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Bub – living an artist’s dreams and dreads in New York
A new video game called Bub tells the autobiographical story of artist and stop-motion animator Case Jernigan, exploring the impact of his multiple sclerosis diagnosis on his ability to make art. Developed with coder and gameplay designer Todd Anderson, the game blends a present-day New York City setting with stop-motion-rendered childhood memories and dreamlike visions, aiming to let players set their own pace as they move through the artist's life. It matters because it represents a distinctive approach to using game mechanics, visuals and sound to convey the emotional experience of chronic illness and creative anxiety, rather than simply depicting it through narrative alone.
The game grew out of a graphic novel Jernigan had been developing a decade earlier about childhood anxiety, which he abandoned in favour of a format giving players more control over pacing and immersion. Its visual style shifts from a consistent pen-and-ink "overworld" made from collected paper textures to papercraft puppetry, marker animation and paint-like effects during memory sequences, with an accompanying score by musicians including Adam Schatz (Landlady, Japanese Breakfast) and Asher Kurtz (Old Feels). The developers are also building sections allowing players to create their own art within the game, hoping to make them "feel like an artist". Bub is due for release in 2027.
In short
- New game Bub dramatises artist Case Jernigan's life with MS
- Blends NYC scenes with stop-motion childhood memories and visions
- Handmade visuals, original score, players can create art; out 2027
Explained simply
Bub is a new video game telling the true story of artist and animator Case Jernigan. Developed with coder and gameplay designer Todd Anderson, the game explores what happens to Jernigan's creative life after a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. It matters because it uses game mechanics, visuals and sound to convey the emotional reality of living with chronic illness and creative anxiety, rather than simply describing these experiences through storytelling alone.
The game is rooted in a graphic novel Jernigan started working on a decade ago about childhood anxiety. Rather than finish that project, he shifted to video game format, which allowed players to control their own pace as they move through his life in New York. The game shifts between a pen-and-ink visual style in the main world and more experimental techniques like stop-motion puppetry and marker animation during sequences showing memories and dreams.
The developers are building sections where players can create their own art within the game itself, aiming to make them feel like artists. The soundtrack features contributions from musicians including Adam Schatz of Landlady and Japanese Breakfast, and Asher Kurtz of Old Feels. Bub is due for release in 2027.
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