Isobar and United Artists Releasing Launch Interactive Missing Link Skill for Amazon Alexa

Experience-led transformation agency Isobar has announced the release of Missing Link Adventures, an Alexa skill created by the agency for United Artists Releasing. The immersive voice-enabled experience allows fans of Missing Link, LAIKA’s newest animated movie, to engage with the characters and further explore that world. This skill is available now in the Alexa Skills Store via the Alexa app or Amazon.com. 

Missing Link Adventures presents several interactive experiences inspired by the idea that adventure links us all. Mr. Link (Zach Galifianakis), Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) and Adelina (Zoe Saldana) invite fans to seek the fantastical in their own home and learn what it takes to become the adventurers they are meant to be. The highly interactive skill – part scavenger hunt, part explorer training, and a full-blown riot – touches on the movie’s central themes of kindness, intelligence, bravery and well-being.

Missing Link Adventures is a multimodal skill that combines voice with a rich visual experience. The experience is built using the Alexa Presentation Language (APL) and is available on Alexa-enabled devices, including Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Spot and Echo Show. The skill uses notifications to let users know when new adventures are ready. Additionally, every line is spoken by one of the three main characters in place of Alexa’s or a non-movie character’s voice. A highly cinematic skill that stresses participation, Missing Link Adventures is great for voice because of its sustained engagement. 

“We knew we didn’t just want to make a skill that supported a movie, but rather an experience that took into account the very heart of a story and will live on outside of the movie,” said Ricardo Salema, chief creative officer, Isobar U.S. “Creating immersive experiences, powered by creativity, is what we do at Isobar – constantly finding new ways to leverage emerging technologies to connect with consumers in unique ways. Voice technology has allowed us to create a world that inspires the consumer to use their imagination to explore a truly magical world. We have pushed the boundaries of creativity through technology and we’re excited about what this means for the future of storytelling.”

“We knew that any voice application for Missing Link needed to be really well designed in order to keep fans engaged,” said Dave Meeker, Isobar’s chief innovation officer. “We weren’t going to settle for this being a one-and-done kind of voice app. Our incredible clients collaborated with us to make sure it was more than just a simple Alexa skill. We came up with a concept that blends storyline, voice talent and user movement into a truly fun and memorable interactive experience. This might be the first voice app of its kind, as it requires the users to not only talk to the experience and answer questions, but to also move around and even leave their device. Storylines can be played randomly and users can even switch between adventures. It’s a real differentiator in the space. And by blending creativity and technology, we’re able to take the characters off the silver screen and bring them into the home.”

The Missing Link skill is available for download now in the Alexa Skills Store. Once enabled, the user just needs to say, “Alexa, open Missing Link” to get started. LAIKA and Annapurna’s Missing Link is in theaters everywhere on April 12, 2019.