After deliberately failing her exams, Kyun thinks her return to Grandma's secluded village is an escape. Instead, to honor a forgotten ancestor, she is made to spend a night alone near the burial.
After deliberately failing her exams, Kyun thinks her return to Grandma's secluded village is an escape. Instead, to honor a forgotten ancestor, she is made to spend a night alone near the burial.
This is the pilot episode of TABOO – an original animated series. We need your help to make it a reality!
SYNOPSIS
Kyun has always loved the childhood village she was forced to leave. Her mother abruptly fled to the city, less for opportunity, more because she was driven out by the strange and bizarre things that had begun to happen.
Now, Kyun is back with her Grandma. The floorboards creak and crack as they always did. The nights are dead quiet and starry. And when the sun sets, the old house grows countless dark, shadowy corners.
With each step, Kyun uncovers the strange world her mother was meant to inherit - and refused. Her Grandmother seems to love her unconditionally. Except, perhaps, for her name.
GRANDMA
Grandma's sight is failing, and she lives alone, relying on the help of her friendly neighbor, PAVEL.
People from the village tend to be cautious around her. She means no harm. Mostly.
KYUN (kee-yoon)
Kyun is the older daughter, an unlikely blend of self-sabotage, bravado, and curiosity. She made some questionable choices and is now fleeing to the one place no one can get her.
THE FAMILY The rest of the family includes Kyun's younger sister, ALTYN, and her mother, BAZHENA.
TABOO is an original work of folk horror fiction. It draws inspiration from the tales, archetypes, and primal fears found within Eastern European, and specifically Slavic, folklore.
Please Note: This series is not an anthropological document, a representation of modern religious practices, or a depiction of any specific modern culture.
TABOO is our own artistic reimagining and exploration of themes of lineage, memory, and the rite-of-passage.
The pilot episode is expected to be approximately 5 minutes long. Production is estimated to take around 1 year to complete, including finalizing the script for the remainder of the series (with additional time devoted to film festival submissions).
The full series will consist of 5 or 6 episodes, depending on the funds raised!
Please note: All dates are estimates. Animation is a complex and unpredictable process, but we hope to deliver the final product without major setbacks.
Phase 1: Development This phase is devoted to concept art and finalizing the complete screenplay for the PILOT EPISODE and the rest of the series.
Phase 2: Pre-Production We will focus on storyboarding and finalizing all designs. We aim to complete this process by July 2026.
Phase 3: Production This is the most complex phase, where we tackle animation, final voiceover, soundtrack, and sound design.
We expect the whole process to take approximately 1 year, aiming to have the finished pilot ready for festival submission by April 2027.
The pilot episode is expected to be approximately 5 minutes long.
After the pilot episode is complete, the rewards, such as the digital art book, behind-the-scenes production PDF, soundtrack, and other items, will be sent out!
To ensure every euro goes into the animation - and not toward tariffs, taxes, or shipping - this campaign is digital-only with ONE exception (the physical artbook at the €6,000 tier).
You get incredible art and rewards with no hidden fees, and we get to pour everything into the show!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
We’ll share project updates via our Discord channel and BackerKit starting FEBRUARY 2026. Please ensure your BackerKit email is correct and join our Discord to receive updates.
For all interactive tiers, we will contact you directly to begin the collaboration process.
All design ideas, poll votes, etc., must be submitted by May 1, 2026.
All other digital rewards (wallpapers, art book, etc.) will be delivered after the pilot’s release in MAY 2027.
REWARD-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES:
The Easter Egg (€250)
Submit a static photo or character design. Your cameo must be a human or real animal. Restrictions apply.
Our team will integrate it as a background element (like a portrait) and adjust it to match the scene.
It will be a single, non-speaking appearance.
To ensure it fits our world, all submissions will be adjusted by our artists.
Deadline: All submissions must be received by May 1, 2026. We will contact you with reminders, but meeting this final deadline is the backer's responsibility. Submissions after this date cannot be included.
We have the right to reject the design that doesn't fit our guidelines.
The Cameo Star (€900)
Your cameo must be a human or real animal. Restrictions apply.
It will be a single, non-speaking appearance.
To ensure it fits our world, all submissions will be adjusted by our artists.
Deadline: All submissions must be received by May 1, 2026. Late submissions may not appear in the pilot.
We have the right to reject the design that doesn't fit our guidelines.
The Executive Producer (€2,000)
Act as a "Consultant" to help define the purpose and design of a recurring talisman.
Join a brainstorming session with the creator.
We retain the authority to adjust the final design and purpose to ensure it works perfectly as a recurring story element.
Deadline: All submissions must be received by May 1, 2026.
For VIP/Executive Producer "Experiences"
Calls/experiences must be scheduled within 2 months of the campaign's conclusion. We’ll make 3 scheduling attempts via the email provided in BackerKit.
If we cannot find a mutual time, the experience may be replaced with a reward of comparable value.
€6,000 - Physical Reward
Your pledge does not include shipping costs or any import taxes, duties, or customs fees. These are the sole responsibility of the backer. KARABURAN STUDIO is EU-based.
Shipping is calculated and collected after the campaign is over via BackerKit’s Pledge Manager; it is an additional cost to your initial pledge.
We’ll send a post-campaign survey to confirm your shipping address. Completing it within the provided window helps us process everything efficiently and get your rewards to you faster!
Please note that as a handmade, custom artbook, there may be slight natural variations in materials and binding, making each piece unique.
We are not legally liable for lost or stolen packages.
With any animation project, indie or mainstream, there’s never a perfect guarantee on timing. As we move forward, the story, visuals, and our process will naturally grow and evolve. That said, we know the challenges, we’ve planned for them, and we’re genuinely excited to take them on! We can’t wait to bring our amazing pilot to life!
