Showboat is the real-time animation app that was used to make The Rigel Report. With the app, our crew was able to ship six episodes of the show in six weeks.

Showboat looks and works like a multiplayer game — actors can choose their characters, customize their UIs, and make their characters talk by speaking into their mics. Camera operators can use the app to choose which camera is active, where a camera is positioned, and whether or not their cameras are handheld. We designed our interface to be as straightforward as possible, so actors can spend more time performing and less time wrangling with tech.

Showboat was built in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. When we were forced to work from home, we adapted to the new normal and built a remote-first solution for our distributed team. In the end, we did more than we set out to do — Showboat helped us perform together, workshop ideas in real-time, and complete an animated series in weeks instead of months.

To learn more about Showboat and how we used it for The Rigel Report, check out the demos and links below. If you’re interested in using Showboat for your own production, feel free to get in touch.