Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

This paper explores the application of Augmented Reality (AR) and animation to thematize nature-related issues. Combining animation and AR as two separate media creates conditions that enhance the capabilities of both. The association between AR and animation and their application to convey ecological issues is discussed in the current study. I have initially overviewed studies and practices in three categories consisting of: AR animation, framing nature in animations, and augmented nature. Thereafter, in the section ‘Nature in AR animation’, the application of AR animation for addressing nature-related issues in several AR pieces is discussed. Subsequently, Garden of the Anthropocene (2016) by Tamiko Thiel is examined in detail.

Index Terms: Augmented Reality (AR), Animation, Animating nature, Ecology, Garden of the Anthropocene