Vividly Experience the Reality, Joy, Wonder, and Beauty of Living as a Lesbian — XR Film Guide Vol.

Vividly Experience the Reality, Joy, Wonder, and Beauty of Living as a Lesbian — XR Film Guide Vol. 115: Lesbian Simulator

https://vimeo.com/277514474?fl=pl&fe=sh

The work I would like to introduce this time is Lesbian Simulator, a VR piece I encountered at SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, USA, in March 2026.

When I first saw the title, I must admit its incredibly straightforward naming made me brace myself a little. I had some reservations, wondering how deeply I would actually be able to empathize with a theme that felt somewhat distant from my own daily life.

However, the moment I put on the headset, those anxieties vanished entirely. What awaited me was an exceptionally well-crafted experiential design that seamlessly fused the fun of gameplay interactions with a cinematic, emotionally resonant narrative.

At the venue, I was also fortunate enough to meet the director, Iris van der Meule, in person. She is young and bursting with ideas, but what struck me most was her passionate declaration: “I didn’t want to make a piece about LGBTQ+ themes just to denounce social issues or discrimination. I wanted to create something where we can share the sheer joy and happiness experienced by the community.”

Embodying her words, the artwork is filled with a celebration of love and sexuality. While the story progresses delightfully within a pop and colorful world, it also directly addresses serious challenges through playful expressions — such as the deeply rooted prejudices that still exist globally, and the verbal and physical violence that lesbians face.

Grounded in the director’s own experiences and the voices of many individuals in the community, this interactive art represents a new form of “empathy” that could only be achieved through the medium of VR. While encapsulating the harsher aspects of society, it ultimately leaves you with a sense of positive energy. It is truly a remarkably high-caliber piece of work.

An Experience Engraved Not as ‘Information,’ but as ‘Memory’

This work is a “role-playing” VR piece where the player acts as the protagonist of the story.

Generally speaking, “immersion of perspective” in VR is not simply about seeing through a character’s eyes. It refers to the very process of feeling that person’s pain and sharing their joy — engraving the narrative onto your physical body not as mere “information,” but as an unforgettable “memory.”

The experience of Lesbian Simulator begins with creating your own lesbian avatar. It is a sensation akin to facing yourself in a mirror and rediscovering a side of you that you never knew existed.

Once you dive into the meticulously crafted avatar, major life events of a lesbian’s life await you: coming out, meeting new friends, heart-fluttering dates, and the cold discrimination encountered at times. Through these active experiences, players physically experience what it truly means to “exist as a lesbian.”

Grounded in director Iris van der Meule’s personal experiences, the story vividly captures even the subtlest emotional shifts that traditional media often fail to grasp. However, the essence of this work does not lie solely in confronting social issues or pain.

“How joyful, wonderful, and beautiful is it to be a lesbian?”

Throughout the entire piece, the work continuously sheds a positive light on this question. Even in heartbreaking scenes, Director Iris’s vibrant and imaginative animation gently yet powerfully encourages the user. Swept up in a wave of diverse emotions, the 40-minute experience flew by in a flash, much like a rollercoaster ride.

I cannot help but wish so deeply to introduce this experience — filled with profound empathy and radiant energy — to audiences in Japan someday. It is a masterpiece that truly makes you feel that way.

Comment from K:

This is such a fun and eye-opening experience!

It lets you discover a whole new world — and even a side of yourself you never knew existed. I honestly think it changes the way you see the world from now on.

We’ve never seen anything like this in traditional media before. It’s a unique experience that only VR can truly deliver!

Data of Works:

Title: Lesbian Simulator Director: Iris van der Meule Genre: Animation Year of Production: 2025 Running Time: Approx. 40 minutes

[embed]Iris van der Meule Edit descriptionwww.irisvandermeule.com

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