Random Encounters

Random Encounters
Genre Musical
Created by AJ Pinkerton
Peter Srinivasan
Nathan Morse
Sparrow Rayne
Starring AJ Pinkerton
Peter Srinivasan
Nathan Morse
Sparrow Rayne
Composer(s) AJ Pinkerton
Peter Srinivasan
Nathan Morse
Sparrow Rayne
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 6
No. of episodes 81
Production
Location(s) Lancaster, California
Running time 1–7 minutes
Release
Original network YouTube
Original release June 7, 2011 (2011-06-07) – present
External links
Website

For the video game mechanic, see random encounter.

Random Encounters is an American musical web series co-created by AJ Pinkerton and Peter Srinivasan. The series' first official short, "A Pikachu Song", premiered on YouTube on June 7, 2011.[1] The series is currently partnered with Maker Studios, though previously existed as part of IGN Entertainment's network.[2]

Each short consists of an original musical number (often performed by live-action actors in cosplay) recreating scenes or starring characters from a popular video game series (such as The Legend of Zelda or Pokémon). The series was first inspired in 2010 when the creators' Sonic the Hedgehog musical parody won the grand prize in an international video competition hosted by Sega.[3]

Since launching their YouTube series, AJ and Peter have taken their songs to various festivals and conventions to perform live.[4][5]

History

"Random Encounters" was initially conceived during a Sega-sponsored contest, for which Pinkerton co-developed the winning entry and his first video game parody song, "Needlemouse: The Musical".[6] The Needlemouse song was requested by Sega to be performed live at their 2011 Sonic Boom community event, where Pinkerton and Srinivasan first recognized the demand for their product and began development on a series of popular games as musical numbers.[7]

Style

Unlike some gaming series, Random Encounters consistently caters to both children and adults. Songs are written to be comedically self-censored, such as disregarding the rhyming scheme to avoid an obvious curse word. Shorts based on mature content, such as Assassin's Creed, Five Nights at Freddy's and Dead Space, present light-hearted versions of the characters, rather than their colder in-game incarnations.

Musical styles for each short vary, but typically consist of extremely bouncy rhythms and quick tempos. Some songs borrow heavily from other sources, such as Disney numbers or in-game themes. The series' derives much of its humor from each song's lyrics, which often make reference to in-game events, pop culture or internet memes.

Some songs feature animation, generally designed to appear more cartoonish and kawaii than lifelike.

Musicals

Video games

Other

Cast

Actors

Original characters

Corporate relationships

Sega

After "Needlemouse: The Musical" won top honors in their Sonic Birthday contest, Sega arranged to have the Random Encounters team perform an alternate version at Sonic Boom 2011, this time highlighting the Modern Sonic/Classic Sonic chemistry from Sonic Generations.[9] Nine months later, Random Encounters co-produced a musical game trailer for the fictitious title "Sega Bass Fishing of the Dead" as part of Sega's online April Fools' prank.[10] Sega approached the Random Encounters team a third time with the release of Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, which became the focus of the first sponsored Encounter.[11]

In August 2012, the Random Encounters Facebook page confirmed their involvement with Sega on a Super Monkey Ball video.[12]

Nintendo

In 2013, Random Encounters joined the Nintendo Ambassador program as part of the Wii U Challenge. Their first project as a brand ambassador, for the Challenge, was a musical promoting The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.[13]

In June 2014, Nintendo sent Random Encounters to E3, along with Black Nerd Comedy, Lamarr Wilson, and Smosh Games.[14] To help promote Nintendo's titles, Random Encounters produced a short musical starring Wario, which included a surprise Charles Martinet cameo at the end.

Nintendo teamed with RE again in 2015 for the launch of their new franchise, Splatoon, by helping host a multi-cam let's play tournament[15] and inviting AJ to compete at their Mess Fest obstacle course promoting the game on the Santa Monica Pier.[16]

Disney XD

In August 2015, Variety.com posted an online article linking Random Encounters to a Disney XD initiative labeled "Disney XD by Maker." The crossover will reportedly seek to "find and develop video concepts for distribution on YouTube, as well as potentially DisneyXD.com and the Watch Disney XD app. It was later reported by Random Encounters that Disney XD by Maker would be funding Resident Enis 2: Monster Gulch, which was released early February 2016"[17]

References

  1. "Singachu: A Pikachu Song". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. "IGN Daily Fix 11.23.11". IGN.com. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  3. "Jace Hall Show Blog RE Interview". JaceHallShow.com. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  4. "AODSF History". aodsf.org. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  5. "JPOP 2012 Guests: Random Encounters". NewPeopleWorld.com. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  6. "Sonic's 19th Birthday Winners Announced". sega.com. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  7. "Watch Your Favorite Games Being Acted Out". dailydot.com. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  8. "Glimpse Into the Beard". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  9. "Random Encounters Interview". jacehallshow.com. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  10. "Introducing Bass Fishing of the Dead". sega.com. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  11. "Sega and Random Encounters Deliver a Rhythm Thief Musical". destructoid.com. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  12. "Random Encounters". facebook.com. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73EW1I0a6IY
  14. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2JiZAV5BmDXrGBFTDQz2FuIOWp7l2RDf
  15. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTBpRwPSoxqmnzfj3olpxWP0kweEOgY2e
  16. "Splatoon to make a big mess in Santa Monica, California next Friday 5/15". vgtidbits.com. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  17. "Disney XD Might Make TV Shows Starring YouTube Creators". variety.com. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
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