Electric City (web series)

Electric City

Company type	Web series
Industry	Animation, Entertainment
Founded	July 17, 2012 (2012-07-17)
Founder	Tom Hanks
Headquarters	United States
Products	Animated web series, mobile app, video game
Parent	Playtone

Electric City is a U.S.-based animated web series blending post-apocalyptic and science fiction themes, created by Tom Hanks for Yahoo! Screen. Debuting on July 17, 2012, the show comprises 20 brief episodes adding up to a total runtime of 90 minutes. The voice cast includes Hanks himself, Holland Taylor, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Antoon, Chris Parnell, Joey Kern, Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Georg Stanford Brown. The narrative unfolds in the aftermath of a worldwide disaster, depicting an apparently orderly utopia that provides safety and tranquility amidst devastation but hides underlying secrets, illicit activities, pursuits, and homicide.

Production

The inception of Electric City dates back to 2003 when Tom Hanks collaborated with Josh Feldman and Bo Stevenson—both also lending their voices to characters—to begin scripting the story without an initial intention to create a web series. Hanks composed the original narrative using an Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter. The idea was further developed and polished at Playtone, Hanks’ own production company, before Yahoo! secured the rights for distribution.

Animation responsibilities were handled by 6 Point Harness in Los Angeles under the guidance of director Joel Trussell.

Plot

Set in a world devastated by depletion of fossil fuels and nuclear energy, small communities generate electricity through renewable natural means such as wind, water flow, or human effort—the latter also serving as a form of punishment. The society operates under the principle "All in service to all," mandating that every individual contribute to communal well-being.

Electric City is composed of multiple distinct precincts separated geographically, with governance centralized at Central Stations. Notable precincts are:

• Nerima, which specializes in water treatment and houses the Camera Obscura observatory.
• Greenlight, location of the city’s inaugural university.
• Morningside, characterized as a contemporary residential district.
• The Mines, dedicated to extraction and manufacturing.
• The Agricultural Territories, responsible for food production.
• The Outside, a prohibited coastal zone inhabited by escapees fleeing persecution by the matriarchal "knitting society."

These precincts are linked through power lines and wired radio systems; however, unrestricted communication, commerce, and travel are forbidden to preserve electrical resources and maintain dominance by the "knitting society," founders and rulers of Electric City. An underground faction known as the Tap Coders defies these prohibitions by creating unauthorized communication networks.

Episodes

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Technology

Technological advancements within Electric City are minimalistic; wood predominates as the construction material instead of metal or synthetic substances. Firearms are notably absent, though some modern conveniences like electric illumination and heating are present. Transportation options include freight vessels navigating canals and the Skytrain, a rudimentary electric tram suspended on an overhead cable system. Messaging depends on the Walking Post service for physical delivery and the Wire Service, a hardwired radio broadcast transmitted from Wire Central directly into receivers. Electricity is generated from various sources but is deliberately shut down overnight to conserve power except for the Wire Service which remains active. Unauthorized electricity tapping incurs penalties. Despite being largely outdated since the 1950s, wire recording technology remains in use. The newspaper The Daylight is printed in broadside format at public kiosks without subscription or sales models.

A settlement in the Outside maintains a collection of vinyl records along with stereo equipment salvaged from "the lost cities."

Geography

The precise whereabouts of Electric City remain ambiguous; however, mentions of "swollen lakes" imply it lies near the Great Lakes area, potentially within Michigan, Wisconsin, or the broader American Midwest.

Cast of characters

• Cleveland Carr (formerly Lorenzo Seventeen) (Tom Hanks): The main character and ex-leader of the AMP team, whose identity was erased following a mission mishap. He is recruited by the "knitting society" to operate as a grid agent and assassin under Ruth Orwell's command. His allegiance becomes uncertain after encountering Hope and receiving orders to eliminate Richard Jacobs.
• Ruth Orwell (Holland Taylor): A senior survivor and influential member of Electric City's matriarchal founding group known as the "knitting society." She directly supervises Carr.
• Mrs. Emerson (Lindsey Stoddart): Member of the original council.
• Mrs. Zelaski (Edith Fields): One of the founders of the "knitting society."
• Hope Chatsworth (Jeanne Tripplehorn): Renowned radio news presenter at Wire 6, dubbed the "Voice of the City," and Cleveland's eventual romantic partner.
• Frank Deetleman (Joey Kern): Hope’s coworker who secretly supports the Tap Coder resistance.
• Roger Moore (Tara Sands): Youth Auxiliary participant spying on Tap Coders on behalf of AMP.
• Gladys Elba (Kristin Klabunde): Youth Auxiliary member and Roger's acquaintance; responsible for serving tea during knitting society meetings.
• Garrison "Knobs" Butler (Jason Antoon): Small-time criminal vending illicit radio devices; later coerced into acting as an underground operative for Carr.
• Dr. Loman (David Kaye): Leader of the revolutionary faction.
• Makaela (Tara Strong): Assistant to Dr. Loman.
• Biff (Josh Feldman) & Happ (Bo Stevenson): Revolutionaries killed by Cleveland amid arrests.
• Richard "Dick" Jacobs (John Rubinstein): Public fabric cutter who covertly serves the knitting society; retires after marrying Eva but is assassinated due to suspected betrayal.
• Eva Jacobs (June Diane Raphael): Richard’s pregnant wife and Tap Coder member; investigates her husband's demise alongside Walter La Fong before escaping Outside.
• Walter La Fong (Paul Scheer): Journalist at the Daylight newspaper and close confidant of the Jacobs family.
• Sah (Eric Bauza): Owner of a noodle restaurant acting as a front for Tap Coders.
• Chucky Wilcox (Josh Feldman): Tap Coder eliminated by Cleveland to track down rebels.
• Commander Welles (Georg Stanford Brown): Leader within AMP.
• Mr. Orwell (James Urbaniak): Ruth Orwell’s spouse and politician secretly aligned with rebel sympathies.
• Giovanni Montalbon (Chris Parnell)
• Manny (Chad Coleman): Former grid operative and caretaker of Cleveland’s residence.
• Jean Marie St. Cloud (Ginnifer Goodwin): Ex-AMP officer and Cleveland’s former girlfriend, unaware he remains alive due to actions taken by the knitting society and AMP.

Tie-ins

Complementing the web series, a mobile app was introduced for iOS and Google Android. It offers access to all 20 episodes, two comics, behind-the-scenes features, and detailed character biographies. Furthermore, the game Electric City: The Revolt enables users to play a pivotal role in opposing the knitting society’s dominance to reclaim liberty.

Electric City: The Revolt

Electric City: The Revolt is an iOS role-playing game inspired by the animated post-apocalyptic web series Electric City. Created by Jump Games Pvt. Ltd., it launched on July 17, 2012.

Reception

The series Electric City received the Streamy Award for Outstanding Animated Series.

See also

• Spicy City, a futuristic animated science fiction show created by Ralph Bakshi