In an extraordinary and strange hotel, Dr. Doglin conducts research into freak accidents. Enter, and meet and interact with a Felliniesque parade of hotel guests, locals, and the occasional zebra.
HOTEL is a ten-part interactive series, created by Dutch multimedia artist Han Hoogerbrugge, a pioneer of interactive web animation. Published on Submarine Channel between 2004 and 2006, HOTEL was a hugely successful experiment in non-linear storytelling. HOTEL defies categorisation, combining elements of web comics, games and animation.
The main character of the story, Dr. Doglin, owns a medical company –Preconstruction– that conducts research into freak accidents. Dr. Doglin has a doppelganger, Dr. Goldin – an ex-head surgeon who is haunted by personal trauma.
HOTEL starts with the introduction of Flip, the creator’s alter ego. Flip will be Dr. Doglin’s first volunteer in a series of tests. Each episode introduces a new character. Imp and Princess are also volunteers. And there’s the memorable Inspector McKay, who is sent to investigate the mysterious disappearances of several people in the hotel. As you explore the anonymous spaces of the hotel, you will find strange pills that trigger surprise performances by pop culture icons and celebrities such as Lady Di, Elvis, Spock and the Pope. The second storyline of HOTEL, which unfolds in the integrated web comic, revolves around Dr. Goldin’s surreal adventure at the 3rd Topolino Boys Meeting.
Hotel (Fun) Facts
- 5 chapters / 10 episodes / 50 scenes.
- 1,281,023 unique visitors to Hotel counting from April 26, 2004 till May 9, 2006.
- 358 reactions on the Easter egg in part 4 ‘Lift’ episode 1, scene 1(no correct answer yet….).
- The names of the volunteers Flip, Imp and Princess are taken from the main characters in Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland.
- Inspector McCay is named after Winsor McCay.
- Mr. Wolf is named after a character played by Harvey Keitel in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
- All characters are based on real people.
- Dr. Doglin’s name is a nickname used by Koen Huybrecht (who plays the doctor) on the Web long before Hotel existed.
- 10 secret pills in Hotel containing icon figures: Stan Laurel, Elvis, Lady Di, The Pope, Betty Boop, Lemmy, Mr. Spock, Lucifer, Mickey Mouse, and Frankenstein.
Credits
Texts and images: Han Hoogerbrugge
Produced by Submarine Channel
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