Full Steam Ahead! [INDIE ANIMATED FILM]
Project Overview
ABOUT THE PILOT:
In a special town called Raildale, home to trains of shapes and sizes, Alex arrives and moves in as the newest train in town to start a new life, where he quickly befriends some of the locals, such as Benny, Ruby, Milo, Pipsqueak, Cardigan, and many more. However, upon his arrival, Alex is made fun of by Malcolm, the biggest, strongest, and fastest engine in town, for his strange appearance, leading him to doubt his worth and reconsider coming to Raildale. However, he receives his call to action when two crooks led by an evil diesel-electric locomotive named Asmodeus meddle with Malcolm's controls and cause him to leave the station without his crew onboard to stop him and divert him onto a track towards a broken bridge. With a whole trainload of passengers' lives at stake, Alex makes it his goal to catch up to Malcolm, stop him before he reaches the bridge, and prove that even the strangest of trains can do the biggest of things.
REQUIREMENTS:
Only audition if you're willing to commit to the project.
Make sure your mic audio is nice and clear with little to no background noise.
Lines should be read in AABBCC format; first take read according to the lines' descriptions and any alterations for the second take.
Provide a Discord username as that will be my main source of communication with the rest of the team.
Audio files must be sent as MP3 to be compatible and accessible on all devices.
Have fun!
If you wish to volunteer, then fill out the form below so you can get access to the staff server!
If you'd like to stay updated on the series, then head on over to the Discord server!
https://discord.gg/xVvwKzSucN
Deadline is on January 1st, 2027 at 12:00 P.M. (CDT). Anything later will not be accepted until after the pilot is completed.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY UNPAID. However if all goes well, everyone who volunteers and helps out will be paid as it’s only fair for the amount of hard work and effort that they put into.
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck to everyone that auditions!
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Alex is a gray tender engine and is the newest member of the Track Pack. As the newest member, he still has to learn the lay of the line of Raildale, but as engineer's best friend, Alex is a great learner. And with the help of his friends, Alex can overcome anything with his "I think I can" personality. Honestly, I'm not even sure if he even has any thoughts in that head of his.
- Age: 10
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Voice Description: A high young male voice. I imagined his voice sounding like Marshall from the first season of Paw Patrol and Little Nemo from Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- male child
- american
- animation/character
Full Steam Ahead!
A lot of engines say I can't do the things they do. But can I? Abso-tootly!
Well, if there's one thing something I've learned, it's that if you think you can, you will.
Benny is a blue tender engine and is the jokester of the Track Pack. He loves telling a good joke or two to his friends to help brighten up their day. As well as being a comedian, he also has a bit of a “bet-it-all” personality, as well as being competitive from time to time. Thankfully he knows not to make life-changing bets, make rude jokes, or let a game get the better of him since he knows that 9 times out of 10, the result won’t be pretty.
Age: 11
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Voice Description: A high young male voice with an energetic tone. I imagined his voice sounding similar to Emery from the fourth season of Chuggington. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- male teen
- american
- animation/character
I bet that'll be fun!
You betcha!
Aw c'mon Ruby! Have I ever steered you wrong? (sheepishly laughing) Okay, maybe I have...
Ruby is a red tender engine and is the brainiac of the Track Pack. She has a knack for reading and loves a good adventure here and there. She's the oldest of the five young small engines and usually looks after them all, so she knows what's best and is most mature. Or so you might think, cause sometimes, even smart engines need help and like to have fun.
Age: 12
Gender: Female (She/Her)
Voice Description: A medium-high feminine voice. I imagined her voice sounding similar to Amy Anteater from Elliot Moose, Loonette from The Big Comfy Couch, and the Engineer Rabbit from Team Umizoomi. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- female teen
- american
- animation/character
Hi there! I'm Ruby!
Ruby-rific!
Sounds like you need some Alex-aided advice. Let's see if the books have anything to say!
Milo is a yellow tender engine and is the goofball of the Track Pack. He loves having a good laugh, especially when it comes to one of Benny's jokes. As well as being a bit of a giggler (especially when it comes to being tickled), he loves making new friends and is eager to introduce you to others. Even though he's usually on the silly side, Milo hates seeing his friends fight and wants everyone to be one big happy family.
Age: 9
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Voice Description: A high young male voice. I imagined his voice sounding like Pablo from The Backyardigans. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- male child
- american
- animation/character
(laughing) Hey, stop! That tickles! (sighing of relief) Ahhh, thank goodness. (giggles)
(amazed, excited) Jumping journal boxes! He's fast! (in awe, sighing) Malcolm's such a cool engine. I wanna be just like him someday!
Come on, Pipsqueak, all he does is go fast and pull long and heavy trains. I can do that too! No problem-o! How hard could it be?
Pipsqueak is a purple tender engine and is the smallest and youngest member of the Track Pack. She mainly works as a shunter arranging trains for the other engines, but is allowed to help out on other jobs outside the yard. She loves shunting and wouldn't trade it for any other job in the whole world.
Age: 8
Gender: Female (She/Her)
Voice Description: A high young feminine voice. I imagined her sounding like Blanky from The Brave Little Toaster movies; second and third ones specifically, Mouse from Animal Mechanicals, and even Tiny from Dinosaur Train. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- american
- animation/character
- female child
Watch your wheelsets, coming through! Oh, hi there! My name's Pipsqueak! It's my job to make sure all the other engines have trains of cars ready to pull. That's why they got me around, keeping the tracks free of any cars blocking the line!
Well switch me silly! I love shunting puzzles! Leave it to me, guys. I'll have these cars shunted and sorted out in two toots of a whistle!
(giggling) That was fun! Let's do it again!
Cardigan is an orange tender engine and is the oldest member of the Track Pack and is the leader. As the eldest member of the roster, he always takes great care in supervising his steam-powered companions, as he's essentially a father figure towards everyone on the team. If any of the engines are having a problem or a situation they can't handle, they’ll always turn to Cardigan for answers.
Age: 40-50
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Voice Description: A medium male voice. I imagined him sounding like Gordon from Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go and Porter from The Adventures of Chuck & Friends. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- male adult
- animation/character
- american
Morning team! Ready to start the day?
(alarmed) What in the name of Richard Trevithick happened here?!
Well clickety clack! How about that?
Malcolm is a green tender engine and is the biggest member of the Track Pack. He might get a bit grumpy or boastful in the boiler sometimes, but at his core he’s a kind engine at heart and will use his superior strength to help those in need.
Age: 20-30
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Voice Description: A slightly gruff medium male voice with a Canadian accent. I imagined his voice sounding like Trailmon Worm from Digimon Frontiers but less gruff and with the aforementioned Canadian accent. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- male adult
- american
- animation/character
Set that signal to green, because it's time to make some steam!
Make way for Mighty Malcolm!
(proud, scoffing) Nothing to it for a big strong engine like me.
Lionel is the controller and boss of the railway. He’s a figure that all the engines in town look up to. Lionel is very caring at times, but won’t shy away from scolding those who cause trouble. Some may see this as harsh, but at the end of the day, Lionel just wishes the best for his engines and the safety of them as well as those around.
Age: 40-50
Gender: Male (He/Him)
Voice Description: A medium male voice I imagined him sounding like Professor Utonium from The Powerpuff Girls. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- english
- animation/character
- male adult
- american
Hello there, and welcome to Raildale! My name is Lionel. I'm the controller of the railway. It's my job to make sure everything's running on time.
( confident) That little engine's gonna do just fine.
I’m proud to have you part of not only our railroad, but also our family.
Debbie is an electronic computer announcer who works alongside Lionel. As the railway's dispatcher, she gives the engines their work for the day as well as all sorts of announcements all over Raildale.
Age: 30-40
Gender: Female (She/Her)
Voice Description: A medium feminine voice with a warm motherly tone. I imagined her sounding like Lenore Zann. (See her work as Island Owl from Animal Mechanicals, Captain Star from Salty's Lighthouse, and Wendy Waters from Rescue Heroes.) Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
- american
- animation/character
- female adult
Hello there! I'm Debbie Dispatch. But you can call me Debbie for short.
Character Overview:
Bernie is an old Saint Bernard who works as a conductor.
Character Voice Notes:
His voice should sound mildly gruff but as long as he sounds 50-60, anything works.
- male adult
- animation/character
- american
Say Ali, the platform's never been this clean before! (chuckling) It's almost like it was just built yesterday!
(reassuring) Not even your morning cup of coffee?
(chuckling) That's what I like to hear. Keep up the good work.
Character Overview:
Alicia is a white cat who works as a station mistress.
Character Voice Notes:
Her voice should sound motherly but as long as it's in the age range of 20-40, anything works.
- american
- female adult
- animation/character
Thanks! There's nothing that I like more in the world than a nice clean station.
(giggling) Okay, that and a clean station.
Got it, Bernie.
Character Overview:
Paul is a blue cat who is Alex's engineer and is the best friend of Daniel.
Character Voice Notes:
Despite being 18 years old, Paul's voice is pretty young-sounding, so as long as he sounds like a kid, anything works.
- male adult
- animation/character
- american
Are you sure you're ready for this Alex?
Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!
(eager) I'm never washing this paw again!
Character Overview:
Daniel is a brown dog who is Alex's fireman and the best friend of Paul.
Character Voice Notes:
Just like with Paul, Daniel's voice is pretty young-sounding, despite being 18 years old. His voice should sound like Percy from All Engines Go.
- male child
- american
- animation/character
Yeah! Cause once you cross the border, there's no going back.
(beat) Fair point.
(in awe) Me neither!
- canadian
- animation/character
- american
- male adult
Hey, look! We're leaving the station ahead of schedule!
Uh-oh.
(frantic) Stop!
- animation/character
- male adult
- canadian
- american
That's a first! Wait a second. Who's driving the train?
Uh-oh.
(frantic) Come back!
Gertrude is an old engine and is the widow of Preston.
Her voice should sound like a Texan and between the ages of 50-70.
- texan
- female adult
- american
- animation/character
Oh hello there youngin! The name's Gertrude. What's your's?
Ah. That right there is a statue of Preston. He was the first engine to ever ride the rails here and helped to build the town of Redwood. Without him, this whole railroad wouldn't even exist.
Wow indeed. That old engine would surprise us all with his whole "I Think I Can" personality.
Todd is a young eight year-old orphan fox kit who is currently fostered by a new dad.
His voice source is freelanced so as long as he sounds young and eight years old, anything works.
- animation
- male child
- american
(waving) Hiiii!
(laughing)
Valenteen is an elderly wolf who is the new father of Todd.
His voice source is freelanced so as long as he sounds old and around 60 to 70 years old, anything works.
- male senior
- american
- animation/character
(waving) Hello there!
(laughing)
Simon is a comic relief passenger who always brings the most absurd things on trains. You never know what this guy will bring on board for he is certainly a wild card.
- animation/character
- male adult
- american
- funny
*Say something you think would fit*
The Rail Robbers are a brute pair of two no-gooders who cause trouble on the railway.
Their voices should sound deep and menacing.
- male adult
- american
[Crook 1] I always loved playing with trains.
[Crook 2] Uhhhhhh, no one?
[Crooks 1 & 2 laughing]
Dane is a green passenger paired with Jane.
His voice source is freelanced so as long as he sounds 20-30, anything works.
- american
- male adult
- animation/character
(yawning) Bless my bogies! Another run already?
(worried from Alex going fast) Whoa! Slow down, Alex! You're sproggling my springs!
Jane is a green passenger car who's paired with Dane.
Her voice is freelanced so as long as she sounds 20-30, anything works.
- female adult
- animation/character
- american
Clattering carriages! But it's so early!
(worried from Alex going fast) And rattling my railings!
Cooper is a bright red caboose who's paired with Dane & Jane
His voice source is freelanced so as long as he sounds 15-20, anything works.
- male adult
- male teen
- american
- animation/character
Crack my cupola!
Doctor Dreyfuss is a streamlined steam locomotive who works as the doctor at Whistlestop Workshops, tending to sick or broken down engines in all of Raildale. He’s a gentle engine with a lot of expertise.
- Age: 30-40
- Gender: Male
- Voice Description: I don't have any characters to base his voice off of, so personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
This is Doctor Dreyfuss, reading you loud and clear, Malcolm! What seems to be the problem?
Will do, Malcolm. I'll be there in two toots of a whistle!
Anytime. Doc's on the Clock! Over and out.
Asmodeus is an evil red diesel-electric locomotive and is the main antagonist of Full Steam Ahead!. Once purchased on trial to help with growing demands, he was sidelined in favor of more traditional and less technological engines. One thing led to another, and soon he had a whole gang of diesel locomotives who terrorized all of Raildale, putting numerous engines out of service. Eventually, Asmodeus and his henchmengines were banished to an abandoned part of the island, where they still reside in. To day this, Asmodeus has made Lionel, the one man he trusted, his arch nemesis.
- Age: 30s-40s
- Gender: Male (He/Him)
- Voice Description: A low, cunning, manipulative villainous voice. I imagined his voice sounding like your every-day villain voice. Specifically, The Hacker from Cyberchase, both in the animated series and the pilot. Personal interpretations of the character are more than welcome!
*Say something you think would fit*
Concept artists will draw out ideas for the series such as characters, trains, rolling stock, props, and locations. Then they’ll help me decide what to use in the final project.
*Say something you think would fit*
Storyboard artists will be given a segment of the script and use them as a basis to produce drawn-out scenes to visually show and explain what’s going on such as where the characters and camera are placed and positioned.
*Say something you think would fit*
Color artists will be in charge of filing in the colors for the series. Since I want this show to have a 1990s to 2000s era feel, the colors will be flat-based with basic cel shading here and there. Gradients will only be used for certain background lighting.
*Say something you think would fit*
Background artists will be in charge of designing the backgrounds and locations for the series.
*Say something you think would fit*
Rough animators will be responsible for taking the storyboards done by the storyboard artists and using them as a guide to transform them into an animatic.
*Say something you think would fit*
Cleanup animators will be responsible for using the rough animation by the rough animators as a guide for cleaning up the rough sketches and smoothening out the line art.
*Say something you think would fit*
The style of animation should look like your average 1990s to 2000s cartoon, traditionally hand drawn via ink and paint.
*Say something you think would fit*
Writers are the group of people in charge of writing the scripts for each episode as well as making some adjustments or additions if needed.
*Say something you think would fit*
The composer will be in charge of creating the entire soundtrack for the series. This includes the score for every episode (and the pilot), the main theme song, songs, and individual themes for characters.
If you need any ideas for inspiration, think of your average early 1990s to late 2000s music that you hear in cartoons.
*Say something you think would fit*
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