Topic: Talent wanted for a Demon Castle War Teaser Trailer

[cecil-kain]

As part of an ongoing viral campaign on Youtube, Operation: Akumajo is exploring options to produce a Teaser Trailer for a game that does not exist --the 1999 Demon Castle War.  The purpose of the video would be to entice and excite every Castlevania fan that sees it, and also by sharing and embedding the video across social media --incite demand for the actual game to be produced. Given the stakes, quality is not optional.

Comsidering the lack of source material, this would be an extremely challenging project, requiring a significant collaboration of talent.  Artists, musicians, animators, voice actors --any number of these talents (and still more) may be useful...  Just to stir the pot, I'll offer an example --a concept for what the Teaser Trailer could be like...

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This example trailer follows a "mystery" format --slowly teasing the subject-matter, but not revealing itself as a Castlevania game until the very end.  Although specific imagery in not yet decided, there should be a prominent focus on the Solar Eclipse and gothic imagery throughout the trailer --NO character images should be revealed until the very end --when a much younger Julius Belmont is revealed along with the Castle and the Demon Castle War title.  The voiceovers throughout should be remarkably distinct --and familiar characters' voices should be instantly recognizable to Castlevania fans.


--OPENING TEXT--
In the year 1999 and seven months
The great King of Terror will come from the sky...
-Nostradamus, the Prophet.  Quatrain 72



--GIRL VOICE <dreamy voice>--
They say you shouldn't look at the eclipse.

--BELMONT VOICE <cynical>--
Yeah.  Especially this one.



--ALUCARD VOICE <calm detached>--
I have discovered a secret to save my father’s soul...

--HAKUBA PRIEST VOICE <indignant>--
This is nonsense!  We can’t hold a ceremony in Europe.
What about the tradition?  What about the shrine?

--MORRIS VOICE <hot blooded>--
What’s so special about this eclipse anyway?



--AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL VOICE <bold authoritarian>--
Who the HELL are you?

--BELMONT VOICE --
My name is Julius.

--MORRIS VOICE <hot blooded>--
This weapon has been in my family for generations.
Why should I give it to a punk like you?

--ALUCARD VOICE <resignation>--
There’s nothing more I can do.  He’s our only hope now.



--HAKUBA PRIEST VOICE <whining>--
But --the ritual requires a sacrifice.

--GIRL VOICE --
Fine.  I’ll do it!

--BELMONT VOICE <panic>--
NO!  I WON’T LET YOU!



--AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL VOICE <outraged>--
What do you MEAN the nukes didn’t WORK!?!?

--BRITISH SOLDIER VOICE <panic/amazement>--
Sir! Look --the Castle!  It's ALIVE?!?!?!



--DRACULA VOICE --
Belmont.  Son of Belmont.  Where have you been?  I missed you...

--BELMONT VOICE --
Bring it on!



--TITLE REVEALED--
Castlevania: Demon Castle War
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So there's my example.  Can you do better?  Is anyone else interested in this kind of ambitious project?  Let's talk it over.
 

[KaZudra]

MORRIS (exited)
IT'S SHOWTIME!


good prologue...

[X]

I'm iffy about an arrogant Morris vs the Belmont hero. I think the last thing I'd want to see is a family squabble over who get's to use the vampirekiller when both families know that it is Julius' destiny. Not only that but Johnathan Morris from PoR would've educated his future descendants about the danger's of using the whip and the importance's of returning the whip to it's rightful user when 1999 rolls around. In terms of the Demon Castle war teaser trailer, there should be signs of war. Not just the typical Gothic Castlevania that we've all seen. But to see fire, bodies, humanity's weapons expelling against the invading undead forces, something that literally screams "The Demon Castle War". After all, this isn't just another CV...it's Castlevania: Demon Castle Wars

[Flame]

Nukes are not the best Idea against a castle situated right in Europe.

Nukes are never a good idea period. If they nuked it, they would wipe out half of the surrounding cities and towns around the castle.

Regular bombs on the other hand... or some other special bombs I dont know about...

I also disapprove of the Morris not wanting to hand over the whip. I would more imagine the Morrises fighting alongside the Belmont Julius, while Julius weilds the whip.

They know damn well that they eventually have to return it to the Belmonts.

[X]

Nukes are not the best Idea against a castle situated right in Europe.

Nukes are never a good idea period. If they nuked it, they would wipe out half of the surrounding cities and towns around the castle.

Regular bombs on the other hand... or some other special bombs I dont know about...

Never said anything about Nukes so I don't know where you got that from. The Hades bomb on the other hand would fair excellent against hords of zombies as the fireball would chew them up and spit out their bones.

[Inccubus]

I actually like the idea of there being a rivalry between Julius and the Morris dude. It would hearken back to the Bloodletting game that never got made. Anything to make the plot of the game more interesting than just Julius beating the shit out of Dracula incarnation #9999.

Got the voice talent lined up yet? I'd like to give it a try.

[Chernabogue]

I have some good editing skills, especially for trailers. If everyone can record voices and make some artwork/animation, I could totally put that together.

I also do music, if that helps.

[cecil-kain]

The idea for a rivalry between the Morris and Belmont is good for the narrative.  Julius isn't the hardened badass we know from the Sorrow games yet --he's a 19 year old kid who's supposed to be given the "ultimate weapon" in the middle of war.  That really doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you think about it.  Considering Belmonts aren't allowed to touch the Vampire Killer until 1999, his inexperience should be given due consideration.

Jonathan Morris was 18 years old in 1944 *during Portrait of Ruin* so he'd be 73 years old in 1999.  If he started having children in his late 20s or early 30s, then his son should be 40-something.  This new Morris is a mature and experienced Vampire Hunter, but a bit of a hothead like his father.  He's insulted when someone tells him to stand down and give his treasured weapon to a kid with no experience --and for the ultimate vampire-killing prize no less!  Maybe pride runs in the family.  And maybe the Belmonts are just a legend like Robin Hood --maybe nobody believes in them anymore...

It plays out like when Han Solo first met Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.  Han looks down on Luke and condescends to him at first, but they get friendlier and trusting during the course of their adventure.  That's how I'd envision the relationship between Morris and Belmont.  In fact, you can see some of this kind of rivalry between Soma and Julius in the Sorrow games --where Julius is the veteran and Soma is the awkward kid who's destined to save the world.

And from a gameplay standpoint, the player gets the option to enjoy a variety of weapons.  Julius would get to claim the Vampire Killer from Morris later in the game --similar to how Portrait of Ruin played out.

And about the nukes...  You don't need a Hiroshima bomb to attack a Castle --these are surgical nukes that get used when the military desperately tries to attack an enemy they don't really understand.  Why should they have any faith in a ragtag bunch of vampire hunters when they don't really believe in the supernatural to begin with?  I always wondered how Demon Castle War could make any sense given the state of modern warfare --the game could have a lot of fun pitting modern science against the supernatural.  Soldiers go in fighting demons with rocket propelled grenades and machine guns, but everytime a soldier gets killed, Dracula gains a minion for his undead army and their weapons --that sort of thing...  I think of the Castle getting nuked, and it's like when you kick a sleeping dog in the face --the Creature of Chaos is gonna bite back HARD!

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But all of this digresses from the point.  The concept I put up is just an example of what the Teaser Trailer *could* be. Maybe it just wouldn't work out the way I envision it --or maybe it *could* but someone else out there has an even better idea..  Right now the goal is to start rounding up some talent and then put everyone's heads together to figure out the best way forward.

[uzo]

One big problem I find with the Demon Castle  "War" is that it can't be much of a war. It had to have been yet another virtually anonymous encounter with Dracula that no one really knows about.

Why? Soma in AoS thought Dracula was a fairy tale. 23 years can't cover up an undead war, especially since Soma knew of Dracula even as an old legend.

The church may try and keep this stuff under wraps, but there's no way you can cover up a real 'war' like that. Much less if nukes were used.

[cecil-kain]

I actually like the idea of there being a rivalry between Julius and the Morris dude. It would hearken back to the Bloodletting game that never got made. Anything to make the plot of the game more interesting than just Julius beating the shit out of Dracula incarnation #9999.

Got the voice talent lined up yet? I'd like to give it a try.

This is JUST getting started.  No voice talent yet.  Which character are you interested in?

The only characters that are definitely known include...
Dracula
Julius
Alucard
The Hakuba Priest (Mina's Father)

Likely characters would be....
A Morris
St Germain
Various Military Personnel (wide open to a variety of accents and nationalities)

Completely Speculative Characters...
A love interest for Belmont
A Belnades witch


Of course, if you want to do a familiar character like Alucard, it's important that you can pull of the voice in a way that people will recognize the character...

[cecil-kain]

I have some good editing skills, especially for trailers. If everyone can record voices and make some artwork/animation, I could totally put that together.

I also do music, if that helps.

I have an Operation: Akumajo member cooking up some visual concepts for the video.  I'd love to get you 2 in touch.  Are you on Facebook?  If not shoot me your email in a PM.  :-)

[cecil-kain]

One big problem I find with the Demon Castle  "War" is that it can't be much of a war. It had to have been yet another virtually anonymous encounter with Dracula that no one really knows about.

Why? Soma in AoS thought Dracula was a fairy tale. 23 years can't cover up an undead war, especially since Soma knew of Dracula even as an old legend.

The church may try and keep this stuff under wraps, but there's no way you can cover up a real 'war' like that. Much less if nukes were used.

That's a fair point...  But Aria was very clear that a military engagement did take place --maybe the nukes are over the top...  Oh well...  It was a neat idea...

[Chernabogue]

I have an Operation: Akumajo member cooking up some visual concepts for the video.  I'd love to get you 2 in touch.  Are you on Facebook?  If not shoot me your email in a PM.  :-)

I'm not on Facebook. My mail can be found just by clicking on my name.

[X]

Cecil-Kain I just thought of something. I still don't believe that a rivalry of Morris vs Belmont is necessary. Instead it should be an experienced teacher (Morris) educating a hot-blooded inexperienced youth (Belmont). Both Morris and Belmont would still clash from time to time due to their separate standings and points of view, however later-on the two become closer pupils and are able to understand each other better. Then when the timing is right Morris passes on the Vampirekiller to Julius and tells him to fulfill his destiny as heir to the Belmont family legend. I'd much rather see a torch passing then a silly rivalry that would only induce an unstable element to an already critical situation. The Master and Student seems to fit much better and will allow some of the character tension to remain for the story's sake.

[Chernabogue]

It could totally be Jonathan. He could die and pass the whip to Julius, who would avenge his master.

Charlotte could also be involved.