Australian hybrid-AI studio Red Empire Productions and international production and distribution company Organic Media Group are developing “Alishan Escape: A Mandopop Ghost Adventure,” an original animated musical inspired by Taiwan’s Ghost Month traditions, Buddhist philosophy, local Indigenous tribal cultures and the global reach of Asian pop music.
The project marks a creative collaboration between Red Empire Productions founder and CEO Amie Casey and Organic Media Group (OMG) co-founder Steve Chicorel, combining cinematic storytelling, original music and hybrid-AI production techniques for a theatrical animated musical aimed at worldwide audiences.
Set against Taiwan’s landscapes and spiritual traditions, “Alishan Escape” follows an international pop star who travels to Taiwan to complete an unfinished song written by her late parents. During Ghost Month, she crosses into the world of the dead and must find her voice – and finish the song – to return to the living before her concert begins. The film blends contemporary Mandopop, ancient mythology, comedy and supernatural adventure.
The creative team has developed feature treatments for the first two films in a proposed franchise, along with a temporary soundtrack featuring lyrics and music by Chicorel. Animator Greg Manwaring has joined the project; during a career spanning more than 35 years, Manwaring has contributed to “The Lion King,” “The Iron Giant,” “Pocahontas” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”
“At Red Empire Productions, we believe the future of filmmaking belongs to creators who combine powerful storytelling with innovative production technologies,” said Casey. “‘Alishan Escape’ is exactly that kind of project. It is emotionally authentic, visually ambitious and deeply rooted in one of the world’s most fascinating cultures. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Greg and OMG to introduce this original animated musical to audiences around the globe.”
Chicorel, a UCLA MFA-trained screenwriter, producer and songwriter, has spent nearly two decades living in Taiwan, where the story evolved through his immersion in the island’s culture. A multi-instrumentalist whose background spans rock, folk and world music, he performs guitar, piano, drums and bass, as well as traditional Chinese instruments including the erhu, pipa and guzheng. He created the story, wrote the feature treatments and developed the lyrics and original songs for “Alishan Escape.”
“I’ve wanted to tell a Ghost Month story for years,” Chicorel said. “Living in Taiwan has allowed me to experience traditions, music and spirituality that simply don’t exist anywhere else. ‘Alishan Escape’ is my love letter to Taiwan. Every lyric, every melody and every story beat was created to celebrate this remarkable culture while delivering the kind of emotional, cinematic musical experience that can resonate with audiences everywhere.”
Chicorel credited Casey with helping transform the project into something beyond an AI production.
“Amie and her team are not simply AI technologists – they are experienced writers, actors and producers who understand that great storytelling begins with human creativity,” Chicorel said. “For us, hybrid AI means combining innovative technology with real singers and voices, and real actors and dancers whose performances inform the characters’ movement and emotion. That is the difference between using AI as a creative tool and using it as a substitute for human artistry.”
OMG, founded by Kelly Mi Li and Chicorel, has operations spanning Los Angeles, Taiwan and Australia.
The companies are in discussions with a major studio’s animation division regarding continued development of the franchise.
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