Google has added a bunch of popular Japanese characters to its mobile search AR feature, which previously featured animals, historical artifacts and dinosaurs. The list of characters is taken from Japanese pop culture, including anime, TV and video games, with names like Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, Evangelion and Gundam mechs and more. The feature works on Google search on Android and the Google iOS app.
When you enter character names, you’ll see a “see in your space” option. below the main search result and will allow you to leave a 3D model in the camera view. Models can appear at varying degrees of scale, with a life-size rendering option, although I’m not sure how accurate these measurements are. I had the impression that Hello Kitty was five apples tall, for example, but she rose above my desk when I tried it.
The full list of characters is here:
- Ultraman
- Ultraman Zero
- Ultraman Belial
- Gomorra
- Evangelion (test type EVA-01)
- Gundam (Odysseus Gundam, Xi Gundam, Penelope)
- Cogimyun
- Drums from Taiko and Tatsujin
- Pac-Man
- Pompompurin
- The Little Twin Stars
Google says that Pac-Man is by far the most searched character on the list, with more than twice as many searches as Hello Kitty at number 2. It seems that the top country for Pac-Man searches is Peru.