"Kiah & the Rule of Four"; (Animated Short)

"Kiah & the Rule of Four"; (Animated Short)

Project Overview

"The Emperor is dead.
...And the promise of hope made between a little girl and her jester long ago is suddenly thrust into question, as her now grown and battered body lies limp at the doorstep of the only doctor that can save her---the doctor who's spent years hunting after that very emperor in search of justice. Taking the dying stranger into her home, the doctor prepares to save her life amidst her anguish at 'that bastard getting the easy way out'—only to discover a startling truth about the woman she's just rescued:
This is the culprit."


This is the official casting call for a 5-7 minute animatic for my upcoming 2D animated series "Kiah & the Rule of Four"! Find out a little more about the visuals from my social medias: @nanerzlovesart on all platforms!


This project has been in the works by myself for over a decade, and I'm finally ready to start creating official material for my pitch---the biggest step being creating this piece!


This is the intro segment to a larger pilot episode I hope to create in the future with the help of the visibility and possible funding this may yield. I'm currently searching for voice actors in order to secure voice lines before storyboarding begins. The script is complete for this specific project, and can be sent ASAP to those selected to work for this project once everything is confirmed. Please be aware that there will be a required NDA in order to work on this project. The projected deadline for submissions is October 22nd at midnight. If needed, I will extend the deadline.


What to Expect:

Short lines, fun characters, pay, IMDb credits, and shoutouts on social media (if you're okay with it).


If possible, please share your discord if selected. This is only because I would love it if there could be some moderated communication between certain roles (Mr. Kelpicant and Alexandrea, and then Zekra and Child Kiah) while recording lines/preparing to record lines to make the conversations flow more naturally. This is entirely optional, but if this is something you'd be comfortable with, let me know! If not, that's fine too!


I am only an individual animation student in university, but I hope that what I'm offering as compensation is acceptable for the amount of work being asked for for an indie project. I'm more than willing to discuss the budget if you feel it's unfair compensation.


None of these roles will require anything over 10 minutes of finished lines.



What's Next?

In the future, I may need help from animators, storyboard artists, background artists, sfx artists, and sound designers/audio engineers. Please be on the lookout for a casting call regarding that!


---


I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to look through this and for any auditions. This has genuinely been my dream since I was a little girl, and this story means everything to me. I learned how to write, draw, animate, and compose music for this project, and can finally put it to use now that I have the resources necessary to begin.


P.S.
Please feel free to audition for multiple roles. It would actually make things much easier if certain smaller roles were fulfilled by the same person!


Thank you!

-Nanerz


Latest Updates

  • Deadline Extended by 1 Day

    Hi all! Auditions are going so well! Just a quick update---I'm extending the deadline by a day just to give the lovely VAs here some extra time to audition. I may still select candidates Sunday for some of the roles as originally planned, so stay tuned for that! New deadline: 11:59PM Monday, October 26th! 🗣️💞 -Nanerz
    P.S.
    Some of y'all went insane on the "emergency broadcast" role, some even edited their audio to sound like a radio?! That's so incredible and I literally screamed at some of them HAHA, thank you all so much!! This role might be my hardest to choose from...

  • Extra Zekra Lines + Increased Pay

    Hi all! Progress is going super well with this project, you all are SO talented, and I am so excited! I wanted to let you all know that I have another piece of this project in the works (an animated 1.5 - 2 min long trailer for my upcoming kickstarter for this same series) that will require the Zekra VA to narrate some extra lines, so I've increased the pay rate to include the additions. Also, check out Zekra's page to see some new character references for his voice! All together, Zekra's lines are ~750 words. Stay tuned for news about this project as we progress and for possible role openings as it grows! <3 -Nanerz

  • NEED: ALEXANDREA + Thank you!!

    I wanted to give a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who's auditioned so far. I can't believe so many incredible and talented people have found interest in my project and want to be apart of it, this is so surreal! 💖 I have my eyes set on some strong candidates for most of these roles, but the biggest one still needing to be filled is "Alexandrea". If you or someone you know fit the authentic casting description and have a unique, strong voice, please audition! I'm increasing the pay for this role as we speak, and am willing to negotiate! Thank you all again! 🌟 -Nanerz

Child Kiah
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Child Kiah
open
Paid: Flat Rate 20 USD

Very young girl, 5-7 years old, soft spoken, giggly (Encouraged to apply: Somali)

Minimal Voice Lines

This character should come across as a little shy yet excitable. She is very young, but has a great mind and memory and an eagerness to connect with Zekra, the fatherly character she is speaking to in her appearance in this animation. She speaks as proper as a child possibly can because of her upbringing, and could even have a slight posh-British accent, but this can be up to interpretation by you as the voice actor if you feel that there's a voice that's really calling to you for this role.

Line Context/Acting Help:

1. First line: She's yelling this at Zekra in a playful manner, as their conversation is light hearted and Zekra is teasing her somewhat.

2. Second line: She loses her giggly nature slowly as she becomes more focused on correctly reciting the first few lines of a poem Zekra wrote and taught her. She's able to remember it in a sort of unbelievable and startling way. Despite her memory, she is still just a little kid, so she stumbles on some of the harder words a bit. Feel free to improvise with the pronunciation of the words. This poem is also meant to all be one long grammatically correct sentence, and this is just a snippet of it, so imagine this were being read as a constant stream of thought.

3. Third line: She is a lot more somber now, after having experienced something quite awful. Zekra is still trying to be playful with her to cheer her up, but between sniffles, she replies coldly to him, or as cold as a little kid can sound.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • female child
  • soft
  • shy
  • sweet
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "You axed for the beginning, Zekra!"

  • "Within the expansion, as a result of the explosion of a single spec of reality that had just moments ago turned into its singular self, and irrega... ira... 'irregelarity' is found in its repetition---that is to say, an extra twinkle in the sky..."

  • "I already made this deal with you, Zekra..."

Zekra
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Zekra
open
Paid: Flat Rate 75 USD

Middle aged male, with a timeless, whimsical, mid-to-deep timbre, smooth voice quality, with a posh/transatlantic accent (Encouraged to apply: Black American, queer)

Voice References:
A mixture of the below examples:

  • This guy's voice for the red colored text

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DetyaLtvjX-/?dlrf=aTJrZ2lmdmc0a3A2


  • Dr. Facilier from "The Princess and the Frog"

    (Less sinister, more charming and slightly silly, with a more fatherly tone)

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tPz6H-k6dVw&ra=m

    1:03 - 1:13


  • James from "Pokemon"

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I5CSb1GguiE&pp=0gcJCbgCo7VqN5tD&ra=m

    (More-so the whimsical nature to his vocal performance, and not necessarily the voice itself)

    Moderate Voice Lines (but under 10 minutes of finished product).

    This character should come across as whimsical, and someone who seems very wise in a mysterious, cosmic sort of way---like someone who knows a lot more than they let on. He is a wonderful fatherly figure to Kiah, and does his best to keep her giggling and cheery despite their circumstances. He's very forgetful despite his knowing-presence, and seems outwardly to portray some resemblance to someone in the early stages of Alzheimer's/Dementia despite how young he seems. He spends this animation speaking to child Kiah and consoling her later on. He has a posh way of speaking, but not necessarily in a British way. Think more transatlantic accent... He is someone who can easily lift someone else's spirits, while still remaining moderately composed and charismatic for the most part.

    Line Context/Acting Help:
    1. This is supposed to start as what the audience thinks is the narrator forgetting the script, and is the first dialogue in the entire animation, and is heard even before any visuals are shown. It should be an animated performance, but not overly dramatic as to sound fake or too cartoonish. Just like a somewhat eccentric person reminiscing.
    2. This is the end of the confusing spiel shown in the intro by Zekra as the narrator, and it's revealed he's speaking to a little girl (Child Kiah). The vocal performances for both lines should reflect how it is to speak to a little kid in cadence and tone, while not sounding like baby talk. If you have little cousins or siblings, you may know what I'm talking about.
    3. This is one of the last lines of this segment of the animation, where Child Kiah falls asleep mid-Zekra-pun. He should sound very sure of himself and entertained by himself as well, with the last sentence about "electron jokes" sounding more disgusted/annoyed as he has a distain for science/math, and almost can't believe he made that joke.

    Requirements:
    Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
    Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
    Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
    Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • american (transatlantic)
  • dramatic
  • caring
  • smooth
  • male adult
  • funny
  • deep
  • black american
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "I always have trouble remembering the beginning. In all honesty, I'm not sure if there is one! Do you know just how boring that is, being around for naught. Oh, forever and a half is much too boooooring..."

  • "Let's just see if my memory ticks. Ahem... Ooh... how does it start again? I always have trouble remembering the beginning. Perhaps... you... could help me?"

  • "Good! Now, head off to sleep! 'Icon Twos' need plenty of rest! You'll need all the *energy* you can get... Hah! Get it? Because- you're the Icon of Energy...? Ooh- I'm on FIRE today! HAH! GET IT AGAIN?!... Hm. I supposed that one didn't *excite*. An electron joke for the chemists out there. Eugh..."

Alexandrea
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Alexandrea
open
Paid: Flat Rate 50 USD

Young adult woman (mid-late 20s), deeper-ish voice, matter-of-fact in tone, sharp, easily irritated, able to sound intimidating and also softer and accepting at times (Encouraged to apply: Sudanese, queer)

Moderate Voice Lines (under 10 finished minutes)

This character should come across as described above. She's a family medicine doctor, a chemist, and a vigilante who breaks into government military facilities in order to save prisoners of war. She also works for the "CC", a mysterious organization in charge of lawmaking and enforcement for much of the universe, but despite this, seems to not really care about what the emperor is doing in the empire she lives in. She does her best to collect evidence of what's happening in these government facilities only to be shut down and brushed off time and time again by her higher-ups, especially her manager Mr. Kelpicant. When news breaks that the emperor is dead, she is enraged, believing he got the easy way out. She's immediately called by her boss, at the breaking of the news, and is nagged at by him over the phone, to which she explodes at him. These lines will reflect this conversation. Alex is an incredibly intelligent and hard working person. She should come across as intimidating, knowledgeable, but also a little naive in the sense that she thought her organization would really help after so long of not doing anything. She feels defeated, believing that her hope stems from stupidity.

Line Context/Acting Help:
1. This line should come across as very intimidating and mostly serious, with a twinge of personality, as her word choice is definitely interesting. The first question should come through with a shaky voice that's almost in disbelief. It should start out monotone, but start to pick up emotional momentum as this line progresses. These lines should be performed with a mix of her normal monotone voice, and her only other expression, which seems to be anger. The performance doesn't have to be entirely overly-serious. Please feel free to add more character and humanize these lines.
2. She should flip flop here between a slightly monotone disbelief and then a sudden surge of anger. Keep in mind, she's arguing on the phone with someone who's supposed to be her boss, and this is one of many times she's letting loose on him. While the subject matter she's talking about is serious, there should be a human element to this performance making it believable and entertaining to watch.
3. This is a more comedic line, but should be read in the angriest voice yet. Her boss is literally an anthropomorphic dolphin in a suit.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • strong
  • female young adult
  • american
  • serious
  • cold
  • monotone
  • stern
  • charismatic
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "What... is wrong with you...? I can't even ask if you know how long I begged you to get that absolute *creature* to be justly put behind bars, left to rot for his sins... "

  • "HOW many eyewitness accounts would've been enough? How many photos? Samples, -DEATH RECORDS!! PEOPLE ARE WALKING THIS PLANET PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED BECAUSE OF YOUR HESITATION! MILLIONS! MILLIONS ACROSS THIS EMPIRE'S COLONIES!!! And what have you done..."

  • "-YOU SAT ON YOUR DOLPHIN-ASS AND LIED!!!"

Mr. Kelpicant
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Mr. Kelpicant
open
Paid: Flat Rate 20 USD

Young to mid-adult male, confident and cocky, city-slicker, a vocal quality similar to "Professor Venomous" from "OK KO, Let's be Heroes"

Minimal - Moderate Voice Lines (~5 or less finished minutes)

This character should come across as confident, irritating, smooth-talking, and extremely dismissive. His voice should have some slyness to it as well. He's the boss to Alexandrea, and has ignored her attempts at calling for the arresting the emperor of a devastatingly violent empire. He works for the "CC", a mysterious organization seemingly in charge of much of the universe in a legal way. The news just broke that the emperor is dead, and Mr. Kelpicant calls Alexandrea to celebrate in a mocking way, as she's been spending all of her time trying to convince him to talk to his higher-ups to get the man arrested. He thinks this will be the end to her pestering.

Line Context/Acting Help:
"Alexandrea" is pronounced like "Alex-aun-DRAY-uh", not "andria".
1. This should have a really demeaning, cheery, and slightly sarcastic performance. Please put emphasis on the words in capital letters when reading out these lines, as it's supposed to reflect the cadence of his speech. He is cut off at the end of the last sentence by Alexandrea. If you have better ideas on how to deliver this line though, please feel free to let me hear it!
2. He breaks character and loses his composure with that first "HEY NOW!" After that, he regains it throughout the next sentence. If you can imagine the archetype of a powerful man yelling at his phone, showing his true nature, then slicking back his hair as he falls back into his confident and 'likeable' persona, that's exactly what this is.
3. This is to sound very sinister, gravelly, and foreboding. It should be extremely serious sounding and imposing, enough to make the self-assured Alexandrea get goosebumps.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • american
  • confident
  • charismatic
  • male adult
  • deep
  • sarcastic
  • cocky
  • smooth
  • expressive
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "ANDREA! How's my favorite peon?! ECSTATIC I'm sure, considering I'm sure you've heard the good word! I've just gotta warn ya girl, NOTHING beats how excited *I* am to FINALLY hear the SWEET SOUND of YOU, *NOT* yappin' my ear off about that egregious hunk of purple flesh anymore! WOOHOO! The emperor is-!"

  • "HEY NOW! That's enough. (Sighs) I'll give you some grace since you are my favorite, as I've previously stated... So, listen here. Did you hear the whole broadcast? They named the culprit."

  • "You want your justice, Andy? Go get it."

Emergency Broadcast
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Emergency Broadcast
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

A government-issues TV broadcast, alerting the masses that the emperor is dead. Can be a masculine or feminine voice with a neutral accent, sounds serious and creepy in the analog-horror type of way.

Minimal Lines (~1 finished minute)

The delivery should be monotone and foreboding. Think of any emergency alert you'd see broadcasted on your TV screen in the 2000s.

Line Context/Acting Help
All lines should be delivered with the same cadence/flat, monotone voice.

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • creepy
  • monotone
  • androgynous
  • american
  • serious
  • commanding
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "Attention all military, governmental, civilian, and other unspecified bodies. The consumption of this message in its entirety is mandatory. Do not depart until you have heard this message in full. The Emperor is dead."

  • "A culprit has been named."

  • "The Knight of Vitality: Icon Two."

Dr. C
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Dr. C
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

Young adult woman (mid-late 20s), chipper voice, intimidating, slightly nasal, higher-pitched, overly confident (queer)

Very Minimal lines (5 words)

This is a character that isn't properly introduced in this proof of concept, but is alluded to in this appearance. She simply says one line as a partial continuation of multiple characters all saying the same sentence in fragments.

Line Context/Acting Help:
Please read this in a sinister, giddy way, but not over-acted. Something somewhat subtle but still noticeable that this character knows something everyone else doesn't and is in on some sort of scheme.
She's advertising a service given by the government to citizens where they can pay off their debts by working in "facilities", which often time leads them to becoming subjects of abuse and malpractice for the betterment of the empire's military.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • warm
  • confident
  • american
  • female young adult
  • energetic
  • evil
  • dark
  • sweet
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "-For the low, low price..."

  • "-of facility service!"

News Anchor 1
Voice Actor Voice Actor
News Anchor 1
open
Paid: Flat Rate 10 USD

Middle-aged male, gruff voice, very dramatic and constantly exasperated. Think of Alex Jones.

Minimal to Moderate Lines

This character is of the Alex Jones archetype. He's very expressive, angry, with a grumbly and loud voice, and the specific cadence you may find in political commentary podcasts of a "specific nature"...

He's a news anchor reporting on the crimes that the character Alexandrea is committing against a system of debt collection in the empire.

Line Context/Acting Help:
1-2. Speaking as if trying to convince his audience to be as mad as he is.
3. Suddenly, very meek and horrified. He's just gotten word that his emperor is dead, and now he has to report it to the world.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • raspy
  • angry
  • rough
  • male adult
  • american
  • loud
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "-THAT DOCTOR! I mean, what type of uncivilized FOOL wastes their time with chemical warfare- against US?!"

  • "But that... that... CRETIN- wants NOTHING more than to DESTROY the precious system keeping us afloat! How many more raids?! How many more- *disgruntled patrons* will be enough?!"

  • "Is... is this for public release?"

News Anchor 2
Voice Actor Voice Actor
News Anchor 2
open
Paid: Flat Rate 10 USD

Eerily calm, monotone middle aged woman with a smooth, low voice, almost uncaring.

Minimal Lines

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • monotone
  • calm
  • smooth
  • female adult
  • american
  • serious
  • authoritative
  • cool
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "In any case, her plight against us will never prosper."

  • "Our emperor knows all, sees all, and most importantly---rules all."

News Anchor 3
Voice Actor Voice Actor
News Anchor 3
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

Older, raspier, airy voice of an almost elderly man. Angry.

Very minimal lines

Line Context/Acting Help:
This line gets cut off at the end as someone else interjects after him. He should sound very serious and angry.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • american
  • serious
  • loud
  • male senior
  • raspy
  • angry
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "I think it's high time for a change... I say we call for the death-"

Interviewee 1
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Interviewee 1
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

Raspy, nasal middle-aged male with a light southern accent, excitable

Minimal Lines (one line)

Excited, being interviewed by the news about how effective the debt forgiveness for the empire is.

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • raspy
  • dramatic
  • energetic
  • american (country)
  • male adult
  • funny
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "The emperor saved my kids from radiation poisoning!"

  • "-of facility service!"

Interviewee 2
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Interviewee 2
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

Smooth, sing-songy, overly drawn-out voice of middle-aged woman, she speaks almost like if an opera singer spoke in their singing cadence

Minimal lines (one line)

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

  • "The Emperor gave ME loan forgiveness! Now I'm ALMOST debt free!"

  • "-of facility service!"

King
Voice Actor Voice Actor
King
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

Deep, smooth, flat-ish, smug voice of a young adult male (Black American, queer)

Minimal lines (one line)

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • calm
  • confident
  • smooth
  • male young adult
  • american
  • deep
  • warm
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "I got to go to school for free."

  • "-of facility service!"

Mads
Voice Actor Voice Actor
Mads
open
Paid: Flat Rate 5 USD

Focused, slightly annoyed older teenage boy, with a voice that is clearly still developing (black)

Very minimal lines (one line)

Requirements:
Please have a decent mic setup and record in a quiet space/somewhere with little to no background noise.
Be able to send your audio as .wav and .mp3 files.
Be comfortable with progressive themes in storytelling, including characters that may be LGBTQIA+ or of different minority ethnic groups.
Most importantly, have fun! I'm very open to any character interpretations you may have!

Thank you for auditioning!

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • male teen
  • dark
  • calm
  • american
  • low
Other info:
  • voice acting
  • "All in exchange..."

  • "-of facility service"

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