NULLBOURNE | A Superpowered + Raw Neo-Noir Cyberpunk Odyssey

NULLBOURNE | A Superpowered + Raw Neo-Noir Cyberpunk Odyssey

Project Overview

The main project is called NullBourne ~

-- SYNOPSIS --

New Year's Day marks the beginning...

An undergrad research scientist with "photographic memory" catches unexpected attention from the Directive government. A police soldier from the CORE division starts his first unofficial day on the job. And last but not least, a criminal from the Base Belt District gets ready for a pivotal operation with his squad, years in the making.

IN AN ERA  where tensions have spiked due to recent, seemingly impossible phenomena, uncertainty rises to the top. A sliver of the population has inexplicably emerged with exotic abilities and anomalous maladies. Man-eating aberrant humans known as Vores/Vorax lurk in the shadows of sprawling megacities. Faction uprisings and criminal organizations spark fear and chaos from world to colonies within the Solar System. 

The story opens up with an emerging spacefaring cyberpunk civilization, amidst a time of great change, vast unknowns, and complex adversities. It follows a naturally expanding and ever-dynamic cast of individuals, all part of one massively interconnected journey and universe.

 —  —  —   THE GIST:

NullBourne recently released two episodes in an experimental ambient-visual novel-like format on YouTube. NULLBOURNE - YouTube

So far, the episodes aren’t gaining much algorithm traction, which is understandable. The platform doesn’t quite know how to handle it yet, since the format is still quite new. After talking with the team, we’ve come to realize the core issue: the content is so different that people aren’t searching for anything like it. Building both the story and the channel, in this way, is going to be challenging. Viewers aren’t likely to sit through a 40-minute story on YouTube unless they’re given a compelling reason.

 —  —  —   That’s why I’m going to be launching a second channel:

NEON DEN 4Ø4

This new channel would still be set within the NullBourne universe but would shift focus from being reading-based to more auditory and visually engaging content - what most YouTube users are naturally drawn to. Instead of featuring full story chapters, the content would tap into themes people already enjoy: mystery, ASMR, ambience, and bite-sized storytelling.

* Think a twist on Lo-fi girl channel content... ( In addition to the YT videos, there will be livestreams of the cozy, moody, neon den with some of the detectives working in the ambient environment. Depending on the detective's turn and mood, it will be asmr, lofi music, or just ambience. It will not have story or voice acting and will act as interims between videos. It will be live only during the night. For immersive purposes. )

... Emphasis on natural story + worldbuilding, characters, and cozy ASMR/ambience soundscapes. Every video will have a theme. The concept is to create a series of 5-to-15 minute videos set in a detective’s office, presented as if viewers are watching through different surveillance cameras installed around the space. These videos would showcase detective characters working cases, studying files, interacting with one another, and just living their daily lives in the neo-noir, cyberpunk world.

The focus will be on creating a cozy, neo-noir atmosphere with a cyberpunk edge, drawing people into the universe naturally through environmental/ambient storytelling, character interactions, and subtle worldbuilding happening within the detective’s office. Plus, the ASMR and ambience elements will help immerse viewers and make it easier to hook them in.

 

—  —  —  OUTRO:

Currently, I am commissioning the background of the room (+ 2 more angles) with 2 characters in it having small lofi girl-like animations. One on the couch and one on the desk working. There's also a swapped version where they swap positions.


I plan to grow this Neon Den 404 universe, within the larger universe, as the channel grows. Adding new angles of the room, art, animations, characters, etc...


 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

  • Current Team consists of 6-character artists and 4 voice actors.

  • Please do not apply if you do not intend to stick around for the long-haul and be active in its development. This doesn't mean this is a full-time commitment, no.

  • I want to collaborate with artists & people who are willing to build this universe, NullBourne, from zero. NullBourne is a passion-project, and an official studio is inbound...

  • Will be posting extra project content + updates on X/Twitter (DM's also open) so if you're interested, stay tuned...

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Latest Updates

  • Update #3 - Final

    Heya guys!

    As of today, the casting call is officially closed!

    The level of interest, skill, and talent you all brought to this project has been wild, haha! On behalf of the whole Neon Den 4Ø4 team, thank you... seriously. So many of you brought such unique voices and energy. It’s been one hell of a ride listening to each and every one.

    We’re super excited to officially welcome a core group of artists into the project, including Q Thalassa and Don Moreaud, who are locked in and ready to help bring the 404 Den to life.

    That said, this world isn’t a one-off. It’s ever-expanding and vastly interconnected.


    So, while the casting window for Neon Den 4Ø4's initial cast has now closed, I have already shortlisted a number of you for future roles! Some of which may be recurring characters. You’ll likely be hearing from me again down the line, as the story and universe develops :)

    If you’re curious about what’s next and want to keep up with the project, be sure to follow NullBourne / Neon Den 4Ø4 on Twitter (JLRB (@JLRB_) / X)! We’ve got "umbrajazzed" teasers and promo art coming your way soon!

    And so, that's a wrap! We’re shifting gears now and diving into production. We can’t wait to show you what’s been cooking behind the scenes...

    Cheers,
    JLRB

    (PS: If you haven’t read it yet, here’s the official YT channel description for Neon Den 4Ø4...)


    ~ just some night-shift detectives working cases in a den, deep inside the gut of a neon-drenched megacity... trying to make a living... and maybe keep their sanity.

    ASMR / AMBIENT soundscapes × slices-of-life story & worldbuilding within a superpowered neo-noir & cyberpunk universe ~

  • Update #2

    Hey All!

    First off, I wanna thank everyone for their continued interest in the collaborative YT project of Neon Den 4Ø4! I feel like I can't express this enough, haha! I, and the team, really appreciate it guys! I've looked and listened through hundreds of your guys' reels. I can tell, almost every single one of them have been created by voice actors with either tons of talent, skill, or potential.

    Deciding between all you guys has been one of the toughest things I've had to do in a creative project thus far lol

    However, (and thankfully) I have managed to narrow the candidates down to just a handful now. With Q Thalassa and Don Moreaud being all but set in stone. That being said, as I mentioned before, I am still looking for future VA's to keep tabs with and voice upcoming (some recurring) characters further down the road!

    As we approach the deadline at the end of the month, please still feel free to audition for any of the roles in the project. Especially the demo reel submission role! Everything is still being looked at and listened to!

    Finally, I highly recommended anyone who is interested in this experimental project, and development thereof, to head over to NullBourne's/Neon Den 4Ø4's Twitter page! (Link in the CCC project description) We'll be posting some cool teasers and promotional artwork relatively soon. Relatively, haha!

    Thanks everyone for reading this update. Hope y'all have a good one and until then!

    Cheers,

    JLRB

    (As a final, final note for this update, here is the official YT channel description for Neon Den 4Ø4...)

    ~ just some night-shift detectives working cases in a den, deep inside the gut of a neon-drenched megacity... trying to make a living... and maybe keep their sanity.

    ASMR / AMBIENT soundscapes × slices-of-life story & worldbuilding within a superpowered neo-noir & cyberpunk universe ~

  • Update #1

    Hey Everybody!

    I just wanted to post this and let everyone know how thankful I am for the buzz and interest that 'NullBourne' and 'Neon Den 4Ø4' have gained so far. Both here and on X/Twitter!

    It really amazes me how many talented/skilled artists there are with interests to be a part of something new and experimental. Thanks so much for every single submission!

    Currently, I am narrowing down both the initial AND future candidates. (I can only pick one for each role ofc... which is very frustrating and makes things difficult, haha!) And the future is BIG. So, even if you don't get selected for an initial role, know that there will be MANY more to come further down the road as the universe expands...

    With that said, that'll be it for the update. If you'd like, please stay tuned over on X for some more juicy updates and content. We should be on track to release our first teaser fairly soon!

    Cheers,

    JLRB

Project Roles: Voice Actor: Future Character Roles (Demo Reel Submissions) Voice Actor: Q Thalassa Voice Actor: Don Moreaud Artist: Character Artist Artist: Promotional/Brand Art Video Editor: Shorts Content
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Voice Actor: Future Character Roles (Demo Reel Submissions)
open
Deferred: Profit Share

Please submit your demo reels / samples here so that we can save you a future spot on the team if there is a good fit! Voice-acting opportunities may range from guest appearances on the Neon Den 4Ø4 YT channel, to voicing character sprites for our experimental Ambient-Visual Screenplay Movies (AVSMs), all the way to animated projects! This role will remain open until the deadline as we look for the ever-expanding cast of NullBourne.

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 86 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Voice Actor: Q Thalassa
open
Deferred: Profit Share

  • Age: 20
  • Height: 5'6
  • Appearance: Grey-blue-eyed Blanche (Custom word: Blanche - is a hair color = white. More on hair colors and why in the Discord.)
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: Fuchsian Reef-city, Zone 6 (Oceanic Region / Nautica Belt)
  • Raised: Fuchsian Reef-city, Zone 17 (Oceanic Region / Nautica Belt)
  • B-day: Sep. 12, 79AA
  • Residence: Living in a share-house apartment complex in Sector -7, Saga City. Located within the Base Belt (Ex-Oceanic Region).
  • Occupation: Private Investigator for Invixo Solutions (small private investigation agency) - Newly hired as of first video. In main story will have been working for half a year when introduced.
  • Likes: Very spicy food and drinks, heights, watching the news, thinking/musing, playing chess against herself, espressos, solving puzzles, exploring uncharted territories
  • Dislikes: Alcohol, afternoons, loud noises/events/people, sweets and candy, whistling sounds, shitty coffee, seafood
  • Traits: Headstrong, brave, compassionate, analytical, logical, resourceful
  • Background & Goals:
    • Family was poor and couldn't afford to send her to college or to where she wanted to go which was the DA (Directive Academy) to become an official government detective.
      Recently started doing Private Investigator work full-time with Invixo Solutions. She took tests to get her detective's license.
    • Works part-time as a Paralegal (used to be full-time from 18-19 y/o)
    • From 14-17 was a legal assistant -- During this span got her 2-year cert to become a paralegal.
    • Goal is to become an official government detective and rise the ranks, despite it being currently impossible to become a government detective without having gone through the DA...

Voice description:
  • female young adult

  • (Sighs) I need some coffee. Be right back. This is throwing my head in for a spin.

  • (muttering to self) 404, 404... (Exasperated sigh) Where the hell is 404?

  • Listen, Ma'am, we're not going to be able to catch the person who did this if you don't work with us. I need you to tell us everything you know.

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 90 Submissions Apply / Audition
Voice Actor
Voice Actor
Voice Actor: Don Moreaud
open
Deferred: Profit Share

  • Male, Middle-aged, Gravelly voice, Weathered detective.
  • Age: 36 
  • Height: 5'10 
  • Appearance: brown-eyed brunette 
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: Xune City (Ex-Oceanic Region / Base Belt)
  • Raised: Xune / Saga city (Ex-Oceanic Region / Base Belt)
  • B-day: May 28, 63AA
  • Residence: His own apartment in Saga city-- Located within the Base Belt (Ex-Oceanic Region)
  • Occupation: Private Investigator for Invixo Solutions (small private investigation agency) - started 10 years ago. Worked odd jobs and on related occupations before.
  • Likes: Alcohol, his work, taking long walks/drives in the rain, reading, peanut butter, plain wasabi sandwich, water
  • Dislikes: Smoking, his work, naivete, wearing jackets of any kind, messy foods, most flavored drinks/juices
  • Traits: Cynical, Pragmatic, Streetwise, Hardened, Vigilant, Meticulous, Satirical
  • Background & Goals:
    • Is the escaped son of a high-ranking Mid-boss in the Black Bay Brood (A criminal cartel organization). When he was a 9, his mother took him and fled the organization. As they were on the run, his mother ultimately decided to leave him with an old friend in Saga City, to keep him from being found and constantly on the run. His mother's whereabouts are still currently unknown. 
    • Goal in teenage years + 20's was to find his mother and dismantle the Black Bay Brood. However, in recent years he has since given up on that goal, after his many, many weathered experiences.  

Language:
  • english
Voice description:
  • male adult

  • (Scoffs) Beautiful... Just fucking beautiful...

  • Let's see here... Mmm... (Scoffs) Yeah, no. This shit's nowhere near right.

  • (Smug Chuckle) Ya'll have fun with that. I'll be downstairs. Try not to trip over each other while I'm gone, yeah?

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 168 Submissions Apply / Audition
Artist
Artist
Artist: Character Artist
open
Deferred: Profit Share

You will be drawing the character art to be used in the YT videos. Art will be in the same vein as Danganronpa's in-game character sprites. Will likely be choosing multiple artists for this role.


Reference: (Doesn't need to be exact quality. Looking for something similar)
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Full Walkthrough Gameplay - No Commentary (PC Longplay)

Language:
  • english
Other info:
  • anime
  • drawing (anime/manga style)

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 16 Submissions Apply / Audition
Artist
Artist
Artist: Promotional/Brand Art
open
Deferred: Profit Share

You will be creating engaging thumbnail art, banner art, promotional art (character art and other assets will be provided), etc... for the channel. Will likely be choosing multiple artists for this role.

Language:
  • english

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 7 Submissions Apply / Audition
Video Editor
Video Editor
Video Editor: Shorts Content
open
Deferred: Profit Share

You will be editing engaging short-form video hooks, using content from the main YT videos. 

Language:
  • english

  • *Say something you think would fit*

Favorite role Save Role for Later Total Submissions Toggle 6 Submissions Apply / Audition
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