The Coca-Cola polar bears that pop up on everything from soda cans to television ads each holiday season will be getting a new platform. This year the company is trying to bring them to life through augmented reality.
"We know that the landscape around us is changing, our consumers are evolving," explained Oana Vlad, brand director at Coca-Cola. "This year we really wanted to take holiday magic to the next level."
This is Coca-Cola's first large-scale augmented reality activation, but that doesn't mean it hasn't done its homework on the tech.
"A.R. is something that we've played with through different pilots and different tests, and it has really helped consumers connect to the brand in a really meaningful way," said Vlad.
"We felt like we're now ready to test out this technology on a national level, and bring it to life in a really big way," she added.
With the Coca-Cola app, fans can scan the icon on new holiday Coke cans and bottles to activate the animations. The can or bottle will become the polar bear’s arctic home and each design will unlock a different experience from the bears — from making music to snowball fights.
"It's not just about aesthetic or a visual representation of the bears, it's truly about being able to bring them to life," explained Vlad.
An Arizona dog named 'Scooter' was named the world's ugliest dog at an annual contest in California.
Experts in England have reconstructed the face of a teenage girl who lived over 1,000 years ago.
In the latest Cheddar Feed, where we highlight some of the stories spotlighted on our social media, a 103-year-old Maine woman continues to lobster trap with family while an estimated 7.5 million Baby Shark products were recalled after several reports of injuries.
Taylor Swift performed her 'Dear John' song for the first time in years and pleaded to fans to stop cyberbullying as the song is long believed to be about her ex-beau, singer John Mayer.
Musical legend Elton John captivated audiences at the Glastonbury festival in what he said could be his last concert in England.
Mrs. Kasha Davis, star of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," which recently kicked off its eighth season, spoke with Cheddar News about her time on the show, what she does outside of her program and how important it is for her to help children stay inclusive.
Legendary rapper Busta Rhymes was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and musical icon Patti LaBelle powered through a mishap while honoring the late Tina Turner.
Thousands gathered to attend New York City's annual Pride parade.
Hikers have found human remains in a Southern California mountain area where actor Julian Sands disappeared five months ago.
Thousands of effusive marchers danced to club music in New York City streets Sunday as bubbles and confetti rained down, and fellow revelers from Toronto to San Francisco cheered through Pride Month's grand crescendo.
