Public Access Purgatory
Synopsis
Following the chaotic crew of a surreal TV station with a nonstop broadcast schedule, it's obvious that the gig is less about the grueling demands of the seemingly eternal job and more about the strangeness of the employees themselves. Of course, that isn't going to stop the goofy and wildly inept camera-head Momo from shining!
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Studio Freak Friends
Studio Freak Friends is an independent, internet based animation studio made up of friends, friends of friends, and complete strangers who somehow agreed to make something together. We believe in real human art, indie animation, and making things that feel personal, weird, and alive.We’re extremely passionate about what we do. Our goal is to bring these characters to life by telling their stories and sharing the moments that shape them along the way.We want to create 20 to 25 minute 3D animated episodes packed with jokes, grit, and whatever else sneaks in along the way. Who knows what that’ll be! You will, if you help us make it real.With your support, we can turn this shared passion into a real animated series and finally let these characters exist outside our demented heads.
ABOUT PAP
1. What genre is Public Access Purgatory?
PAP! is primarily a comedy, but it also mixes in mystery, drama, surreal humor, and emotional moments.
2. What inspired the show?
PAP! takes inspiration from shows and games like Adventure Time, Smiling Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball, ENA, The IT Crowd, the Persona series, and many other cartoons, sitcoms, and games.
3. Is the story planned out?
Yes. The main story has been planned from beginning to end, including the major character arcs and overall direction of the series. While smaller details may continue to evolve during production, we have a clear vision of where the story is going.Our current plan is for PAP! to have two seasons, with seven episodes per season if the series is successful and we are able to expand the project further.Each episode is planned to be around 20 to 25 minutes long, allowing us to balance standalone stories with the larger narrative and character development throughout the series.
WHERE, WHEN AND HOW?
4. Where will I be able to watch the show?
PAP will be released free to watch on Youtube
5. Is PAP suitable for all ages?
PAP is intended for audiences aged 16+.The show might contain strong language, dark comedy, surreal humor, and some mature themes. While we do not aim to offend or shock people, some content may not be suitable for everyone.
PRODUCTION
6. How is PAP made?
PAP! is a mixed media production mainly created in 3D, using tools such as Blender, Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, DaVinci Resolve, and After Effects.
?. Why are you crowdfunding?
Independent animation requires a lot of time, resources, and people. Crowdfunding allows us to stay creatively independent while properly compensating everyone involved.The funds will go toward paying artists, voice actors, production costs, taxes, Kickstarter fees, merchandise, and shipping.
COMMUNITY
8. How can I support and follow the development of PAP?
The biggest way to support PAP! is by backing our upcoming Kickstarter campaign. Your support helps us continue production, pay our contributors fairly, and bring the show to life.You can also follow the development of the project through our Patreon and Kickstarter updates, where we share behind-the-scenes content, production progress, and sneak peeks at what we are working on. Patreon includes both free and supporter-exclusive posts for those who want to get a closer look at the creation process.We also have a Discord server where Patreon members and Kickstarter backers can interact with the team, discuss the show, and take part in community activities.
9. How can I help besides donating?
Following the project, sharing it with your friends, and talking about PAP! online helps more than you might think.Independent animation grows through word of mouth, and every share genuinely makes a difference.
10. Can I submit fan art?
Please do!We absolutely love seeing fan creations and can't wait to see what everyone makes.
KICKSTARTER
11. When does the Kickstarter launch and what can we expect?
The Kickstarter campaign is planned to launch in mid-September.Alongside the campaign, we will reveal our opening song and animation, showcase the full merchandise collection, and share more details about the rewards available to backers.We also have a few additional surprises planned that we are excited to reveal when the campaign goes live.
11. Will I be able to buy the merchandise after the campaign?
Most of the merchandise offered during the Kickstarter will be exclusive to the campaign and won't be sold afterward.However, we do plan to release brand-new merchandise in the future if Kickstarter succeeds.
Please click the IDs to see more information about the characters!
Secretary
Secretary is the proficient and begrudging right-hand woman to Boss, handling all of the tasks he cannot be bothered with or cleaning up messes caused by others. She is highly competent when compared to her wacky coworkers, and on the surface perfectly performs the stereotype of the polished, (if a bit grumpy) dutiful office assistant. Her underlying resentment occasionally slips through via dry or snarky remarks, although it seems she can never outright refuse Boss’s tasks. Reprogrammed from an older model, Secretary sometimes speaks in what sound like canned sitcom lines, or defaults to more shallow and upbeat behaviours that amplify her soap opera “secretary” style even more. These moments can be a bit jarring in serious situations, but are scarcely addressed.Polished and pleasant on the surface, with tightly restrained irritation underneath. Exasperation should seep through even when she tries to sound agreeable. Very rarely genuinely amused, and even when angry she clearly holds back the worst of it and hates it. Has a slight Slavic accent.VA: Lil Liffy
Boss
Boss is the eclectic head of the PAP tv station, a position that he adores primarily for the opportunities to impose his own whims over others. He is much like a spoilt child in the ways he directs his subordinates, being incredibly selfish, flighty, and immature. He has little interest in more difficult or uninteresting maintenances, often shirking them off onto others so that he can spend more time pursuing his own immediate pleasures. While Boss is typically scatterbrained, there are also moments of inordinate intelligence that seem to peek through at seemingly random times. These moments typically still revolve around his own self-centred and silly nature.Energetic mid range male voice. Relaxed and conversational as the baseline, able to jump quickly into frantic, sarcastic, panicked, or theatrical tones. Flexible pacing, fast during chaotic bits, slower during quieter moments. slight rasp when excited is welcome. Should sound approachable underneath the chaos. ability to shift tone fast and make spontaneous noises (to distract his opponents obviously).VA: Neonsomble
Farfalle
Farfalle is the quiet, steadfast friend and protector of Momo. She is mainly characterized by the fact that she is usually voiceless, responding to situations with small humming noises or cartoon-esque text bubbles. She is also seen as quite intimidating by most other characters, with it often taking no more than her silent stare to cow down anyone trying to antagonize Momo. Much of Farfalle’s protectiveness and intimidation are centred around her, as she has taken the responsibility onto herself to ensure Momo remains physically and emotionally safe. Their bond is very sister-like, with Farfalle only showing genuine affection towards Momo most of the time and seeming to have little to no regard for anyone else, willing to go along with even the most insane plots if it means staying by Momo’s side.Openly opinionated, and not afraid to let irritation or disdain slip into the delivery. Important to be able to shift into a softer, calmer tone during rare moments of vulnerability.VA: Robin van der Niet
Intern
Intern is an anxious, easily overwhelmed worker who is commonly assigned to assist Momo and Farfalle in their various escapades. They are often overlooked and typically are only brought out of the background when some low-level task arises or others require a comedic punching bag, though in any instance they still try their best to be useful. However, Intern is also the only one to consistently question their surroundings, calling to attention the strange actions of those around them and feeling unsure what to do in more extreme scenarios. Their behaviour can also shift very suddenly and drastically, going from sharp to gentle, or attentive to indifferent on a dime. What does not change is their unwavering obedience, as well as their general confusion. Intern uses the pronouns they/them, but others consistently refer to them via he/him and they never correct it.VA: EndowniVA, Lucas Calabretta, Wren "Sanguine" Paget
Wellness Inspector
Wellness Inspector arrives to evaluate staff conditions and ensure the station meets every requirement on his checklist. He believes emotions interfere with clear judgement, preferring to quietly observe and perform clinical interviews rather that directly injecting himself into any given situation. He is calm, cold, precise, and generally unreadable; this unwavering deadpan demeanor easily unnerves others around him. Wellness Inspector does not appear interested in being sociable, and keeps a controlled, mysterious presence.His voice is controlled, steady, and emotionally flat. Calm delivery, minimal inflection, and a consistently detached tone. Feels analytical, distant, and unshakable, with an understated but intimidating presence. Always very to the point with limited people skills, almost clinical. British accent (his only defect).VA: Dean "OTOCOL" Hauck
Momo
Momo is relentlessly cheerful, driven by optimism and genuine enthusiasm. Childish, eager, and endlessly curious, she is easily distracted by the world around her, not out of carelessness but out of wonder. Unlike Boss’s self-centered chaos, Momo’s scattered nature comes from sincerity: she wants to help everyone and be involved in everything, even when she doesn’t fully understand the task or her own limitations, valuing effort and intent over results.Momo craves approval. She wants desperately to be seen as useful, reliable, and worth keeping around.Momo’s head is a star that can transform into different objects depending on how well she understands or imagines them. Familiar items can become near-perfect copies, while unfamiliar ones often turn out flawed or unstable. Most often, the star becomes a camera, which Momo uses to film reports for the station, usually with mixed success.va: widdlebean
Capu
Capu is the station’s perfect television host. Adored by Boss and widely admired, he seems to always know what to say, even when his words are not always understood. He has an instinctive feel for spectacle, always finding the perfect moment to start filming, and quickly becomes the center of every broadcast.Despite a large and devoted fanbase, Capu remains indifferent to praise, wealth, or status. He measures success in impact and visibility, pushing every segment to be bigger, louder, and more extreme. Exhaustion, pressure, and absurdity are simply part of the process.Capu believes in action over reflection. Problems are solved by doing something (preferably something enormous) and letting momentum carry everything forward. Whether that makes him visionary or reckless depends entirely on how long you’re forced to keep up.va: SJ Kim
God Horse is a divine idol entity with the body of a horse and the head of a moe girl, functioning simultaneously as a deity and a J-pop style celebrity within the PAP station world. She is universally adored and heavily worshipped by the public, who constantly demand attention, autographs, and performances, treating her presence as both sacred and consumable entertainment. On the surface she performs the expected role of a radiant, approachable idol figure, but this is consistently undermined by her openly irritated, dismissive, and exhausted attitude toward the people who revere her.Despite being framed as a “god,” God Horse shows no interest in divinity or celebrity culture, treating both as repetitive obligations she is trapped within rather than privileges. Her responses often come across as curt or sarcastic, with a strong sense of burnout from constant visibility and expectation. The contradiction between her elevated status and her blunt emotional detachment is a central part of her characterization, highlighting the tension between worship and exhaustion.va:
Mosko
Mosko is a rival agent from the BAB station who insists he is a dangerous mastermind spy constantly sabotaging PAP from the shadows. In reality, his schemes are obvious, poorly executed, and usually help PAP more than harm them, while he remains convinced of his own genius.He is heavily inspired by mosquito-like behaviour, meaning he is persistent, intrusive, and constantly present in ways everyone finds annoying but not threatening. He is widely disregarded or swatted away with ease. Mosko often frames himself as a grand villain exposing hidden truths, but his plans collapse into confusion, self-sabotage, or attempts to earn approval from the very people he claims to oppose. Despite everything, he never doubts his own brilliance.He often performs dramatic “mask reveal” moments where he reveals it was him all along, despite everyone already knowing. Even Boss considers him so problematic that he cannot be around him for long before dismissing him.va: Martoon
Sir Coont is the beloved cafeteria diva of the PAP station, whose overwhelming popularity has made her the single most admired personality on PAPLY. Confident, glamorous, and fully aware of her own status, she carries herself with the poise of someone who expects admiration and has no patience for those who fail to meet her standards. While others idolize her, blush around her, or hang on her every word, Sir Coont remains firmly in control of every interaction, setting clear boundaries and refusing to tolerate disrespect or foolishness. Despite her larger-than-life presence and seemingly flawless image, she is unapologetically blunt, delivering ruthless insults and impossible confidence with the same effortless elegance.VA: Octo Tako
Sad bean
The Sad Bean is one of PAP’s many forgotten employees, a tiny worker who has somehow become the embodiment of workplace misery.Unlike most Beans, he is painfully aware of how insignificant the company seems to view him. Overlooked, underappreciated, and constantly treated like an object, he has convinced himself that his life has no meaning.Despite his dramatic hopelessness, he is surprisingly sincere. Beneath everything, he is just someone who wants to be noticed, cared about, and find a genuine connection. He may be pathetic and constantly on the verge of giving up, but somehow he always finds another ridiculous reason to keep going.Voice: For his voice, we want you to experiment and see what fits the character best. We are open to a lot of different interpretations. He could have a small, high-pitched, exhausted voice that matches his tiny appearance, or he could have a surprisingly deep and dramatic voice that contrasts with how small he is.VA Micah.VO
Public Access Purgatory
Animated series 3D + 2D mixed media
by Studio Freak FriendsGenre: Surreal comedy / dark comedy
Episode length: 15–25 minutes
Language: English
Distribution: Independent
Platform: Youtube
Rating: PG-16
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Synopsis
Following the chaotic crew of a surreal TV station with a nonstop broadcast schedule, it's obvious that the gig is less about the grueling demands of the seemingly eternal job and more about the strangeness of the employees themselves. Of course, that isn't going to stop the goofy and wildly inept camera-head Momo from shining!
WHAT IS PAP?
Public Access Purgatory is a love letter to yesterday's and today's internet, including the good, the bad, and the ugly.The series explores escapism and the strange comfort of digital spaces, while looking at how these spaces can bring people together and push them apart.The series combines humor with darker and more mature themes, allowing its characters to collide in a shared workplace full of absurdity and dysfunction.
BEHIND THE PROJECT
Creator of Public Access Purgatory, Chantako is a 3D artist, and one of the founders of Studio Freak Friends.Public Access Purgatory began as a small project and gradually grew with the help of two friends. After spending some time away from the project, Chantako eventually brought together a team of artists and creatives to continue developing it through Studio Freak Friends.The studio is built around a shared passion for animation, internet culture, and creating opportunities for people across different areas of production, from 2D and 3D artists to voice actors, both experienced and just starting out."It's really important to me to create spaces for people, especially creative people. I know how difficult it can be to find work, and one of my biggest goals with Studio Freak Friends is to create a place where people can work on things they're genuinely passionate about without constantly having to worry about finding their next job."
THE SERIES
Public Access Purgatory is planned as a two-season animated series, with seven episodes planned for each season. Episodes are expected to run approximately 20–25 minutes, combining standalone stories with an overarching narrative and character development.The series takes inspiration from a wide range of animation, games, sitcoms, and internet culture, including Adventure Time, Smiling Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball, ENA, The IT Crowd, and the Persona series. Rather than following one specific style, PAP draws from these influences to create a world that can shift between comedy, surrealism, and darker moments.
PRODUCTION
PAP is an independently produced mixed-media animated series, primarily created in 3D with 2D elements. Different animation styles and techniques are used throughout the series to reflect the strange and unpredictable world of the PAP station.The production brings together artists, animators, voice actors, and other creatives working across different areas of the project. The team uses a combination of Blender, Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, and other tools throughout the production process.As an independent production, crowdfunding allows the team to maintain creative control while properly compensating the people working on the project. Funds raised through the Kickstarter will go toward artist and voice actor compensation, production costs, taxes, Kickstarter fees, merchandise, and shipping.
KICKSTARTER
The Public Access Purgatory Kickstarter is planned to launch in September 13th. The campaign will help fund continued production of the series while also introducing the project's merchandise collection and rewards for supporters.Alongside the campaign, the team plans to reveal the completed opening song and animation, showcase the merchandise, and share additional details about the project and its production.
STUDIO FREAK FRIENDS
Studio Freak Friends is an independent, internet-based animation studio made up of artists and creatives from different backgrounds and areas of production. The studio was created around a shared passion for animation, internet culture, and making original projects that feel personal, strange, and alive.The studio aims to create opportunities for people across different areas of production, from 2D and 3D artists to animators and voice actors, while giving creatives a space to work together on projects they genuinely care about.