Tales From Soda Island
Overview
“Tales From Soda Island” will send you on an immersive journey through the vibrant and complex musical ecosystem of Soda Island. You’ll discover strange creatures, ancient rituals, and cosmic symphonies working together in harmony to produce a story unlike anything you’ve ever seen before!
This VR animated series is an anthology of events that unfold on Soda Island. Each story is unique and follows diverse themes with a central narrative woven throughout the series. “Tales From Soda Island” was created entirely in VR using Quill by Smoothstep over three years. The series and its content are over two hours long and have millions of views on the MetaQuest Platform.
Episodes
Explore each chapter of the Tales from Soda Island series:
1. Chapter 1 - The Multiverse Bakery
Begin your journey to Soda Island! Witness a strange ritual with shifting rooms, magical mayhem and cosmic delights.
2. Chapter 2 - The Neon Jungle
Embark on an adventure through the Neon Jungle as you follow a Tadpolotl on its quest to deliver a package.
3. Chapter 3 - The Quantum Race
Experience high-octave speed and molecular deconstruction as racers compete across a subatomic racetrack.
4. Chapter 4 - The Golden Record
Follow TT, a lone worker in the Ant Megacolony, after discovering an alien artifact that has fallen from the stars.
5. Chapter 5 - The School Trip
Follow a single drop of glucose rain on a transformative journey as the ecosystem processes it into a delicious carbonated beverage.
6. Chapter 6 - Silence
When a mystical coastal ritual is interrupted by an unwelcome visitor, events are set in motion that leave the island in total dissonance.
7. Chapter 7 - The First Ingredient
Follow a group of rogue sodians on a mission into the unknown to restore balance and bring harmony back to the ecosystem.
Watch on Meta Quest
I encourage you to watch the series for yourself on MetaQuest - it is like nothing you have ever seen, and a 2D format really does not do it justice. Here are links to:
Gallery
Achievement
This is one of the most significant projects I have ever had the honor of participating in. The world of Soda Island is truly a wonderful experience. I often call it a “virtual hug.” I promise you will feel better after immersing yourself in this playful and thrilling world. We had an exceptional team working on this project under the creative leadership of Simone Fournier.
Thank you to Goro Fujita and Ryan Genji Thomas, who recognized our passion for using Quill and gave us the opportunity to create content for their platform. We seized the opportunity and created some of the most innovative and creative additions to the expanding world of VR.
The Venice Film Festival and Siggraph have recognized the series.
My Role
At Studio Syro, I led complete project oversight, fostering collaboration across all production levels, from executive producers, directors, artists, animators, audio directors, and sound designers. I guided initial pitches and collaborated with the director through every production stage. I managed the early ideation phases, scriptwriting, storyboarding, development of animatics, and rough cuts leading up to the alpha and final release stages.
Leveraging my creative and technical background, I contributed to storytelling and tackled challenges for 3D implementation. Overseeing task management, managing deadlines, and handling all forms of communication with key stakeholders for our production were crucial components that defined my multifaceted role at Studio Syro.
Building and hiring the right team was essential, as was overseeing budgeting, payroll, and legal review processes. I was the primary individual for spatial audio work for each experience and IT support throughout production. I also spent R&D time on technical improvements to our pipeline and software. Simultaneously, I handled various studio obligations related to running a business.
Recognition
- 80th Venice International Film Festival - Immersive Media for “Tales From Soda Island: The First Ingredient”
- 79th Venice International Film Festival - Immersive Media for “Reimagined Volume 1: Nyssa”
- SIGGRAPH ‘21: ACM SIGGRAPH 2021 - VR Theater for “Tales From Soda Island: The Neon Jungle”