  Storyline visualization has emerged as an innovative method for illustrating
the development and changes in stories across various domains. Traditional
approaches typically represent stories with one line per character, progressing
from left to right. While effective for simpler narratives, this method faces
significant challenges when dealing with complex stories involving multiple
characters, as well as temporal and spatial dynamics. In this study, we
investigate the potential of immersive environments for enhancing storyline
visualizations. We begin by summarizing the key design considerations for
effective storyline visualization in virtual reality (VR). Guided by these
principles, we develop 3DStoryline, a system that allows users to view and
interact with 3D immersive storyline visualizations. To evaluate the
effectiveness of 3DStoryline, we conduct a task-based user study, revealing
that the system significantly enhances users' comprehension of complex
narratives.
