedgehog now has an Emmy to keep him company For a few years now virtual reality filmmakers have fought for recognition and acceptance among traditional directors and studios and last night, Oculus’ film making arm, Story Studio, got a taste of the kind of validation they’ve been looking for, an Emmy for their animated VR experience Henry.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Oculus’ virtual reality film Henry wins an Emmy', 311 Institute, 9 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/oculus-virtual-reality-film-henry-wins-an-emmy/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Henry the lonely hedgehog now has an Emmy to keep him company
For a few years now virtual reality filmmakers have fought for recognition and acceptance among traditional directors and studios and last night, Oculus’ film making arm, Story Studio, got a taste of the kind of validation they’ve been looking for, an Emmy for their animated VR experience Henry.
Oculus and the story of their lonely hedgehog Henry
The award, for Outstanding Original Interactive Program, isn’t the first Emmy to be given to a VR project, that distinction goes to the Sleepy Hollow VR experience, but it is the first original VR short to be given such an honour. It is also, according to Story Studio creative director Saschka Unseld, “what every story teller hopes for, to have the world validate the risks we were worried to take.”
Henry, released last year and directed by Pixar vet Ramiro Lopez Dau, tells the story of a lonely hedgehog who throws himself a birthday party. It’s a fairly simple tale, but it set out to prove there could be an emotional connection fostered in VR that was different than what viewers experience looking at movies or TV. When you look at Henry in Henry, he looks back, and it’s simultaneously intense and heartbreaking.
“From the start we’ve wanted to show that VR is an art form, a place that welcomes storytellers and that even at this very, very early stage it can be a powerful tool for storytelling,” Dau says.
“This Emmy validates that vision. We hope this represents a tipping point for the VR industry.”
Oculus Story Studio’s next project, Dear Angelica, is slated for release later this year.
What this means for your organisation
VR earns legitimacy.
Recognition from a major award shows VR storytelling is being taken seriously. That helps attract talent, funding and audiences. Studios can no longer dismiss it as a gimmick.
Presence changes emotion.
When a character looks back at you, the experience feels personal. That kind of connection is different from film or TV. Brands can use it to tell more memorable stories.
Early movers set the rules.
The medium is still young and its grammar is being written now. Those who experiment early learn what works first. Leaders should fund small immersive projects to build skills.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Could immersive stories help us connect with customers more deeply?
- Which of our stories would work better in VR than on screen?
- What small VR projects could build our skills now?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
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Henry the lonely hedgehog now has an Emmy to keep him company For a few years now virtual reality filmmakers have fought for recognition and acceptance among traditional directors and studios and last night, Oculus’ film making arm, Story Studio, got a taste of the kind of validation they’ve been looking for, an Emmy for their animated VR experience Henry.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Choose one to get started on virtual worlds and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- En us storystudio.oculus.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 9 September 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Oculus’ virtual reality film Henry wins an Emmy. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/oculus-virtual-reality-film-henry-wins-an-emmy/
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