Google adds Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, Gundam mechs, and more to AR search
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Google has added a bunch of popular Japanese characters to its AR feature in mobile search, which has previously featured animals, historical artifacts, and dinosaurs. The list of characters is taken from Japanese pop culture including anime, TV, and video games, with names like Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, mechs from Evangelion and Gundam, and more. The feature works on Google search on Android and the iOS Google app.
When you enter the characters’ names, you’ll see an option to “see in your space” below the main search result, and that’ll let you drop a 3D model into your camera view. The models can appear at various degrees of scale, with an option to render at life size, though I’m not sure quite how accurate those measurements are. I was under the impression that Hello Kitty was five apples tall, for example, but she towered over my desk when I tried it out.
Google Search Will Now Showcase Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, Ultraman, More in 3D Augmented Reality
Google AR’s new characters will be on mobile devices only. By Satvik Khare | Updated: 20 April 2021 19:31 IST
Photo Credit: Google
Highlights
Google AR content can be viewed on Android 7 and iOS 11 and above
Pac-Man is the most-searched-for character, followed by Hello Kitty
Google Search AR will now feature Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, Gundam, and other popular Japanese characters. Users can view these characters when searching for their names on the Google app on Android and iOS devices. The characters can be viewed at various degrees of scale, and also have an option to render them at life-size. Users can also render them in their home environment using Google s AR technology using the camera view in the smartphone. Google claims that Pac-Man is the most searched-for character in the list, followed by Hello Kitty.
Google Adds Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, And Evangelion Unit To AR Search
Characters from Japanese anime and video games are the latest models new to Google s AR search function.
Google added AR characters from well-known Japanese pop culture franchises in its search function on mobile. You can now find Hello Kitty, Pac-Man, Gundam, Ultraman, Evangelion, and much more represented in their 3D form. A few of the characters, including Cogimyun, Hello Kitty, and Pompompurin, come with their own audio and can talk.
You ll need to be on mobile to use Google AR and view the 14 new characters. While in Google, search for a character s name and then tap on View in 3D. Android devices can access the AR search function in Google search and iOS devices need to go through the Google app. Android 7 Plus with ARCore enabled and iOS 11.0+ devices can view 3D and AR content.
Use Google to View 3D Pac-Man and Anime Characters on Your Phone
Justin Duino
It’s easy to bring 3D animals, objects, and more into the real world with a simple Google search. That list now includes several popular anime characters from Japan, including Pac-Man and Hello Kitty. We’ll show you how.
Which Anime Characters Are Available?
Thanks to Google’s ARCore and Apple’s ARKit, many smartphones and tablets can view 3D objects without needing any additional software. Google Search includes a handful of the most popular characters from Japanese anime, games, and TV shows. Here’s the list of characters available at the time of writing:
20 April 2021, 10:04 am
Google Search has finally added new AR effects that include various Japanese characters from popular games and movies. These characters are Hello Kitty, Pac-Man, Ultraman, and more.
(Photo : Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
In this photo illustration, an image of the Google logo is reflected on the eye of a young man on August 09, 2017 in London, England. Founded in 1995 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google now makes hundreds of products used by billions of people across the globe, from YouTube and Android to Smartbox and Google Search. We all need a bit of escapism sometimes, and there s nothing like a blast from the pop-culture past to do the trick, said the giant search engine giant.