Category Archives: Projects

Alice

Leviathan – The first Otherlands Script

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We’re heading into the mind of Jules Verne! Alice: Otherlands director Ed Goin has submitted a script (which I think is brilliant) for the animated short in which Alice will explore the mind of Jules Verne. As a part of the process in developing and creating these animations, we want to keep you, the audience and Kickstarter backers, involved. So here for your reading pleasure is Ed’s script:

AliceOtherlands_JulesVerne-v2

Take a read, soak in the meaning, then read again. When you’re ready, feel free to send me comments and feedback. I’ll make sure Ed hears what you’ve got to say. For my part, I’m really happy with what he’s doing. The concept of “Leviathan” is one that is very near to the evil Alice seeks to destroy in Otherlands. Verne’s role in shaping mankind’s destiny as a part of that battle is a powerful one.

In the Mind of Verne
Alice

Success! Alice is off to Otherlands!

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After 20 days and much nail-biting, the Alice: Otherlands campaign has reached a successful conclusion. Coming in at over 222kUSD, the funding will allow us to create a series of animated short films, pursue larger animated series possibilities, begin development work on a feature film and access larger funding options for a possible feature film production in the future. All thanks to the kind support of our backers on Kickstarter. You rock!

For those of you who missed out on the action of the race – there’s still a post-campaign funding option via PayPal. Just follow THIS LINK and you’ll be taken to the PayPal campaign page.

Backers, your survey links will go out soon. Not sure exactly how soon, since that’s Ophelea’s domain, but I know she’s on it.

Regarding Susie and Roger’s involvement in recording VO… I think we’ll be able to make something work. We didn’t hit our stretch goal, but we got pretty close. And, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been talking to potential sources of additional funding. If that works out, it should help us not only secure involvement from Susie and Roger, but also work towards making more animations in total.

Going forward, I’ll be sure to send out updates when there’s interesting news. This coming week I’ll be talking with Troy, Ed (animators), Chris (composer) and potential funding/platform partners. Heading to Beijing next week to continue feature film funding discussions and more.

Very exciting! We’re off and running!

Alice, Alice Sequel

24 Hours Remaining – Alice: Otherlands

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Just 24 hours remaining in the Alice: Otherlands campaign. A few days ago it might have looked like we weren’t going to make it. We were all freaking out, right? This morning (in Shanghai), with 24 hours remaining, the outlook is MUCH MORE POSITIVE. At the current rate we’ll hit our funding target and then some. Yay!

Thing is, we’ve got to keep freaking! The most important thing you can do RIGHT NOW is spread the word. Tweet, post to Facebook and wave the flag.

Tweet this: RT @AliceOtherlands, Less than 24 hours to go #Kickstarter kck.st/16F4yvT

Facebook this: Less than 24 hours remaining to make Alice: Otherlands a reality. Support Alice’s next adventure down the rabbit hole – kck.st/16F4yvT

Our directors are getting excited too. Troy wrote me this morning to say he’s been dreaming about exploring the mind of composer Richard Wagner while Tsui Hark is working on ideas for an adventure into the mind of Van Gogh. The success of this campaign is going to quickly enable these brilliant directors to take us on some very wild rides.

Meanwhile, my talks with various financiers, distribution platforms and other people who want to help continue to advance. This is shaping up to be something really special. And in another 24 hours we’ll know if we’ve done it or not…. what am I talking about? Failure is not an option! Let’s do this thing! 🙂

Today I’m going to give you with a couple of promotion images. If you’ve not done so already, swap out your Facebook cover image (banner) with either of the two provided here.

And if you’ve not yet done so: BACK THE PROJECT.

Alice, Spicy Horse

A Living Eulogy for Otherlands

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Three days, twenty hours until the campaign is over. It’s led a brief but spectacular life so far. Will this weekend find us celebrating its success or mourning its loss? The numbers are so close it’s hard to say. While there’s still a glimmer of hope, I offer you a recap of what we’ve accomplished so far – and a glimpse at what might be if we succeed:

• The Otherlands animation project is born from the ashes of a sacrificed OZombie campaign.

• Autographed DVD’s, Blu Ray’s, Art Books, Posters and more are added as backer rewards.

• Animation Storyboards and Thomas Edison arrive at the 25% funding mark.

• Stop-motion animator Troy Morgan signs on as we reveal Van Gogh’s mind and hit the 35% mark.

• Motion graphic animator Ed Goin joins us as we unveil a series of beautiful Alice lithographs.

• Alice soundtrack composer and musician Chris Vrenna joins the creative team on Otherlands.

• Legendary Hong Kong film director Tsui Hark lends his creative voice and support to the project, moving Alice one step closer to the big screen.

• Otherlands flies into the mind of Hilda Hewlett as we attain 50% funding altitude.

• At 60% funding we peer into the mind of Oscar Wilde.

• Tons of press coverage lands alongside a drama-inducing glimpse inside the mind of Saint Saens (yes, it was made from manipulated Beksinski art, yes it was offered for sale, then not).

• Susie Brann (voice of Alice) and Roger Jackson (voice of Cheshire Cat) announce their involvement as we zoom past the 70% mark and set our first stretch goal.

• And lastly, we present the mind of Bram Stoker as the campaign bites and claws towards 75% of funding.

It’s been a wild ride! A quick and creative campaign racing towards an imaginative goal. The combined talent, creativity and passion we’ve presented throughout the campaign could deliver some truly amazing animation – and make meaningful progress towards Alice’s debut on the big screen.

It’s all here – the creative vision, the proven animation talent, a legendary writer/producer/director of big-budget action films, the “musical voice” of the Alice series, the literal voices of Alice and her grinning companion… A complete package. A full house.

What more could we ask for?

Well, a lot more. We’ve barely scratched the surface of awareness needed to make this thing a success. Alice fans from around the globe are emailing me every hour to say they’ve just stumbled upon the campaign. They heard about it through a friend of a friend. Or when some drive-through customer shouted “Otherlands!” in response to , “May I take your order?”

This campaign will live or die based on how effective we are in spreading the word over the next 90 hours.

Here’s what you can do right now:

Tweet this: @AliceOtherlands, Less than 90 hours to go #Kickstarter kck.st/16F4yvT

Facebook this: “Alice: Otherlands” is American McGee’s Kickstarter campaign to make a series of animated shorts based on Alice’s latest adventures. Less than 90 hours remain until the campaign ends. Help make it a success: kck.st/16F4yvT

Then do whatever other crazy stuff you can think of to raise awareness. Get CRAZY!

Speaking of crazy… Did you know French actress Sarah Bernhardt slept in a coffin to better understand tragic roles? Well, now you do! And today’s Otherlands adventure is an illustration of Sarah’s beautiful mind, as rendered by Spicy Horse artist Joey. We’ll be adding this to the campaign, as usual, as an add-on at $65 + $10 for international shipping.

From Shanghai with Crazy in my Brain,

-American

Alice, Spicy Horse

The End is Nigh

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Four days remaining with the Alice: Otherlands Kickstarter campaign and we’re at 70% of our goal. We’ll need to make 15kUSD a day to finish successfully, but with the 48 hour notice and “Surge of the Last Days” I think we can do it! The thing is, we REALLY need to turn up the noise on our social, online, friends, and family marketing. So get those fingers tapping and let the world know!

However this campaign turns out, this will be my last Kickstarter. Working with the platform this year has been an interesting experience to say the least. We’ve run three campaigns – Akaneiro, OZombie and now Alice: Otherlands. Each has been unique in terms of content and presentation. The Akaneiro campaign helped us launch a game. OZombie explored the limits of my ambitions and public support while Otherlands… well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Thing is, I don’t think I’ll ever be willing to run the gauntlet again. As many positive things have come from these campaigns, for me personally it’s a mostly painful experience. It’s tantamount to putting a giant “kick me” sign on my back. “Don’t read the comments!” screams Ophelea (our Community Manager), but maybe the naysayers and insult hurlers have a point? Not that they are necessarily “right,” but when the echo chamber of the majority destroys any and all independent thought, what is “right?”

Someone recently sent me a Lewis Carrol quote:

“If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much!”

The man has a point, and so my Kickstarter sentiments are not about my actions in general – just about this particular form of public exposure. Crowd funding is a gladiator’s game. I still think it’s an amazing platform, and one that our industry desperately needs, just not one that’s suited to my temperament, endeavors or (it would seem) my audience.

Speaking of the stage of life… the image you see alongside this post is a peak inside the mind of Sarah Bernhardt, the French actress who has been referred to as “the most famous actress the world has ever known.” This image will be offered via the Kickstarter campaign with tomorrow’s update. You’re getting an early sneak peak!

If you’re looking for a slightly darker mind, check out today’s update – which provides a glimpse inside the mind of Dracula author, Bram Stoker.

Alice

Are you ready to lose Alice?

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If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you believe in Alice and her Wonderland. The question is – have you proven your belief by supporting her latest adventure?

Let me share a secret with you… I’m worried. I’m worried about Alice’s future. Why? Because a fan recently wrote me and said, “I’m going to sit this one out. I don’t care about the Otherlands animations, I just want the game.” This made me realize that I really need your help to save Alice. I wrote back and explained, “The success of the Otherlands project will prove the value of Alice to people who think the audience just isn’t there.” “I get it, I love Alice, but I can only give you $5,” came the response. It warmed my heart and made me realize it’s your passion that keeps me tied to Alice. The project gives me reason to get up in the morning, but if that support doesn’t come then I feel there’s little to motivate me to keep going.

People just like you are backing. They are making a difference.

Here’s what I need you to do: I need you to keep the long term picture in mind. I need you to back this project in any amount. Why? Because this isn’t just about the Otherlands animations – it’s about showing the world the importance of Alice and her Wonderland.

There are 11,000 people following the Alice: Otherlands Facebook page and over 30,000 people seeing posts from that page. If each of those people lent just a little support, our campaign would fund successfully in a matter of hours. We could show the world once and for all how important Alice is to us.

Won’t you help me do that?

Support Alice now!