$2400.00   THE DETAILS ARE SKETCHY

I have quite a number of sketch books surrounding the JINKO project but this one that contains the very first, complete story outline in pictures and notes, all hand-done in ink and pencil. The notes have an inbuilt security system in that they are largely unreadable. (after all it was only me that had to read them! )Though the story has developed into a very different space, the early designs for characters, locations and set ups remain largely intact.  The outline wraps up just past halfway with the rest of the book containing random notes and designs. Some are more significant than others, but they all have the energy of the story.

This book has travelled first class, been lost on a Hong Kong ferry and worked in more cafes than a hyperactive barista.  It is very special to me for many reasons and as much as I don’t want to let it go, I think it has a special value in contributing to the further development of JINKO.

Deane Taylor is an award winning animation veteran who has worked on over 400 hours of television, ranging from The Flintstones through to Ren and Stimpy, Cow and Chicken and Figaro Pho. His most notable achievement was that of Art Director on Tim Burton’s Oscar nominated classic animated feature The Nightmare Before Christmas, which he regards as the most personally satisfying project of his career. 

Jinko has been in development for around ten years using a ‘slow cooker’ approach, according to Taylor. 

‘For many years, I’ve wanted to tell Jinko’s story. Its appeal to me is in its ability to entertain while having a strong conscience. The story is about the futility of greed, and in deciding how best to illustrate this I’ve chosen animation. The language will be a carefully orchestrated blend of cinema and theatre, with a richly caricatured style which highlights the folly of the theme.’ 

The strategy in building Jinko’s story was to treat it as a film first and a game second.  Regardless of the final product being one or the other, story is the critical factor and the film process is the most appropriate way to tell that.

The basic framework is a trilogy. Jinko’s journey takes us through her early life in a decayed and dying world followed by her years in captivity and, finally, to her discovery of a magical hidden paradise.

A five-act structure allows elements to unfold in an episodic chapter style, which easily adapts to the needs of gameplay.  

Game development – Eddy Taylor

Eddy Taylor trained at NIDA in Sydney and holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts. 

He has worked on a number of features including Pirates of the Caribbean, Australia, Gods of Egypt, Unbroken, and the Wolverine films. Eddy is involved with Jinko’s story development and gameplay design. Unencumbered by the shackles of tradition, he brings fresh angles to the process.    

‘I’ve watched this project develop over the last ten years and have found myself lost within Deane’s mind. There's an endless labyrinth of stories to be told—far too many stories for a feature film. When I joined this project two years ago I opened Deane’s eyes to the possibilities of the game industry. I believe this direction offers the opportunity for the player to truly immerse themselves in the world of Jinko.’ 

Crew – Industry heavy weights

The multifaceted nature of this project means it is an epic production requiring vigilant management and a well-calculated rollout. It’s a matter of control and containment while allowing organic growth. Too often good ideas don’t make it into the final product, usually because of oversight. For that reason the focus will be targeted on the pre-production elements and storyboard. This is the foundation for everything and time will be spent to honour the work already created.