FROM THE WEBSITEInanimate Alice
'Inanimate Alice,' an interactive tale delivered online, tells the story of Alice, a young girl growing up in the first half of the 21st century, and her imaginary digital friend, Brad.
Over ten episodes, each a self contained story, we see Alice grow from an eight year old living with her parents in a remote region of Northern China to a talented mid-twenties animator and designer with the biggest games company in the world.
'Inanimate Alice' is produced using manipulated photographic images, illustrations, video, sound, and text. Movement between scenes in the story is dynamic, using slides, pans and zooms to suggest an animated comic, but in a distinctive style that is part comic, part animation and part film. Requiring the viewer's participation to complete the story stimulates engagement and a degree of interactive immersion not experienced with linear storytelling. Viewer participation and interactivity increases as the series progresses, mirroring Alice's developing career as an animator. The original soundtrack loops and extends so that viewers can pace their experience.
Each episode increases in complexity - in character design, game play and interactivity. At first, the viewer is required only to catch a few flowers, and resolve simple puzzles - these challenges reflecting Alice's age at the time of the episode. Later, puzzles become increasingly more game-like until the episodes themselves become an episodic game.
Alice has a solitary childhood, seeking solace in her own imagination, creating and animating her own game character, Brad. The first 3 episodes represent that part of Alice's life where she spends most of her time under close parental control. A dramatic event occurs at the end of the third episode that throws the family into turmoil yet inspires an awakening within Alice, leading to her adventures in episodes 4, 5 and onward.
'Inanimate Alice' uses graphic novel techniques creating an edgy, disturbing narrative, yet it is completely safe for a young/teenage audience. It has the look and feel of adult comic book drama without the content that demands adult rating.
Accessing the Episodes:
As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 'Inanimate Alice' is now available in French, German, Italian and Spanish translations. Go to www.inanimatealice.com and click on the appropriate country code beneath the required episode.
For Educators:
An Education Pack has been created to accompany the series. Download this free resource at www.inanimatealice.com/education
Coming Soon!
Bookmark a link to www.iStori.es - soon you will be able to create your own interactive story from holiday snaps or pictures downloaded from the net. Add some text, music and sound effects... Boom!... you have your story to send to friends and family or upload to your favourite social website.
Episodes 4 & 5 of 'Inanimate Alice' are in production. Visit www.inanimatealice.com
for updates.
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