By testing the frontiers of immersive art and moving images, and activating participation in location-based XR experiences, we are compelled to ask how the medium is changing the way we tell a story, and how animation is used to both excite and provoke. While much research on immersive storytelling focuses on theories and on audience experiences, as researchers at The Animation Workshop at the VIA University College Research & Development Department, our focus is on an investigation of the story design process through collaboration and shared experiences. The presentation will outline key case studies: from Nothing Happens (2017), Songbird (2018), The Hangman at Home (2021) and We Are at Home (2022), to the most current work-in-progress.