ABOUT THE PROJECT

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As a non-Jamaican, few  concerns were raised that Tolga may resort to surface-level stereotypes—filling the dialogue with one-dimensional expletives. However, butchering the depth of a rich and thriving Caribbean culture was never on the agenda. Instead, Tolga approached this Jamaican anime project with careful consideration, ensuring that the dialogue and storytelling remained authentic, immersive, and universally accessible by collaborating with Ethan and Taalia. Together, they crafted a compelling narrative driven by genuine character arcs, layered emotions, and nuanced dialogue.

To achieve this level of authenticity, he was guided through the depth and versatility of Jamaican Patois. Introducing  him to the linguistic registers:

• Acrolect (Formal/Standard)
• Mesolect (Casual/Conversational)
• Basilect (Deep Patois)

Ethan and Taalia consulted Tolga on the dialogue and character behaviors  to craft a culturally authentic Jamaican based story, and ensured that the work honored the true essence of Jamaica. By blending  natural Jamaican speech with standard English, the dialogue was meticulously refined to resonate with both Jamaican and international audiences within the Manga (Japanese Graphic Novel) however, in the short film, the patois comes straight from the source, as it will also in the developing series!

Taalia Cespedes and Ethan Campbell-Reid, both Jamaican, played a pivotal role in ensuring the cultural authenticity of the Jamaican anime Tolga wrote, meticulously refining every detail for an accurate and immersive representation. Their firsthand understanding of Jamaican identity was instrumental in shaping the physical character designs, body proportions, and facial features, ensuring they reflected real Caribbean people rather than the exaggerated styles commonly seen in Japanese anime.

Beyond appearances, Taalia and Ethan also guided the body language, mannerisms, and instinctive behaviors of the characters, ensuring they moved, reacted, and carried themselves in a way that felt distinctly West Indian and at the core, Jamaican. From the way a character might react or gesture in conversation or presented in a situation, to the unspoken social cues embedded in everyday interactions, their insights made sure that these details weren’t just aesthetic choices but an integral part of the storytelling.

Though Tolga’s  deep rooted origin to the Caribbean—born to a Vincentian mother, raised between St. Vincent and the Grenadines & Barbados, and traveling  as a professional swimmer representing St. Vincent regionally and internationally at the World Championships and Olympic Games—gave him the confidence to craft a story that resonates as a true West Indian product. Taalia and Ethan’s deep Jamaican culture awareness provided the final refinements needed to capture the essence of Jamaica with precision and respect. Their involvement ensured that the characters looked, moved, and reacted as Jamaicans would, staying true to the culture beyond surface-level representation.