Six teens from six different nations must unite to restore an ancient celestial guardian so it can defend humanity from an invasion of monsters.

SYNOPSIS:

Portals to another planet suddenly appear around the world. Several monsters called Acuraṉs come through the portals and proceed to wreck havoc wherever they go. The Acuraṉs seem to converge on five particular cities: Calgary, Canada; Zinder, Niger; Tehran, Iran; Mumbai, India; and Oslo, Norway. In each one of these locations, a teenager comes across a small, friendly creature that can talk and declares the teen to be its “Guardian.” Once they come into contact with these self-proclaimed “Yahbulon Shards,” each of the teens is given a “Guardian Band” that permanently affixes to their wrists. The bands grant each of them a unique superpower, and allow their Shard to transform into a much larger and stronger “Advanced Mode.” The teens and their Shards quickly employ their abilities to defend their cities. The Acuraṉs still leave countless people either dead or displaced and seeking refuge.

Israeli archaeologist Dr. Mili Vidor tracks down these five Guardians and reveals that these occurrences coincide with an ancient hieroglyph that describes a super-being called Yahbulon. According to this hieroglyph, at some point in the late prehistoric era, humanity found Yahbulon, a powerful giant who came to Earth through a portal exactly like the ones that the Acuraṉs are now coming through. Yahbulon brought prosperity to early humanity, but was then mysteriously split apart into five pieces that were spread across the world. Humanity, once a single united community, split off into groups to search for Yahbulon’s Shards, and consequently formed separate cultures and civilizations. Dr. Vidor realizes that the creatures that the teens awakened are the five Shards of Yahbulon. The teens are psychically bonded to each Shard. This has made the five teens into the modern incarnations of “Yahbulon’s Guardians” just like in the ancient times. Each Guardian ultimately learns how to merge with their Shard’s advanced mode to form their “Ultimate Shard Mode.” Finally, all five of the Ultimate Shards can merge together to form Yahbulon. But they can only fuse when they are all at peace with each other and fully willing to unify. Later on, they join up with Chiyo Tsukuma from Tokyo, Japan. She bonded with a sixth “Yahbulon Shard” named Ryu. Ryu isn’t a shard of Yahbulon’s body, he instead forms his legendary armour. A mind-controlling Acuraṉ initially turns Chiyo and Ryu against humanity until the Guardians free them.

The Guardians eventually manage to secure one of the portals and travel through it to see where the Acuraṉs are coming from. On the other side, they discover the planet known as Terra. A planet similar to Earth, except the wildlife is very different, and the entire ecosystem is slowly but irreversibly dying off. They encounter the Terrans, the human-like dominant species of Terra who’ve been sending the Acuraṉs to attack Earth. They create Acuraṉs by capturing wildlife and mutating it into monstrous forms using “Mutagen Cards.” Different Mutagen Cards bestow different abilities onto whatever creature that they mutate. Later on, the Terrans develop a special “Fusion Mutagen Card” that allows Terrans to fuse with Acuraṉs to make them stronger and more intelligent. But the fusion is physically and mentally debilitating to them. All Terrans are one race, with one religion, and one culture, having wiped out all other cultures in a genocidal war over Terra’s rapidly depleting resources.

The Terrans reveal that Yahbulon was originally from Terra, and that his presence brought prosperity to it. Terran technology advanced to allow instantaneous travel to other planets. Through this, they discovered prehistoric Earth. The Terrans helped humanity advance socially and technologically, eventually organizing them into one united civilization. However, humanity betrayed the Terrans and stole Yahbulon’s Guardian Bands by killing his original Guardian (as that is the only way to steal the power of a chosen Guardian of Yahbulon). In the ensuing battle between humanity and the Terrans, Yahbulon was split into shards and spread across the Earth, and the Terrans’ interstellar travel technology was destroyed. Despite being broken to pieces, Yahbulon’s presence on Earth allowed humanity to prosper, while Terra’s ecosystem gradually deteriorated along with Terran society. In desperation, the surviving Terrans used what remained of their technology to create and send Acuraṉs to Earth. To reclaim Yahbulon, harvest Earth’s resources, and destroy humanity in revenge. The Guardians don’t know how to solve this issue, but remain dedicated to protecting the innocent.

Series Format

An animated series aimed at the 9-12 age bracket. The animation style will be inspired by popular anime, particularly early Studio Gainax. Each episode will be approximately 22 minutes long, with 1.5 minutes for the opening theme, and 1 minute for the ending theme. In addition to episodes that advance the main overarching story, there will be several stand-alone “monster of the week” style episodes that advance the characters.

The Guardians

Maria Crowchild / Age: 15 / Sex: Female / Ethnicity: half-Tsuu T’ina, half-Mexican / Nationality: Canada / Religion: Bahá’í Faith / Superpower: She can fire powerful blasts of concussive energy from her hands

Backstory: Her mother was the daughter of a Mexican couple who illegally immigrated to the United States, but later immigrated to Canada to escape discrimination. Her father was born and raised in the Tsuu T’ina Nation reserve just outside Calgary. When Maria was 9 years old, her parents were murdered by a white supremacist. Whilst growing up in a Calgary orphanage, she met some young Bahá’ís who were volunteering there, and she was inspired to join their religion.

Traits: She’s continuously encourages people to get along with each other, particularly her fellow Guardians. She mainly does this by joking around in a happy-go-lucky manner. Her favourite sport is roller-skating, and she’s a big fan of Anime and Manga. She has several anime theme songs on her iPhone, which she often sings along with. Underneath her cheerfully energetic exterior, she secretly desires vengeance on her parents’ killer, despite her generally believing that revenge is pointless and wrong.

Arc: Often has to serve as the mediator that resolves conflicts between the team members, which gradually takes its toll on her own emotional well being. But as she gets better at settling differences among the team, the more she comes into her own as the Guardians’ leader. She eventually tracks down and confronts her parents’ killer, only to discover that he’s reformed and now volunteers at the reserve that her father grew up in. This initially leaves her feeling empty, as her intellectual aversion to vengeance has been validated, but her emotional need for revenge against him still remains.

Yahbulon Shard: Zmey, the red dragon. Zmey is very childlike, and in no hurry to rectify it. Ultimately, his simplistic outlook helps Maria cope with the challenge of keeping the team together. But he also learns from Maria that one can still have an emotional desire to commit something that they intellectually know to be wrong.

Ahmed Nuhu / Age: 15 / Sex: Male / Ethnicity: Hausa / Nationality: Niger / Religion: Sunni Islam / Superpower: Accelerated healing, and can rapidly heal anything he touches

Backstory: His father was killed during the February 2010 coup d’état, and his mother died during a subsequent famine. Ahmed has spent the last few years working on various farms just to survive. He frequently volunteers at the Zinder Great Mosque.

Traits: He openly states that he “doesn’t like bullies,” so he often confronts people who abuse their former slaves, or steal foreign aid. He is unafraid of pain and refuses to back down from a fight no matter what. However, he has a mild martyr complex, so he never wants to get others involved in his battles. Carries a customized radio everywhere, which he’s constantly tuning to news channels. He dreams of hosting a radio show.

Arc: His initial arc is learning to accept help from others. After the Terrans reveal their motives, he empathizes with them and doubts that he’s on the “right side.” Even briefly considers giving up his own life to relinquish his Guardianship. But he eventually understands that he still has a duty to protect the innocent, and the other Guardians help him to understand the value of his own life.

Yahbulon Shard: Gaja, the green elephant. Has a wise and gentle demeanour. Is always encouraging Ahmed to accept help from the other Guardians. But she learns that sometimes even the best-intended help could inadvertently bring harm to others.

Saba Ebadi / Age: 15 / Sex: Female / Ethnicity: Persian / Nationality: Iran / Religion: Zoroastrianism / Superpower: Superhuman strength, stamina, and nigh-invulnerability

Backstory: When Saba was 5 years old, her father died from pollution-induced pulmonary illness. One year ago, her mother was arrested and executed for opposing police officers that were vandalizing a Bahá’í cemetery. She’s since been living on her own while avoiding contact with the Iranian authorities.

Traits: Saba tries to avoid conflict and confrontation. She always submits to authority out of fear of potential reprisal. Is very soft-spoken and slow to action. She dreams of writing and performing pop music. Has a severe fear of heights.

Arc: Grows more assertive and proactive. Gradually overcomes her phobia of heights. Also comes to greatly value the need to confront unjust authority.

Yahbulon Shard: Ganymede, the white eagle. In contrast to Saba, Ganymede is very assertive and confrontational. Ganymede repeatedly encourages Saba to confront and question all authority, claiming that it’s in honour of Saba’s mother. But she eventually learns that truly just authority can exist, and must be protected from corruption.

Bhagu Thakur / Age: 15 / Sex: Male / Caste: Dalit / Nationality: India / Religion: Vaishnava Hinduism / Superpower: Can morph and shape his body like clay

Backstory: Grew up in the slums of Mumbai. Both his parents were fined for entering a Vaishnavite temple, and were later murdered because of their caste.

Traits: Claims that his family name is Mishra, a Brahmin name, so he can practise his religion and pursue his dream of becoming a Bollywood star. To maintain this lie, he demonstrates unwaveringly controlled, albeit flamboyant, behaviour, speech, and manners. Consequently, he’s become rather mentally inflexible. Subconsciously, he feels that he doesn’t deserve any kind of respect because of his caste.

Arc: Gradually drops his artificial demeanour, and learns to be more flexible in his thinking. He also fully embraces the idea that his caste shouldn’t determine his fate, and thus decides to stop focusing on just his own gain and to start aiding the social advancement of all Dalits.

Yahbulon Shard: Waghia, the blue tiger. Waghia projects a proud and noble demeanour, and behaves like a chivalrous knight from Arthurian lore. Encourages Bhagu to be more considerate of others. Also learns to be more flexible in his thinking alongside Bhagu.

Edvard Duun / Age: 15 / Sex: Male / Ethnicity: Norwegian / Nationality: Norway / Religion: Lutheran Christianity / Superpower: Telepathy

Backstory: After he was diagnosed with autism, his parents put him through chelation therapy in an attempt to “cure” him. When this failed to do so, they gave him up to a foster home run by the Church of Norway.

Traits: A high-functioning autistic and an avid reader of classical literature. Edvard writes several short stories in pursuit of his dream of becoming a published novelist. But he’s always too nervous to show his work to anybody. Is generally very nervous and neurotic. Is constantly torn between his desire to connect with others and his desire to be left alone.

Arc: Edvard’s telepathy gradually helps him to better understand other people. He eventually works up the courage to show his short stories to the other Guardians. As he grows closer to the team, he increasingly enjoys socialising with others. Edvard eventually manages to track down his parents and confront them over his abandonment. Though his parents prove unrepentant, he finds it in himself to forgive them.

Yahbulon Shard: Rechin, the yellow shark. Rechin rarely speaks, but when she does, she gets right to the point. She’s always there to comfort Edvard when he gets nervous. Keeps pushing Edvard to socialise with the others, but later realizes that she’s being to hard on him and that she should let him connect with the others at his own pace.

Chiyo Tsukuma / Age: 15 / Sex: Female / Ethnicity: Yamato / Nationality: Japan / Religion: Pure Land Buddhism / Superpower: Force-field projection

Backstory: Chiyo’s family moved to Calgary for a few months, during which she befriended Maria, and subsequently helped her through her parents’ death. After moving back to Tokyo, her parents became so wrapped up in their work that she rarely saw them, until they were killed in the initial Acuraṉ attacks.

Traits: Eager to mend fences with the Guardians after fighting against them, Chiyo seeks to learn all she could about them, often coming off as overly curious and intrusive. But it’s mainly an act to hide her grief over her parents’ recent death, and her guilt over letting the Acuraṉs manipulate her. She feels she’s partially to blame for it because it was playing on her pre-existing anger and hatred. She’s a fan of American superhero comics.

Arc: As she becomes more comfortable around the others, she gradually opens up more to them and discusses her feelings. The other Guardians in turn help her overcome her feelings of grief. Much of the public continues to hate her because of her time under Acuraṉ control, and she initially doesn’t try to defend herself. But Maria’s unwavering defense helps Chiyo gradually let go of her guilt.

Yahbulon Shard: Ryu, the black dragon. Ryu keeps to himself and rarely speaks to anyone besides Chiyo. Thus, Chiyo initially only confides with Ryu in discussing her buried feelings. As Chiyo opens up more to the other Guardians, she grows more distant from Ryu. It gets to the point where they can no longer form their Ultimate Shard. But eventually, Ryu also learns to open up to the others, and he and Chiyo grow even closer. He initially feels personally dishonoured for falling under the Acuraṉ’s control.

Allies

Dr. Mili Vidor / Age: 38 / Sex: Female / Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jew / Nationality: Israel / Religion: Secular Judaism

Backstory: A prodigy in her field since she was a teenager, Dr. Vidor became Israel’s leading expert on archaeology, and has amassed an immense fortune from her discoveries and published studies. Her husband Abdullah was a Palestinian refugee who resided in the Gaza strip. Her marriage to him helped him reclaim his home in Jerusalem, but a Zionist extremist subsequently killed Abdullah. This motivated Dr. Vidor to devote her fortune and influence to finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Traits: Career archaeologist who serves as the Guardian’s mentor figure. Is very strict with them, particularly over their frequent inability to form Yahbulon. Donates her fortune to aid refugees displaced by the Acuraṉ attacks. Tries to maintain an air of absolute professionalism at all times.

Arc: After she guilt-trips the Guardians over Isaac’s death, they manage to form Yahbulon for the first time. She and Chiyo bond over their mutual grief from losing family members to the Acuraṉs. Gradually sees the Guardians less like students and more like a surrogate family. Falls in love with Solomon, with whom she bears a half-human half-Terran child, whom she hopes will represent peace between Earth and Terra.

Isaac Vidor / Age: 9 / Sex: Male / Ethnicity: half-Ashkenazi Jew, half-Arabic / Nationality: Israel / Religion: Secular Judaism

Backstory: Dr. Vidor’s son from her marriage to Abdullah.

Traits: A cheerful, fun-loving kid who idolizes the Guardians as his heroes, and is really excited to see them form Yahbulon. But he becomes impatient and frustrated over their continued inability to do so. Forms a strong friendship with Maria.

Arc: Dies during an Acuraṉ attack. Dr. Vidor uses his death to guilt-trip the Guardians into finally uniting and forming Yahbulon, just as Isaac always wanted them to.

Dr. Ahlem Karman / Age: 38 / Sex: Female / Ethnicity: Arab / Nationality: Palestine / Religion: Ahmadiyya Islam

Backstory: Studied engineering and computer science at the Jerusalem College of Technology. She was a passionate activist for Palestinian independence for most of her life. After saving Mili Vidor from a Hamas gunman, the two became best friends.

Traits: Provides technical support for Dr. Vidor and the Guardians. Managed to reverse engineer the Acuraṉs’ portals so the Guardians can instantly teleport anywhere on Earth. Projects a more quirky and playful demeanour in contrast to Dr. Vidor.

Muhammad Lee / Age: 19 / Sex: Male / Ethnicity: half-Han Chinese, half-Arab / Nationality: Canada / Religion: Bahá’í Faith

Backstory: The son of a women whose parents immigrated from Saudi Arabia, and a man whose parents immigrated from China. When he was 15, he was in a car crash that killed his parents and left him wheelchair-bound. He subsequently converted to the Bahá’í Faith and became a dedicated social activist. He met Maria Crowchild whilst he was volunteering at the orphanage where she grew up, and introduced her to the Bahá’í Faith.

Traits: Continues to be socially active after the Acuran attacks and serves as Maria’s moral compass and closest confidant. Maria has secretly held romantic feelings towards him for quite some time, but he thinks of her like a younger sister to him.

Solomon / Sex: Male / Species: Terran

Arc: First introduced as Sarkon’s faithful friend and second-in-command of the Terran military. He’s injured in a fight with the Guardians, but at Maria’s insistence, they take him in and nurse him back to health. This gradually convinces him to seek peace between Earth and Terra. Falls in love with Dr. Vidor and impregnates her with a half-human half-Terran child who they say represents hope for peace between Earth and Terra.

Enemies

General David Griffin / Age: 42 / Sex: Male / Ethnicity: Caucasian / Nationality: USA / Religion: Evangelical Christian

Backstory: Was the sole survivor of an Acuraṉ attack on his military base. Was rapidly promoted from lieutenant to general as a result.

Traits: Has vowed to destroy the Acuraṉs and the Terrans by any means necessary. Increasingly resents the Guardians for their greater effectiveness against Acuraṉs, mainly because of their youth and civilian status. Also feels that the Guardians should be held accountable for every bit of damage they end up causing, particularly Chiyo for the time when she was under the Acuraṉs’ control. Underneath it all, he carries a subconscious hatred towards the Guardians for their ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity. Despite that, he’s willing to die to defend the lives of his fellow soldiers, including the Guardians.

Arc: Very slowly grows to accept the Guardians, and eventually starts working alongside them as a respected ally.

Sarkon / Sex: Male / Species: Terran

Backstory: Was raised to view the human race as an evil that must be exterminated.

Traits: Leader of the Terran military and de-facto leader of what remains of Terran society. Refuses to compromise with humans, as he feels that our entire species must be punished for the theft of Yahbulon. Also believes the current Terran culture to be superior to all of humanity’s many diverse cultures; because the surviving Terrans managed to destroy all of the other cultures and races on the planet Terra.

Arc: His irrational hatred of all humans and his blind rejection of all differing cultures are what ultimately prove to be his undoing.

Richard Bannon / Age: 15 / Sex: Male / Ethnicity: Caucasian / Nationality: Canada / Religion: None/Atheist / Superpower: Can mimic the superpowers of all the Guardians.

Backstory: Abandoned as a baby, he was raised in the same orphanage that Maria Crowchild was eventually put into. Since first meeting Maria, he’s had a crush on her.

Traits: Because he’s never really formed a personal loving connection with other people, he doesn’t really recognize the humanity in others. He grows to resent and hate Maria for not returning his feelings for her. After accidentally falling through a portal to Terra, he unintentionally bonds with Nolubhay, becoming it’s guardian. This grants him the power to mimic the abilities of the other Guardians, and he eventually obtains the powers of all six of them at once. He returns to Earth traumatized and mad with power.

Arc: After fighting with the Guardians several times, Dr. Karman implants a device in him that allows Dr. Vidor to remotely immobilize him with the push of a button if he steps out of line. This forces him to gradually get over his resentment and agree to work alongside the Guardians, however reluctantly.

Nolubhay

Traits: A celestial being on par with Yahbulon and the secret source of Terra’s ecological decline. Its presence brings death and decay to balance out the life and prosperity that Yahbulon’s presence brings.

The Order Cosmic

Traits: A race of powerful aliens who’ve taken it upon themselves to arrange the universe into a perfect eternal order that cancels out entropy and rejects all chaos. In pursuit of this, they created beings like Yahbulon and his opposing counterpart Nolubhay.

Episodes Outlines

Lord of the Guardians: Pilot episode. An Acuraṉ attacks New York City. Gen. Griffin attempts to fight it off with his platoon, but can’t quite handle it. Dr. Vidor and Dr. Karman send all six of the Guardians to fight it, much to Gen. Griffin’s chagrin. They are shown using their powers while the Shards fight in their advanced forms. In the end, they defeat the Acuraṉ by forming their Ultimate Shard Forms, and then Yahbulon.

Storm Over The Prairies: Maria’s introductory episode. An Acuraṉ with a seemingly impenetrable shell attacks Calgary. Maria finds and awakens Zmey under a tree in a park. They fight off the Acuraṉ, but a quarter of Calgary is destroyed.

Storm Over The Desert: Ahmed’s introductory episode. Several small Acuraṉs who can burrow through the Earth attack Zinder. Ahmed finds Gaja under the Zinder Grand Mosque. They manage to repel the Acuraṉs. Ahmed then uses his healing touch on everybody who was injured.

One Against The Storm: Saba’s introductory episode. An Acuraṉ that shoots powerful gusts of wind attacks Tehran. Saba finds Ganymede under the remains of the Bahá’í cemetery that her mother died to protect. Two districts of Tehran are destroyed before Ganymede convinces Saba to fight back. Saba and Ganymede flee from the authorities after defeating the Acuraṉ.

Many Against The Storm: Bhagu’s introductory episode. Mumbai is attacked right in the middle of a film shoot that Bhagu is serving as a production assistant on. Whilst fleeing, he stumbles into a cave where he finds Waghia. They very publically defeat an Acuraṉ that can move at supersonic speeds, turning them into local celebrities.

Alone Under The Storm: Edvard’s introductory episode. He finds Rechin in Oslo harbour just before a swarm of flying Acuraṉs attack Oslo. After defeating the Acuraṉs, Edvard is overwhelmed by his telepathy and insists that Rechin take him far away from the city.

Divided We Stand: Dr. Vidor tracks down all five of the Guardians. She fills them in on the legend of Yahbulon. Her son Isaac almost immediately starts idolizing them.

Once Upon a Time in Canada/Niger/Iran/India/Norway: Five episodes, with each one exploring one Guardian’s backstory and character. Each one ends with said Guardian and their shard merging to form their Ultimate Shard form.

Yahbulon Rising: A story told across four episodes. As Acuraṉ attacks increase in frequency, Dr. Vidor and Isaac repeatedly try to get the Guardians to form Yahbulon. But the team is unable to peacefully coalesce. Isaac is killed in an Acuraṉ attack, which finally convinces the Guardians to put aside their differences and form Yahbulon.

Picking up the Pieces: An episode focusing on the Guardians’ attempt to rebuild the cities destroyed by Acuraṉ attacks. They face opposition from those who blame them for some of the destruction, particularly from Gen. Griffin.

Descent of the Black Dragon: A story told across four episodes. Chiyo and Ryu are introduced, and are turned against the Guardians by a mind-controlling Acuraṉ. Chiyo’s backstory and character is also explored. The Acuraṉ controls them by misdirecting Chiyo’s grief and anger over her parents’ deaths towards the rest of humanity. She and Ryu are ultimately freed from the Acuraṉ’s control and join up with the Guardians.

Unforgivable: Chiyo attempts to make amends for all the destruction she caused while she was under the Acuraṉs’ sway. But she soon discovers that there’re many who are incapable of forgiving her.

One-Boy Army: A story told across two episodes. Maria’s old acquaintance Richard Bannon returns after being missing for some time. Turns out he accidentally traveled to Terra, where the Acurans are coming from, traumatizing him. He’s now returned with the ability to copy the superpowers of each of the Guardians, eventually acquiring all six of them at once and attacking the Guardians.

Brave New Frontier: A story told across four episodes, the first part focusing on the Guardians gaining control of a portal. After traveling through the portal to Terra, they get separated into three groups of two. Each of the three following episodes focuses on the adventures of one coupling of Guardians. First Ahmed and Edvard, then Saba and Bhagu, and finally Maria and Chiyo. Each episode ends with the Guardians being captured by the Terran military and taken to their base.

YAHBULON: LORD OF THE GUARDIANS