Creative Intelligence Arts (CIA), an international music studio based in Tokyo, Japan, is creating an indie animation project called Under the Dog that’s unchained from the restraints of “being told what to do” and expressed from a talented team who are “free to express” themselves. These individuals have years of experiences after working for many gaming industries and anime production studios. In fact, some folks might actually recognize these familiar faces. But first, check out a promotional video about their latest work.
Founded by the musician Hiroaki Yura in 2010, this company has been known for gathering international musicians to create the next great video game and anime film scores. Gaming individuals who played Soul Calibur IV & V, Valkyria Chronicles, White Knight Chronicles, El Shaddai and Diablo III would have heard their musical pieces. Now, the CIA is moving beyond this network for composing melodies, with Hiroaki Yura directing and supporting another international group called Project Phoenix that aims to deliver the best JRPG with western design influence.
Ironically, Project Phoenix’s first game is literally called “Project Phoenix”. While that discussion might crop up later in the future, Under the Dog is their second KickStarter project that started on August 8, but this innovative product is a science fictional anime episode that’s going to be made by Masahiro Ando (the director), Yusuke Kozaki (character and mechanical design), Hiroaki Yura (producer), Jiro Ishii (storyboard writer) Keiichi Momose (audio director) Kevin Penkin (original score) and John Kurlander (mixing and recording engineer).
In this list, the gaming community might know that Yusuke Kozaki has contributed his artistic talents to No More Heroes and Fire Emblem: Awakening, or Jiro Ishii who produced Imabikiso (first PlayStation 3 visual novel) and worked with Level 5 on Dragon Quest and Professor Layton games. Though Kevin Penkin collaborated with “Final Fantasy” Nobuo Uematsu on several game projects, he has stepped out and is currently working on the upcoming three-dimensional action game called Implosion (by Rayark Games) and Project Phoenix. Finally, John Kurlander who is literally everywhere had joined this production after working with Blizzard and the filming industry.
If these well-known individuals succeed in their campaign, they plan to produce one 24 minute episode with voice casting in Japanese and English subtitles. While willing donors must provide at least $580,000 USA dollars to reach their goal, the participants have accomplished 69% (400,000). Yet, Under the Dog team has only four days left.
Will readers support this unique story on time? Is this company abusing the point of KickStarter when a publisher is still supporting them? Should other gaming veterans work together and just use that online site to acquire funds for intellectual property?
For more information about the girl in the video or progress, please visit the official page about this stunning animated episode.
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