The Alice: Otherlands campaign is now CLOSED. For questions about DVDs, Art Books, Backer Rewards, Address Changes, and Updates, please follow THIS LINK.
The Pitch
With the acquisition of the film rights to the "Alice" property, we will begin work on animated short films inspired by the "Alice: Otherlands" concept. Our long term goal will be the development and production of a feature length film version of Alice's story.
If this campaign is successful you will receive, at a minimum, an animated adventure into Otherlands. Beyond that, the success of this campaign will bring us one step closer to seeing Alice on the big screen.
The History
From Wikipedia: Shortly after her second adventure, Through the Looking-Glass, Alice's house is burnt down by an accidental fire, killing her family and leaving her as the only survivor. As time progresses Alice loses touch with reality. She is institutionalized in Rutledge Asylum, where she is observed and treated by Dr. Hieronymus Wilson. Alice's only possession in Rutledge is a stuffed rabbit. Ten years after Alice was committed to Rutledge, she finds herself sucked back into a Wonderland that has been twisted by her own broken mind. The White Rabbit summons Alice to aid a radically altered Wonderland, which became a twisted version of itself as it came under the horrible rule of the Queen of Hearts. The Cheshire Cat serves as Alice's companion throughout the game, frequently appearing to guide her with cryptic comments.
From American: Alice's story in the first game is one of overcoming psychological trauma brought upon by the death of her family. Emotions created by that event (rage, guilt, sadness, etc) take form in Wonderland, personified through characters like the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts. If Alice loses in the battle against these emotions she'll not only lose her sanity, but be lobotomized and remain locked within the asylum for the rest of her life. She knows there's a greater mystery to be solved, but the immediate problem is escape from her mental and physical imprisonment.
At the end of the first game we see Alice is victorious. She frees herself from her mental and physical constraints, is set loose in London...
The Alice Trilogy
The narrative contained within the three games links together - the first story being one of Alice overcoming the psychological barriers that stop her from realizing her true potential. In the second game the threat is physical, though Alice uses her "Wonderland powers" to unravel the mystery of her parents' death and defeat the real-world bad guy. At the end of the second game we see Alice emerge onto the streets of London filled with a power that transcends the physical and psychological - she's now master of both domains. She's also aware of an insidious evil lurking in every corner of Victorian London, of a threat greater than the asylum or the man who killed her family.
Enter Otherlands
The third installment of the story would find Alice leveraging her super hero-like power to invade the minds of others, hence "Otherlands." 1875 in London is a time filled with a rich array of characters, each a potential vehicle for Alice's new adventures - Jules Verne, Jack the Ripper, Darwin, Queen Victoria and a plethora of French artists. In this final piece of the story, I imagine we'll see Alice fighting against a larger conspiracy - one that impacts all the inhabitants of London - battling an organization or bad guy intent on capturing all of society in a nightmarish "prison of the mind." This is, in effect, a commentary on the soul crushing birth of industrial society... but we can and will give it a fantastic twist.
The story ultimately comes down to one of the individual fighting against a corrupt system. Of shining a light on the ultimate origins of psychological horror in our modern society. It's a question of highlighting the sort of society that creates mental illness, the powerful preying on the weak, subjugation of the masses through deception and manipulation and the driving forces who benefit from this kind of reality. It's also about finding f'd-up nightmarish creatures and kicking their butts back to hell.
The Animations
Working with top-notch animation studios near Spicy Horse headquarters in Shanghai, our illustrators, 3D artists and animators will guide production of high quality 3D rendered animated short films. Each film will be a glimpse inside a different mind, rendered in its own unique style and set to an evocative sound track. These animations will contain their own mini narrative arcs that fit into the larger Alice narrative.
Our studio has extensive experience working with outside art production houses in this style. 90% of the 3D assets you saw in "Alice: Madness Returns" were made by local companies near our studio.
World famous directors and writers have already expressed their interest in helping develop, write and produce the "Otherlands" animations. In an ideal situation we could end up with a range of Otherland animations guided by a range of talented writers and directors, and rendered in a stunning range of styles.
(Some have compared our vision as being similar to "The Animatrix" animations that were inspired by "The Matrix" trilogy - and we think this is a valid comparison).
Sample Work by Partner Directors
Troy Morgan, The Return of Alice
Ed Goin, Alice: Madness Returns Cutscenes
Tsui Hark, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Chris Vrenna, The Soundtrack to American McGee's Alice
Stretch Goal
At $250,000 Susie Brann (the voice of Alice) and Roger Jackson (the voice of the Cheshire Cat) sign on to the project!
Add-ons
Should you want the following items in addition to the tier you pledge for, simply add the additional amount listed. Then, when the survey comes around at the end of the Kickstarter, simply indicate what the additional pledge amount is for. ***This will allow you to purchase multiple copies.
Digital Copy - $25
Autographed DVD - $50 + $10 intl. shipping
Edisonland Canvas Poster - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
Alice with Sunflowers - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
The Others - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
Above the Clouds - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
A Liberally Textured Mind - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
The Dénouement - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
Sarah's World - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
A Royal Blue Knight - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
Hyde Alice - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
Release the Hounds - $65 + $10 intl. shipping
Alice: 20,000 Leagues Under - $65 + $10 shipping
A Wilde Mind - $65 + $10 shipping
Art of Alice: Otherlands art book - $65 + $12 intl. shipping
Alice: Madness Returns Add-ons
The following items are posters, screenprints, lithographs and giclees from Alice: Madness Returns. (The lithographs are numbered and signed by the artist!)In order to obtain one, you purchase as you would any other add-on. When the Kickstarter ends, you will be able to use your extra monies in a "shopping cart" to choose exactly which poster you want. However, there is one caveat: there is a limited quantity of these items. The limits are very high (in the 100s) so the chance of running out is slim. But be aware, you may not be able to get your first choice poster. When the Kickstarter ends, you will be able to use your extra monies in a "shopping cart" to choose exactly which poster you want.
Alchemy Poster - $25 + $7 intl. shipping
HMS Gryphon Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Mysterious East Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Queensland Gate Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Snail Fight Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Street Rats Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Tears Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
The Doll House Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Vale of Tears Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Wake Up Alice Lithograph - $35 + $7 intl. shipping
Vorpal Blade Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
Phantom City Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
Ken Taylor Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
James Flames Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
Angryblue Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
Zeng Shuo Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
Kevin Tong Screenprint Poster - $65 + $7 intl. shipping
Risks and challenges
Because Spicy Horse is a game studio and not an animation or film production house, the biggest risk in acquiring these rights and working with them will come in how we choose and collaborate with external partners. That being said, we do have experience working with external 3D animation houses (see animations for Alice: Madness Returns marketing). For feature film (either live action or animation) we're already being approached by well-known producers, writers and directors - and would strive to work only with the best possible partners in order to reduce risk and achieve the highest quality.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Support
Funding period
- (20 days)