Lunar New Year Google Doodle uses AI, front-facing camera to teach shadow puppetry

The traditional Chinese calendar, which incorporates 12 zodiac animals, leverages moon cycles to mark the new year. In 2019, this date falls on February 5th and begins the Year of the Pig. To celebrate, Tuesday's Google Doodle incorporates an AI Experiment that novelly uses your device's front-facing camera to teach shadow puppetry. Chinese shadow puppetry is an ancient art form for storytelling that uses silhouette figures and music to pass down cultural history. Cut-out paper or hand figures are placed in front of a light source and projected on a translucent screen.