THE LEGENDS OF BULAN

On a voyage of no return, off the islands of Goree, exiled renegades lost at sea uncover ancient hieroglyphic tablets in a hidden cave. They discover not only their mysterious identities as the marked ones but also their important mission as guardians of the realm. They must defeat the tyrannical dynasty and restore the lost civilization and glory of Bulan.

But first, they must discover themselves!!!

As the weight of the prophesy dawns on them and they realize that the time is short, the renegades must now embark on a quest to find Zana, the Queen of the unconquered tribe and unite the other tribes in time to face the war to end all wars. The fate of Bulan hangs in the balance.

Its compelling backstory and plot is a fictional saga inspired and loosely based on the past heroes of Africa. It employs a hypnotic blend of factual and alternative history and speculative fiction in a collapsing space woven into one integrated world with fluid boundaries. Touching 12 prominent empires from over 1000 years ago, even tracing back to the era of Kemet to Songhai. This speculative fiction borrows elements of great African history.

“The Legends of Bulan” is a re-enactment of African renaissance. It is a whole cultural movement that embodies the authenticity, originality, and creativity of the timeless spirit of Africa.

ORIGIN OF CONCEPT

Bulan is taken from Africa’s original name, Alkebu-lan (Mother of Mankind). It is a fictional Africa with an afro-fantasy and retro futuristic plot. It draws from real precolonial and prehistoric African facts and legends to create a stand-alone world. Bulan arouses the question: What would it be if Africa remained golden, uncolonized? What if Africans developed and explored the full spectrum of their natural and cultural heritage?

Legends Of Bulan is a re-enactment of the African Renaissance;
it is a whole cultural movement that embodies the authenticity,
originality, and creativity of the timeless spirit of Africa.

Legends of Bulan is a 3D Animated feature (full-length) film from the stables of Magic Carpet Studios. There are future plans to evolve it into a 3D animated series. It is currently under production and we have been given a sneak-peek into this upcoming feature. Can’t wait for its release! But don’t take our word for it (though you should!), watch this trailer:-

THE ART STYLE

LOB was inspired by African mythology. From the hieroglyphics of Egypt to the sacred figurines of Benin, human features in African art are brutal and distinct. This is seen in the graphics for this upcoming film. Its landscape also borrows from many old African cultures like Timbuktu. Thus there is a uniqueness in its style which straddles between naturalism and caricature- something African expressionism is well-known for.

Magic Carpet Studios embarked on a research tour to several parts of the African continent. From their findings, The Legends of Bulan was born. So it is bound to be rich in Afrocentric innuendoes and easter eggs.

The Legends of Bulan opens up many doorways to explore this grim world on various platforms. Both in the ninth art as well as related media and live-action. An intriguing concept with so much promise and people eagerly waiting.

MAGIC CARPET STUDIOS

Is an innovative storytelling company. It is committed to transforming the human consciousness and focused on putting authentic African stories on the map of global entertainment. Their stories are born out of imagination, shaped by authentic African experiences, and crafted by passionate artists and animators into a story.

The Studio kicked off operations officially in 2016 as a 2D animation studio but has expanded into 3D animation and games. They are focused on games and all forms of animation 2D, cut out, and 3D. MCS are also keen on using emerging tools that offer new and captivating ways of telling stories. Tools such as AR, VR, 3D-hyper realistic animated films, Afrofuturism and retrofuturism, sci-fi and hyper surrealism, oil painting aesthetics, CGI imagery to expand their stories.

Magic Carpet keeps pushing the boundaries of authentic African entertainment, redefining what stories can and should be told through the art form of animation. It has emerged as an award-winning animation studio, recognized for its numerous projects by different established award institutions and festivals. The studio’s first feature film, a bold project to adapt Cyprian Ekwensi’s classic Passport of Mallam Ilia, is curiously a 2D with a 3D fusion and is currently in production.

Ah, but that’s a story for another day…