Afterworld (web series)

Afterworld is a computer-animated American science fiction series created by writer Brent V. Friedman and artist/filmmaker Michael DeCourcey.
Its naturalistic future setting, modeled after traditional Western movie motifs, presents an atypical science fiction backdrop for the narrative. Friedman served as executive producer, along with Stan Rogow.
"Afterworld" premiered in the United States on YouTube and Bud.tv on February 28, 2007 with the production website being launched in May, 2007. The series quickly built a loyal fanbase but did not really take off until August, 2007 when it was 're-released' on MySpace. In conjunction with that release the series was also released in Australia on the Sci Fi Channel, as a mobile podcast, and as a web series on US based Crackle.
The series was also made available by Sony Pictures Television International as 13 half-hour episodes for traditional broadcasters.
Plot.
After travelling to New York City on a business trip, Russell Shoemaker wakes to find all electronic technology dead and more than 99% of the human race missing. Driven by a need to discover the truth and determined to return to his family, he embarks on a journey to his home in Seattle, while recording and telling all of the events in his journal. "Afterworld" is the story of Russell's trek across a post-apocalyptic America as he encounters the strange new societies rebuilding themselves. Along the way, he also attempts to solve the mystery of what caused this global event, which survivors refer to as "the Fall."
In addition to new forms of government, Russell discovers that technology has failed due to a persistent electromagnetic pulse, a product of a collection of satellites that was activated almost simultaneously to the Fall. An additional side effect of the EMP is the rapid mutation of many forms of life, including Shoemaker himself. He describes that his night vision has improved dramatically, along with his endurance. Other examples are seen in cattle Russell happens across, which are dying of a previously unheard form of necrotizing fasciitis.
Russell's journey eventually brings him to a nearly deserted San Francisco, and the headquarters of an organization known as the Parthia Group, who had developed a form of nano-technology, which identified humans with a particular genetic makeup.
Broadcast history.
The complete series 1 was also released as 130 episodes of about 2–3 minutes each.
"Afterworld: Global Contact".
Sony published a mobile game based before the events of Season 2, but after the catastrophic planetary event known as "The Fall" caused 99% of the world's population to disappear, along with almost all technology. This is a mobile adventure game where different survivors journey the world in search of their families, going from continent to continent, encountering daring adventures in cities such as Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro. The players confront each challenge and battle their enemies as they struggle to create communication towers to allow the world to regain global contact. It was launched in September 2008.
The narrative of the game offers a preview of Season 2 which never aired.
"Emergency Subnet".
First revealed through an ARG (alternate reality game), a UK exclusive online viral series called Emergency Subnet for Channel 4, starred the character Maia Sturn (played by Nathalie Pownall) as a spin-off of Afterworld. It was produced to help promote the launch of the American animated series in the UK. Like Russell, Maia was dealing with the effects of The Fall and being alone in London, England and would document her day-to-day life through video blogs and journal entries using the Emergency Subnet.