KickStart This: Cantina
Star Wars Day ("May the 4th Be With You") isn't an official holiday, but it's still a pretty big deal for fans. It's always fun to see how people celebrate. And this May the 4th, a new project launches that is sure to appeal to Star Wars fans across the galaxy.
Kung Fu Pencil, an animation studio based in the US and Japan, is launching a KickStarter campaign for a pilot for a new series called Cantina. The show is an adult animated comedy, inspired by (but not affiliated with) the Star Wars Universe. Best described as a mix of Star Wars and Cheers, with more than a hint of Family Guy, the series takes place in a "wreteched hive of scum and villainry", not unlike the watering hole in the original Star Wars movie.
Devon Harris, one half of Kung Fu Pencil, believes that audiences have been craving adult Star Wars content. “Fans want content that’s not trying to please everyone. Cantina is made for adults. You’ll see everything from sex and drugs to nude pod racing.”
The cast will feature dubious characters like Steve Starhumper, bar owner Jake Jagoff, and waitress Twai'lita- not to mention a supporting cast of Trash monsters, droids and various space creatures. Potential storylines include what it's like to date a Wookie, what happens when a Sarlacc shows up in the Cantina urinal and more.
Kung Fu Pencil has already put in more than 600 hours to produce a proof-of-concept trailer.
This is where the KickStarter comes in. The project is seeking $500,000 to create a full 10-minute broadcast-quality pilot. The $500K will be used towards writing, storyboarding, animating, voice-over recording and scoring.
“Episodes from shows we love like Rick and Morty typically cost one to two million dollars to create,” says Luke Swan, the other half of the Kung Fu Pencil. “$500k seems like a lot, but it’ll be the perfect amount for us to do this right.”
Rewards include stickers, postcards, one-of-a-kind original art, access to a behind-the-scenes blog and lots more. At the top end, you could even get to appear as a character alongside Steve Starhumper in the Cantina itself.
The show is obviously unofficial, and is in way affiliated with LucasFilm, Disney or any related entity. The intention is that if made, the series would be released online for free for all fans to enjoy. Kung Fu Pencil acknowledges that they could potentially run into legal problems and have a contingency plan should they find themselves "forced" into their own universe.Although they note that Star Wars is "typically pretty cool with projects like this."
Stretch goals include expanding the running time to a full 22-minutes, adding an intro, and adding a post-credit scene.
If you like the look of Cantina, and want to help it get made, head over to the campaign page. The campaign runs until June 3.
