“When criminal fires expel an entire community from their home, two sisters are separated by the attack of land grabbers and find themselves forced to take different paths in the fight for survival – of their own, their people and the entire region in which they grew up.”
The text above is part of the synopsis of Split Studio’s new project, “Among the Stars”, but it could be one of countless stories produced by historical violence against Brazilian indigenous peoples.
With the belief that entertainment is a powerful tool for transforming reality, Split launched, on December 29th, the crowdfunding campaign for its first original game, which presents the sisters' fantastic journey Ari and Tai, an adventure full of real dangers, supernatural beings and which, in addition, amplifies the debate on fundamental socio-environmental issues.
“Among the Stars” is a 2D platform and adventure game, with a strong story appeal, combat elements and puzzle solving. The player will have a fluid and captivating narrative experience, with striking visuals, while being involved in dynamic and fun gameplay – inspired by games such as “Inside”, “Child of Light” and “Ori and the Blind Forest”.
With indigenous professionals from different ethnicities on the team, the game shows in its history some of the narrative richness of original Brazilian peoples, in addition to carefully addressing the challenges that real people suffer from illegal incursions in the regions in which they live – and have always lived. . The look and narrative are freely inspired by the people Kadiwéu and Guarani Kaiowá.
“This game is very important for me, because it talks about the current indigenous issue in Brazil and reminds the population that, long before this territory was 'Brazil', it was an indigenous territory, which we call 'Pindorama'. and that there are several narratives that go back to our ancestors, our parents, our grandparents.” – Nicolle Nascimento Ansay, Screenwriter and Producer of the project.
The campaign will run on Catarse until the end of February 2023, and the choice of crowdfunding it was more than natural; in addition to its extensive history of successful financing of content in the young and geek universe, it is the leader in crowdfunding in Brazil. Split believes that building strong intellectual properties also involves finding new financing mechanisms for production. Therefore, we trust in the potential of crowdfunding as a way to independently make projects from the most varied media and themes viable, in a transparent way and closer to the end public, who are the ones who matter most.
To achieve the project's objective of collaborating in the fight against the problems faced by Brazilian indigenous peoples - in addition to amplifying the debate on important topics -, “Entre as Estrelas” will transfer 15% of the funds raised to indigenous associations such as AJI (Associação Jovens Indígenas) , Apib (Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil) and ANMIGA (National Articulation of Women Warriors of Ancestry).
Furthermore, the campaign brings Split's purpose of using animation as a training tool, bringing courses from the newest Split Academy as rewards for supporters. And, still within the objective of bringing indigenous representation to the game and to the animation medium as a whole, 10% of all course vacancies, masterclasses and portfolio reviews of Split Academia will be aimed at indigenous students.
“When we are in a fight for equality, for equity, for social and spiritual transformation, we take our people with us, which is the combination of all these [peoples] that exist today, even after colonization” – Ian Wapichana, Composer and Instrumentalist of the game.
BE THE RESISTANCE. SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN NOW NO CATHARSIS!
About Split
An award-winning Brazilian animation producer, with more than ten years in the market, Split is the production house for series such as “Hello Kitty & Friends – Supercute Adventures” and “Turma da Mônica”, in addition to having already produced for international clients of the most diverse, from “Ricky & Morty” to Megan Thee Stallion. She is also the creator of original intellectual properties, such as “WeeBoom”, “Boomies”, “What is it, Broto?” and new game projects, such as “Entre as Estrelas” and “Wizavior”.
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