Feltopia: A Felt-Based Video Game by Andrea Love
Feltopia is a side-scrolling shooter video game entirely made of felt, including characters, enemies, and environments. Created by animator Andrea Love, known for stop-motion felt projects for Hulu, Netflix, Disney, and Hermès, the game features a wizard flying on a magical steed battling machines that have taken over the world. Love aims to explore the tension between craftsmanship and industry, slowness and speed. The game is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with an estimated release on iOS in summer 2024. Feltopia joins a tradition of games built from physical objects, such as Doom (1993) using photographed models, Lumino City by State of Play made from paper and cardboard, and claymation games by Mason Lindroth and Jack King-Spooner. Might and Delight also physically constructed vehicles and settings for The Blue Flamingo, another side-scrolling shooter. Kara Stone's Ritual of the Moon (2019) similarly digitized handcrafted elements. Cuphead by Studio MDHR, later adapted into a Netflix series, features hand-drawn and hand-animated frames inspired by 1930s cartoons.
Key facts
- Feltopia is a side-scrolling shooter video game made entirely of felt.
- The game is created by animator Andrea Love, who has worked with Hulu, Netflix, Disney, and Hermès.
- The story involves a wizard fighting machines that control the world.
- Love intends to highlight the contrast between handcraft and industry.
- Feltopia is seeking funding on Kickstarter with a planned iOS release in summer 2024.
- The game follows a tradition of digitizing physical objects, like Doom (1993) and Lumino City.
- Other games using physical materials include Hylics, Dujanah, and The Blue Flamingo.
- Kara Stone's Ritual of the Moon (2019) also digitized handcrafted elements.
Entities
Artists
- Andrea Love
- Mason Lindroth
- Jack King-Spooner
- Kara Stone
Institutions
- Hulu
- Netflix
- Disney
- Hermès
- State of Play
- Might and Delight
- Studio MDHR
- Kickstarter
- Artribune