Are you looking to amaze your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or any other little girl in your life? An interactive dollhouse is a dream come true for most girls. You can now bring this dream to life with the help of Edgar’s DIY video on creating an “interactive AI dollhouse.” Check it out and make your little girl’s dream a reality.
Please note that this project received mixed reviews from its audience. While some enjoyed it, others found it frightening. My daughter was thrilled to see her Barbie dreams come to life through this interactive AI dollhouse. Edgar shared the concept on TikTok through a teaser video, which quickly gained attention. Although some people compared it to the movie M3gan (which I have yet to watch), the idea also received coverage from Yahoo’s: In the Know. Despite not receiving entirely positive reactions, the dollhouse gained significant recognition in a short amount of time.
Opinions were divided among people regarding his idea, some loving it and others hating it. The toy seemed to appeal to the imagination of young girls, but many also despised it, possibly due to a lack of understanding of the underlying technology. Edgar claimed it was an interactive AI dollhouse; however, it was far from that.
Edgar pre-programmed Barbie’s questions and responses, anticipating Melianna’s reactions. Additionally, the entire process was achieved through projection mapping.
Are you unfamiliar with projection mapping? According to Business News Daily, it involves projecting an image or video onto an object’s surface, essentially transforming it into a visually stunning display. This technique turns the exterior of an object (such as a dollhouse) into a canvas to create mesmerizing light and illusion effects. The best part is that you can map predefined areas separately, allowing you to project different media onto the same object simultaneously. If you’re still unsure about what this technique entails, check out the video below, which shows Melianna using projection mapping on her dollhouse bed.
Why An “Interactive AI“ Dollhouse?
Edgar had been thinking about this project for a while and knew it would be unique. He decided to test it on our biggest supporter, Meli. In the video, Meli’s face expressed surprise and interest as she interacted with her favorite talking Barbie doll. She enjoyed the experience so much that she wanted to repeat it multiple times.
If you’re interested in learning projection mapping, Edgar has made it easy with his “How to” video using Microsoft PowerPoint. His YouTube channel features a playlist with creative projects you can do using a cheap projector and mapped-out media. One example is upgrading your holiday decorations with this technique. The video below showcases his Christmas display from last year, which was entirely done through a projector. If you want to impress your neighbors during the holidays, check out his channel.
Ok, undeniably, I have proved my point. Now, let’s create an “interactive AI” dollhouse!
What You’ll Need
- Dollhouse. Any dollhouse that has removable wood paneling on the back will work. The dollhouse used for this project is a KidKraft dollhouse. For a cheaper option, try searching for one on Facebook Marketplace.
- Projector. Any affordable projector would work. Edgar found the one he used for this project on Facebook Marketplace for $20. It is an Epson 420 short-throw projector for reference.
- Any video editing software. Edgar mapped the dollhouse with Microsoft Powerpoint. He has a “How to” video on his YouTube channel for house projection mapping. He also used Lumafusion for video editing.
- White sheet or thin white cloth material to display the image.
- Voice animation: Have fun with this feature. Edgar used the default TikTok voice.
- Blue or green screen. When animating the doll, you can replace the string and background with the room images.
Time To Put It All Together
To project the image onto the white sheet behind the dollhouse, ensure the projector is set to the rear projection mode. Then, use PowerPoint to divide each room in the dollhouse into sections. Edgar has created a helpful “How-to” video for mapping each room individually if you need assistance with this step. Once completed, you can project videos in each dollhouse room.
After completing the mapping process, remove the wooden panels located at the back of the dollhouse. Take pictures of each room to use as a background as Barbie walks through the dollhouse.
Next, attach a white sheet to the back of the dollhouse to project the images of the different rooms. Then record a video of Barbie posing and walking in front of a blue or green screen. After the video is complete, replace the blue or green background with the images of the different dollhouse rooms using video editing software.
Finally, it’s time to focus on audio. Edgar made videos on TikTok with his chosen questions and then extracted the audio to match the videos of Barbie he recorded. Lumafusion or presentation mode in PowerPoint are excellent choices for showcasing the final product. To present the project, you can show it through a computer, USB, or media player with a projector.
Below is Edgar’s full DIY video for the “interactive AI” dollhouse.
“Interactive AI” Dollhouse Final Thoughts
As can be seen in the video, Melianna was genuinely captivated by the “interactive AI dollhouse.” Although it may seem more advanced than our usual DIY projects, it is achievable with Edgar’s guidance. We will explore Edgar’s innovative projection mapping projects in more detail in upcoming posts.
You can also find many of these videos on Edgar’s YouTube channel. This technique can significantly enhance the WOW factor of various projects. In the comment section below, please share your thoughts, questions, or experience with this “interactive AI” dollhouse. We would love to hear your feedback! Check out our Projector Projects for the best ideas we cover on our site or Super Simple DIY Dad for more exciting ideas!
