Kaze Ghost Warrior
Encyclopedia
Kaze, Ghost Warrior is an independent, computer animated film featuring anthropomorphic animals as the inhabitants of a distant world. The 22-minute pilot episode, created entirely by Timothy Albee
, is intended to be viewed as both the first episode of a projected series, and as a Lightwave
technology demo. The film was released in late 2004 on DVD
and is available through a private distributor. It has also traversed the globe within numerous film festivals winning awards and recognition along the way and is currently touring the U.K. The second episode of the series is currently in development. A touched-up re-release of the pilot is also planned and would include such polishing touches as tails for the characters, a voice for Utsukushii, and "an in-depth scene between Kaze and his father talking about Kaze's disappearance and return."
who, driven by honor, transcends mortal life to avenge the murders of a royal family in a distant world’s feudal past. After tracking a band of villains to a nearby tavern, Kaze confronts the troublemakers when they harass a helpless “server” offering patrons companionship. Proving to be no match for Kaze, the group flees, but not before their ringleader Yashin (an anthropomorphic ferret) reveals the identity of their boss, the feudal lord Soshi, a person Kaze knows well. Later, in a tranquil forest, more of Soshi’s henchmen surround Kaze, mistakenly believing they now had him outnumbered and overpowered. Despite his distaste for killing, Kaze easily kills or scares off the fiends, leaving Yashin facing him alone. Kaze dispenses lethal justice to Yashin, albeit compassionately, wishing Yashin safety and comfort in his next life free of any anger that might lead him down the same path again. When the warrior finally locates Soshi, it becomes obvious that the former soldier Soshi has benefitted greatly from the royals’ deaths. But rather than kill Soshi, Kaze instructs him to warn “the others” that he is coming for them.
- Steven Owens :Entertainment World
"...a real piece of art in which substance and style - for once - transcend technology."
- Alain Bielek :VFX World
"... bad accents, pretentious dialogue... It is pleasant to watch with the sound off (it comes with subtitles), and fans of plushies will love it." - Taylor Jessen :Animation World Magazine
Winner of "Willies Spirit Award" :Pencil-Head's Dusk Til Dawn Film Festival, Houston TX.
" This award is presented to a film of exceptional vision and independence, that barriers, and furthers the of independent film as a whole." - Michael J. Garcia, Festival Director.
Reception of the film was mixed. Many critics sided that the plot was hard to follow and the action was boring. The voice acting was also criticised and the animation was called good considering how the film was made. Overall the atmosphere and setting along with the characters was well received. It currently holds a 6.9 at IMDB.
about the creation of the film: CGI Filmmaking, The Creation Of Ghost Warrior.
Written alongside the creation of Kaze Ghost Warrior, every aspect of the production process, from Ideation to Distribution is laid-out clearly and understandably. Everything of the filmmaking process is described in lots of details, with rises and falls of production.
The book has lots of tips about the filmmaking and also about soundtracks, dialogue, animation, storyboarding etc. It has over 300 pages (312 to be exact) and is black and white. Except details about the filmmaking process there are also small sides where the author talks about his life in Alaska
.
It is described as incredibly detailed and recommended as a guide to CGI animation. Except the description of production of the film there are plates from the film, character designs, storyboards, and imagery created for this book.
), a full series and a game. Kaze, Ghost Warrior is just a pilot episode of this series; the second episode of the series is currently in production. There are also plans to release an enhanced version of this pilot (that this article describes), including additional voice talents, an additional scene involving Kaze's father, and CGI enhancements to the characters made possible with an upgrade to the software used to make Kaze, Ghost Warrior.
'Bay's gender is still not specified.
Timothy Albee
Timothy Albee is the creator of Kaze, Ghost Warrior. He needed six months to complete the movie, using two computers. He also published the book.- Biography :...
, is intended to be viewed as both the first episode of a projected series, and as a Lightwave
LightWave
LightWave 3D is a high end computer graphics program developed by NewTek. The latest release of LightWave runs on Windows and Mac OS X.- Overview:...
technology demo. The film was released in late 2004 on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and is available through a private distributor. It has also traversed the globe within numerous film festivals winning awards and recognition along the way and is currently touring the U.K. The second episode of the series is currently in development. A touched-up re-release of the pilot is also planned and would include such polishing touches as tails for the characters, a voice for Utsukushii, and "an in-depth scene between Kaze and his father talking about Kaze's disappearance and return."
Story
The movie starts with Itsua (an anthropomorphic fox) talking about one royal family killed a long time ago. He also mentiones 'Bay, Kaze's love, who was also killed, and tells the story of Kaze, a masterless samurai warriorRonin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
who, driven by honor, transcends mortal life to avenge the murders of a royal family in a distant world’s feudal past. After tracking a band of villains to a nearby tavern, Kaze confronts the troublemakers when they harass a helpless “server” offering patrons companionship. Proving to be no match for Kaze, the group flees, but not before their ringleader Yashin (an anthropomorphic ferret) reveals the identity of their boss, the feudal lord Soshi, a person Kaze knows well. Later, in a tranquil forest, more of Soshi’s henchmen surround Kaze, mistakenly believing they now had him outnumbered and overpowered. Despite his distaste for killing, Kaze easily kills or scares off the fiends, leaving Yashin facing him alone. Kaze dispenses lethal justice to Yashin, albeit compassionately, wishing Yashin safety and comfort in his next life free of any anger that might lead him down the same path again. When the warrior finally locates Soshi, it becomes obvious that the former soldier Soshi has benefitted greatly from the royals’ deaths. But rather than kill Soshi, Kaze instructs him to warn “the others” that he is coming for them.
Characters
All characters who had lines in the pilot were voiced by creator Timothy Albee himself.- 'Bay (anthropomorphic cheetahCheetahThe cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
?) whose gender was not identified in Kaze, Ghost Warrior (and Timothy Albee has stated he does not know 'Bay's gender) - Hanekaeru (anthropomorphic canineCanidaeCanidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs. A member of this family is called a canid . The Canidae family is divided into two tribes: Canini and Vulpini...
) - Ikari
- Itsua (anthropomorphic male foxFoxFox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
) A tavern and innkeeper secretly loyal to the murdered and deposed royal family, a loyalty he knows may bring death to his family. - Kaze (anthropomorphic male tigerTigerThe tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
) A heroic swordman who was in love with Bay and supposedly died but returned from the grave. Before his "death," he was captain of the elite House Guard. - Koten (anthropomorphic male foxFoxFox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
) One of Lord Soshi's Enforcers serving under Yashin, he is a swordsmen who wisely resheathes his sword and bows to Kaze in forfeit in the brawl in Itsua's tavern. - Miuchi One of Itsua's employees who helps see Yasashii safely home after his being taken hostage.
- Naosu (anthropomorphic female rabbitRabbitRabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
) Itsua's wife. - Soshi (anthropomorphic male raccoonRaccoonProcyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
) Not yet seen "on-camera," Soshi is an old foe of Kaze and has acquired a title (Lord) and power since the demise of the royal family, and sends thugs to force business owners to pay hefty taxes or face the wrath of his Enforcers. - Tessoh (anthropomorphic wolf) Kaze's adoptive father, to debut in a re-release of the pilot episode slated for Summer 2007 release
- Toge (anthropomorphic dingoDingoThe Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...
) - Utsukushii (anthropomorphic snow tigress) One of Itsua's employees who provides drinks and companionship to his customers. She offers Kaze more than a drink, but he very politely refuses, leading Yashin to uncivilly accuse Kaze of being gay.
- Yasashii (anthropomorphic huskyHuskyHusky is a general name for a type of dog originally used to pull sleds in northern regions, differentiated from other sled dog types by their fast hard pulling style...
) One of Itsua's employees at his tavern, Yasashii is grabbed by Yashin and held hostage to get a rise out of Kaze. While it succeeds in getting a rise out of Kaze, Yasashii is quickly freed by the warrior and Itsua, generous and kindhearted, sends Yasashii home under Miuchi's care for several nights -- with full pay. - Yasei (anthropomorphic male lynxLynxA lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
) One of Yashin's henchmen, Yasei wields dual blades he swipes quickly through the air, but his attack against Kaze in Itsua's tavern (like everyone else's) fails and Kaze non-fatally disables him. - Yashin (anthropomorphic male ferretFerretThe ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
) Yashin runs a gang of Enforcers for Soshi, threatening to tear up businesses if they don't make hefty payments.
Awards and Reviews
"...an incredible animation piece... I give this dvd our top rating a 5 out of 5 "- Steven Owens :Entertainment World
"...a real piece of art in which substance and style - for once - transcend technology."
- Alain Bielek :VFX World
"... bad accents, pretentious dialogue... It is pleasant to watch with the sound off (it comes with subtitles), and fans of plushies will love it." - Taylor Jessen :Animation World Magazine
Winner of "Willies Spirit Award" :Pencil-Head's Dusk Til Dawn Film Festival, Houston TX.
" This award is presented to a film of exceptional vision and independence, that barriers, and furthers the of independent film as a whole." - Michael J. Garcia, Festival Director.
Reception of the film was mixed. Many critics sided that the plot was hard to follow and the action was boring. The voice acting was also criticised and the animation was called good considering how the film was made. Overall the atmosphere and setting along with the characters was well received. It currently holds a 6.9 at IMDB.
Book
There is a bookBook
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
about the creation of the film: CGI Filmmaking, The Creation Of Ghost Warrior.
Written alongside the creation of Kaze Ghost Warrior, every aspect of the production process, from Ideation to Distribution is laid-out clearly and understandably. Everything of the filmmaking process is described in lots of details, with rises and falls of production.
The book has lots of tips about the filmmaking and also about soundtracks, dialogue, animation, storyboarding etc. It has over 300 pages (312 to be exact) and is black and white. Except details about the filmmaking process there are also small sides where the author talks about his life in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
It is described as incredibly detailed and recommended as a guide to CGI animation. Except the description of production of the film there are plates from the film, character designs, storyboards, and imagery created for this book.
Future
Two Kaze movies are planned (one of them is a prequelPrequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
), a full series and a game. Kaze, Ghost Warrior is just a pilot episode of this series; the second episode of the series is currently in production. There are also plans to release an enhanced version of this pilot (that this article describes), including additional voice talents, an additional scene involving Kaze's father, and CGI enhancements to the characters made possible with an upgrade to the software used to make Kaze, Ghost Warrior.
'Bay's gender is still not specified.