Hi, everyone! This is my first post here and I'm thrilled to be part of such a talented and creative community. I wanted to share a little about Rescue Team 7, the animated series I'm working on, and one of my favorite aspects of the project--worldbuilding.
The series is set in a (slightly altered) version of modern day America, where the term "animatronic" applies to much more than robots built for entertainment. In this world, an animatronic isn't just a machine, it is a robot that houses a human soul. Whether made for entertaining children, loading boxes or even fighting in wars, animatronics in this day and age have become the gateway to endless possibilities. This, however, has led to the uncommon phenomenon known as guardianships, in which robots develop strong social bonds with humans that last for the rest of their lives. While this started off as a rare occurrence, it began to grow more prominent throughout the 70s and 80s, as an underground soul-trafficking industry began to grow across different elite circles.
As this industry expanded, the world of Rescue Team 7 became one full of mystery and danger, with the notion of soul-trafficking only sounding like an outlandish conspiracy theory to the everyday citizen of the US. But as the show will illustrate, truth is stranger than fiction and that humanity's relationship with technology often holds deeper and darker secrets than most are able to handle. Across the show, these hidden truths come to light as a team of teenage agents uncovers the darker underbelly of this soul-trafficking industry and the sinister truths that accompany it.
Worldbuilding for this series has been such a fun and challenging journey for me. Whether it's details, history or terminology, every aspect of fleshing out this world has been a uniquely exciting process. Although what I shared in this post is only a FRACTION of this show's lore, it is a large part of the bread and butter that make this series so amazing to work on.
With that said, I'm excited to hear from this community--what do you guys think of this aspect of my story so far? What are some of your favorite worldbuilding elements in speculative storytelling? How do you approach creating immersive and unforgettable worlds?
Any type of interest in this project is more than welcome! Can't wait to share more about this project and animation as a whole!
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The world in Rescue Team 7 sounds interesting, Holly Fouche, especially the animatronics and soul-trafficking! I really flesh out a story world like you do. I come up with the rules, the way people dress, the vehicles, activities, brands, companies, etc.
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Holly Fouche The concept of animatronics as vessels for human souls is so original and haunting, and the soul-trafficking angle layered over a slightly altered modern America is such a compelling hook. I love that you’re exploring the darker complexities of humanity’s relationship with technology through a YA lens. It feels timely, eerie, and emotionally rich.
Worldbuilding is my favorite part of any storytelling process too, and I tend to dive really deeply to know my worlds inside and out as I’m writing. You can tell how much thought and care you’ve put into crafting this universe.
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Ashley Renee Smith Thank you so much for your thoughtful and generous words! It means a lot to hear that the themes of animatronics and soul trafficking resonate and come across as compelling. Exploring humanity’s relationship with technology through a YA lens has been such an exciting and thought-provoking journey for me, and I’m glad those layers are shining through.
Worldbuilding really is such a rewarding process, isn’t it? It’s amazing how much depth and nuance you can uncover as you explore the universe your story inhabits. I’d love to hear more about your own approach to diving deeply into your worlds—what’s been your most exciting or surprising discovery during the process?
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Hey Holly Fouche - without a doubt, the subject of human trafficking is a timely one. I absolutely love the concept of human souls in animatronics - definitely sounds like you have a fresh take on this and yes, worldbuilding - my addiction. Knowing when to stop is the trick! Seriously love this concept Holly!
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Holly Fouche, For me, it really varies from project to project, but I usually start with the physical environment of the world. If it’s a large-scale setting, I often create a map or gather photo references that visually ground me in the geography. From there, I begin to think about how the elements of that environment affect how people live. Things like climate, available resources, economy, culture, faith, language, laws, technology, and, if relevant, a magic system. I also like to define any important history or past conflicts that shaped the world into what it is when the story begins.
Once those broader strokes are in place, it becomes so much easier to drill down into the people who live there—their wants, fears, and worldviews. One of my most exciting discoveries recently was realizing how much a seemingly small environmental detail, like a region having limited sunlight, shaped an entire belief system. It shifted how my characters dressed, worshipped, and even how they viewed outsiders. That ripple effect always amazes me.
I’d love to hear more about how your world has surprised you, too! How has your world grown or changed as you’ve written deeper into it?
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Hi Holly Fouche, I love the storyline you have, this sounds like a fun and interesting animation. Definitely a unique one. The best immersive worlds (in my opinion) have layers—like history, terminology, and cultural nuances—that make them feel lived-in. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into that. I’d love to hear more about how you developed the rules behind soul-infused animatronics. Looking forward to seeing more of this project.
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Congrats on being part of an exciting project that you are passionate about.