This year, March 17 is a double holiday. Of course, every year March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone becomes a wee bit Irish for the day. And this year, March 17 happens to fall on the third day of the third week of the third month, the defining factor of National 3-D Day.
Happy 3-D Day! Yes, National 3-Day is a thing—along with a long list of other atypical holidays. It was celebrated for the first time on March 17, 2020. Not to be confused with federal holidays, national days are more informal and meant to be fun or to raise awareness—often established by individuals or organizations with specific interests or causes. They pay homage to wide range of things—animals, foods, beverages, places, etc. National Day Calendar tracks these holidays, and there are a lot of them to track.
National 3-D Day is a time to celebrate 3D technology and its various mediums—from its early days of vintage stereo photography to present-day VR and 3D printing. This day of celebration was founded by Ilicia Benoit, a stereoscopic artist, in collaboration with 3-D Space, a non-profit related to 3D technology. It is meant to honor the art, science, and history of stereoscopic 3D imagery.
My first celebrated 3-D Day was back in 2022, and to mark the occasion, I decided to investigate the technology’s roots and progression, highlighting many significant moments associated with stereo 3D (S3D). (That story can be found here.)
Stereo 3D films have given theater audiences thrills and chills over the years, and scientists and researchers unique insights. On the entertainment side, the technology has at times surged, peaked, and declined in popularity, but it has never stopped evolving through new techniques and technologies, taking films beyond those gimmicky gag moments to visual and story enhancement. The power of S3D in that regard was proven with the first Avatar film in 2009, and then with the multitude of films in the decade after that release. But then, another roller-coaster ride for the tech—no doubt due in part to theater closures and other adverse effects in the COVID era.
A few days ago, the latest Avatar film, Fire and Ash, received an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The film, produced in 3D, utilizes advanced 3D technology and high frame rate techniques to enhance the viewing experience. As we know, filming in 3D requires cameras to be spaced similar to the human eyes to capture two slightly different angles, which are then combined into a single image that replicates stereo vision. Making this film especially challenging was the complexity of underwater 3D capture. And Director James Cameron is not one to take the easy road in his visual and storytelling quest.
The bottom line is that S3D gives film audiences a reason to see a release in theaters (besides getting one of those unique but expensive popcorn containers). S3D is not dead, though at times it may appear dormant. It continues to evolve and its use in projects at times seems more selective. Looking at the calendar, there are a number of upcoming tentpoles that will offer a stereo 3D option—Toy Story 5, Minions 3, Shrek 5, and Avatar 4.
Yearly, many people celebrate March 17 by donning green clothing and throwing back some Irish whiskey or perhaps a pint of green beer—or both. Some may overindulge, but this is not an official way to experience stereo vision for the shared National 3-D Day. Instead, take in a stereo film (perhaps the newly released Hoppers) and enjoy the wonders of the technology. Or, expand your horizons and look at another medium offering stereo 3D, such as photography, art, gaming, and more, for a totally different perspective.
Oh, by the way, there is a 3D Day in December as well, December 3 to be exact, which honors the art, science, and history of stereoscopic 3D. Who can argue against a double dose of 3D Day?
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