AUTOMATA: THE SERIES

In Prohibition-era New York City, it's not alcohol deemed illegal... but intelligent robots known as automatons.

E01 The Neon Rose

E02 Mice Plans

E03 Confirmation Day

E04 Anointed

E05 Just Murder

This science-fiction noir series based on characters from the popular Penny Arcade web-comic invites you to experience a world unlike anything you have seen. In this fictional 1930s-set tale, it is not liquor that is outlawed but instead the continued production of highly sentient robots known as automatons. They live among us as an underclass of social outcasts, victims of human prejudice and strict laws that govern their existence. Automata follows New York private detective Sam Regal (Basil Harris) and his automaton partner Carl Swangee (Doug Jones) as they work together to solve crimes and understand each other in this dystopian America.

A Kickstarter for Automata: The Series was created in July 2015 and funded to the tune of $473,494 with 5,250 backers to help bring the series to life.

indiewire

“Automata features lush production and a fascinating mash-up of ’30s noir and sci-fi (with an emphasis on the “noir” side). Featuring the voice of Doug Jones as robot Carl, director Van Alan packs a lot of world-building into the first episode, one it’d be fun to see evolve further." [click link here]

paste magazine

"Automata introduces a richly layered and deeply compelling world. It’s a testament to the source material as well as to [Van] Alan’s writing and directing that in just a few short minutes Automata has us fully immersed in that world to the point where a moment of extreme violence against a machine is excruciating to watch." [click link here]

Director statement

"Ever since I saw the Automata web-comic in 2009, I knew I wanted to bring these characters to life on-screen. After showing the comic creators some test footage, I somehow convinced them to let me do it. With the financial help of passionate Kickstarter backers and Washington Filmworks, we set out to tell an original Automata story over five acts."