The story for Jahela! has gone through numerous iiterations during the development phase. However, most of it is based on the initial idea that was generated during the thesis pitch:
Jahela! is set in an unknown fictional African nation. We begin with a single long steady-cam shot that starts on the prince’s feet as he runs. The camera pulls out behind the young man to see the gorgeous hand-drawn vista that is littered with ruins and grass. As the camera continues around the prince to his face, we discover that he is actually being chased. Revealed behind him is a burning palace and cloaked individual in hot pursuit which ends the opening shot.
The chase continues over the few scattered ruins throughout the outskirts of the nation. As we look upward to watch the prince jump a large crevice, something attached to him creates a brief glint of light. Upon closer inspection, it’s a satchel containing the precious item that has been stolen. Light from inside begins to emanate and wash over him until the prince addresses the satchel and it calms back down.
As the prince and his pursuer reach the edge of the mountain plateau, they both dive off of the edge. The prince goes feet first while the caption follows him head first. An extremely wide master shot captures the two of them scaling down the plateau which leads into a great forest filled with trees the size of giant redwoods.
The young lord runs through the forest floor, jumping over and under the tree roots and underbrush while the captain trails him unseen from above, leaping from branch to branch. As a large clearing emerges ahead of them, the captain seizes the opportunity to make up the distance and outflank him.
Upon the prince entering the clearing, the captain jumps from the trees over top of the him and blocking his path. As the prince backs up, the captain begins to attack. The prince tries to defend himself with only dodges and blocks, but the captain takes advantage and tries to recapture the satchel while the prince’s hands are preoccupied. Realizing this, the prince jumps away just in time and the captain removes his cloak to take the fight more seriously.
Engaged again, the captain gives the prince a much harder time and he’s unable to block fast enough as blows are starting to land on him. Knocked to the ground, the prince realizes he had no choice to but to fight back for real. As he attacks the captain, he keeps getting knocked down, but each time comes back stronger and more dangerous. For a brief moment, the prince begins to dominate the fight and the caption is forced to used the concealed blade that was his last resort.
Seriously injured and with blurry vision, the prince begins to fade. The captain slowly but sadly walks over to the fallen man to complete his mission. Suddenly, a light from the satchel overtakes the young man and sends the captain flying back. The prince gets to his feet with the light holding his wound closed. He attacks the captain one last time, the two going all out with no holds or blades barred. In the end, the prince gains the last advantage and knocks out his former teacher with an incredible blow to the chest. He walks over to say goodbye to his unconscious mentor before exiting the forest clearing. As the sun sets, the prince leaps from treetop to treetop, onto a new horizon and future.
JAHELA! 