In this blog post, I will explain the basic principles of 3D and the additional sensory effects provided by 4D, and examine the pros and cons in detail based on my experience watching ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ in 4D.
The Principles and History of 3D
3D (three-dimensional) movies are films produced to allow viewers to see the screen in three dimensions by wearing special glasses. This technology utilizes the principle that the human eyes view objects from different angles, enabling us to perceive them in three dimensions. Two cameras—functioning as the left and right eyes—capture two separate images, which are projected onto the screen simultaneously. The glasses filter these two images, directing them separately to each eye.
Over the past year or so, there has been a surge in the number of films released in this 3D format. While 3D imagery had existed previously—such as in 3D theaters at amusement parks—it wasn’t until the release of *Avatar*, which premiered late last year and ran in theaters through the first half of this year, that 3D truly gained widespread fame in the film industry. This was also the first 3D movie I ever saw in a theater.
A few months after *Avatar* took the world by storm, news broke that it was being re-released in 4D. 4D movies are said to stimulate other senses, such as touch and smell, in addition to 3D visual effects. I was curious about how the tactile and olfactory effects were implemented, but I never actually got to see it.
4D Viewing Experience and Review
A few months later, I got to watch the animated film *How to Train Your Dragon* in 4D. When I entered the theater and found my seat, at first glance, I couldn’t see any major differences from a regular theater seat. However, once the movie started, I could feel various special effects coming from all around me: a breeze during flying scenes, water droplets splashing when characters fell into or brushed against water, and scents and smells during specific scenes.
While I didn’t think these 4D effects were as successful as the 3D visual effects, I felt that many elements blended well with the situation and played a sufficiently excellent role. I thought the wind was the most straightforward yet effective element. In fact, wind suits most outdoor scenes, and the sensation of wind blowing inside an indoor theater seems to provide a suitable sense of immersion regardless of the specific situation. The water spray that occasionally hit my face was not overly intense and successfully created the intended refreshing sensation, while the tilting and shaking of the seats effectively conveyed dynamic movement better than when there were only visual effects.
While most of it was fresh and interesting, since the technology is still in its early stages, I could find some awkward and lacking aspects. First, I couldn’t really sense the olfactory effects. There were instances where the scent didn’t match the situation, such as smelling perfume during scenes with flying flames and ash. The biggest issue I felt was the noise produced when the equipment was operating. Every time water droplets or scent spray were released, a fairly loud “hiss” could be heard from the vents, which was quite counterproductive to the experience. The sound of the chair moving wasn’t too bad, but in quiet moments, it was enough to break the immersion. When the protagonist tripped and fell, something tapped my ankle from under the seat, and during a scene where the character was hit in the back, something popped out from the seat’s backrest. I felt that these direct physical stimuli were awkward and inappropriate as cinematic effects, except for scenes intended to startle the audience.
The movie was very entertaining, but perhaps because it was my first time watching a 4D film, I was too conscious of the various new effects to fully immerse myself in the experience. If I had simply immersed myself in the movie itself, I think I would have been able to feel even the somewhat awkward or lacking effects more vividly and enjoy them more. I often have the experience of revisiting cultural content that left a deep impression on me and remains in my memory as a masterpiece, only to be disappointed by its technical aspects. I’ve come to believe that paying less attention to unnecessary details and immersing myself fully during the viewing is what leaves the most wonderful memories.
