Aladdin 3477
A cyberpunk trilogy set in 3477 Asia.
Aladdin 3477 is a media franchise built around a trilogy of live-action sci-fi adventure films. Matt Busch wrote and directed them, and Buffalo 8 (a Bondit company) handled distribution. The story takes loose inspiration from the "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" tale in *One Thousand and One Nights*. The cast includes Erik Steele, Christi Perovski, Aaron Golematis, Lin Zy, Jon Rick, and Jerry Hayes.
The setting is a cyberpunk version of Asia in the year 3477. That year is an inside joke: it references Busch’s honorary Star Wars TK number in the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, and if you turn each digit sideways, it spells "Matt" in leet speak. The plot follows a Hong Kong orphan and con artist named Aladdin, who dreams of joining the elite. He pulls off heists with his hovering robot FIDGI and a sidekick. After sneaking into a luxury spa, he becomes obsessed with Princess Kamala Shivali, a royal celebrity from India. Back in India, Kamala is trapped in her palace by the Grand Vizier Lochan Shyamal, who plots to use nanotechnology to overthrow the Sultan. Aladdin later gets drawn into a mission to retrieve a legendary lamp in Cambodia, reluctantly teamed with a fearless young vagabond named Oomi. They meet a mysterious sage claiming to be the Jinn of Wisdom, but Aladdin doesn’t believe him or his promise of a wish. The mismatched pair then travels through Thailand’s neon landscapes, where Aladdin confronts his past. He must choose between chasing power and prestige or sticking with Oomi, whose loyalty may be the real treasure.
Busch, who grew up during the Lucas/Spielberg blockbuster era, took cues from *Star Wars* when creating the franchise. He says the trilogy is darker in tone, similar to *Lord of the Rings*, and blends Eastern culture, Hindu mythology, and Asian design. This Aladdin shares traits with Jack Burton from *Big Trouble in Little China* and Han Solo. Instead of a genie, the story uses a jinn (the term common in Asia). It avoids Disney-owned characters like Iago and Abu, introducing new ones like Oomi, Brej, and the robot FIDGI.
Busch started developing the world in the early 1990s while studying entertainment design and film at Macomb Community College. The project began as an illustrated graphic novel called *Kastar Shandax*. He also designed the first version of the Skysail for a student project at the ArtCenter College of Design. Professional
- field
- Film franchise (science fiction adventure)
- creator
- Matt Busch
- distributor
- Buffalo 8 (a Bondit company)
- based_on
- Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from One Thousand and One Nights
- starring
- Erik Steele, Christi Perovski, Aaron Golematis, Lin Zy, Jon Rick, Jerry Hayes
- budget
- US$600,000 (approximately US$200,000 per film)
Lore & Background
The story follows an orphaned con artist named Aladdin in futuristic Hong Kong, who dreams of living among the elite. With his hovering robot FIDGI and a sidekick, he pulls off heists until he glimpses Princess Kamala Shivali, India's royal celebrity. Meanwhile, the princess is a prisoner under Grand Vizier Lochan Shyamal, who plots to overthrow the Sultan using nanotechnology. Aladdin is later drawn into a mission to recover a legendary lamp in Cambodia, paired with Oomi, a young vagabond. They encounter a sage claiming to be the Jinn of Wisdom, but Aladdin is skeptical. The journey forces him to choose between power and loyalty.
Reader's Guide
Aladdin 3477 is significant as an independent, self-financed trilogy that took five years to film and four years of post-production for the first film. Matt Busch, inspired by Lucas and Spielberg, created a darker, Eastern-infused take on the classic tale, avoiding Disney-owned characters and introducing new ones like Oomi and FIDGI. The franchise gained attention through a successful Kickstarter campaign that funded in eight hours and raised over six times its goal. Its use of practical effects, kitbashing for props, and a cast of unknowns highlights a grassroots approach to filmmaking. The trilogy's legacy lies in its demonstration of how a creator can leverage personal savings, credit cards, and fan support to produce a multi-film epic outside the studio system.
Did You Know?
- The year 3477 is an inside reference to Matt Busch's Star Wars TK number and leet for 'Matt' when numbers are turned sideways.
- FIDGI's head is a modern-day 90's style portable radio/CD player, built from junk by Aladdin.
- The Taj Mahal Throne Room was the largest freestanding indoor set built at the Kaleidoscope Koi Soundstage, taking 11 months to complete.
- The films' desert scenes were filmed at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Mears, Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aladdin 3477?
Aladdin 3477 is a three-film live-action sci-fi adventure franchise that reimagines the classic "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" tale from One Thousand and One Nights in a futuristic setting. The trilogy was written and directed by Matt Busch and distributed by Buffalo 8, a subsidiary of Bondit.
Why is the year 3477 in Aladdin 3477?
The year 3477 is an inside joke referencing Matt Busch's honorary Star Wars TK number in the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. It is baked into both the title and the cyberpunk-Asia setting of the entire trilogy.
Who directed Aladdin 3477?
Matt Busch both wrote and directed all three films in the Aladdin 3477 trilogy. Distribution was handled by Buffalo 8, which operates under the Bondit company umbrella.
What is the setting of Aladdin 3477?
The trilogy takes place in a cyberpunk reimagining of Asia during the year 3477. This futuristic backdrop is where the loose adaptation of the Aladdin lamp story unfolds across the three films.
Who is in the cast of Aladdin 3477?
The main cast includes Erik Steele, Christi Perovski, Aaron Golematis, Lin Zy, Jon Rick, and Jerry Hayes. The entire trilogy was produced on a modest budget of roughly $600,000, or about $200,000 per film.
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