Techniques for immersive virtual reality experiences

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, by performing the steps of:

• receiving a media content item;
• receiving content metadata associated with the media content item, wherein the content metadata specifies a character effect in which a character watches the media content item in a 3D virtual environment and, while watching the media content item, automatically interacts with a user in the 3D virtual environment by at least one of providing commentary about the media content item to the user, asking the user a question, or responding to the user based on at least one of a sound, a movement, or an input by the user;
• generating at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata;
• and
• displaying the media content item and the at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment on a display associated with a virtual reality device.

A computing device, comprising:

• a memory that includes a three-dimensional (3D) object/effects generator;
• and
• a processor that is coupled to the memory and, when executing the 3D object/effects generator, is configured to:
• receive a media content item from a content management server,
• receive, from the content management server, content metadata associated with the media content item, wherein the content metadata specifies a character effect in which a character watches the media content item in a 3D virtual environment and, while watching the media content item, automatically interacts with a user in the 3D virtual environment by at least one of providing commentary about the media content item to the user, asking the user a question, or responding to the user based on at least one of a sound, a movement, or an input by the user, and
• generate at least a portion of the 3D virtual environment based on the content metadata.