CHAI - Hero Journey (Feat. Superorganism)

I made this super cute little game world for Neo Kawaii Japanese girl band CHAI during my peak ‘I love simple 2D animation’ era.

It’s a great example of art imitates life- the gummy slug creatures were inspired by my newborn son waking us up at 3am waving his sluggy little arms around totally helpless, entirely dependent on four-piece Japanese pop group CHAI for sustenance. Or… something like that.

I love creating deep backstories that could never be gleaned from just watching the video. In Hero Journey, passing superheroes CHAI answer a distress call from a planet of gummy slug creatures about to be hit by a meteor. The mysterious hooded Superorganism characters under the sea are a physical manifestation of the sentient planet’s psyche. CHAI are led to a space elevator, which they use to launch themselves toward the deadly meteor. They are prepared to sacrifice themselves for these sweet gummy bois but at the last second, the Superorganism characters teleport CHAI away. With the meteor destroyed, peace returns to Planet Slug.

Credits:

Robert Strange - Director

Yime De Santiago - Illustration

Peter Chownsmith - Animator

Joe Eckworth - Compositor