Kid Cosmo

Kid Cosmo blends a lifelike portrayal of characters with a “game within a game” played on the PX-1—a fictional handheld gaming device.

Our sound design played a key role in shaping these worlds—building rich, tactile environments that feel cinematic and immersive while ensuring seamless transitions between reality and the subgame.

The PX-1’s music was designed as if it belonged to a fictional handheld console from an alternate 1985—built on classic 8-bit timbres but elevated with modern techniques. Inspired by late ‘80s and early ‘90s gaming, the soundtrack combines nostalgia with innovation. Each biome has a distinct yet cohesive score, dynamically evolving to keep the experience immersive and engaging from start to finish.

When Chris and Michelle put down the PX-1, the user gets a peak in to their childhood in 1985 Kansas. Because a majority of the narrative story takes place in these vignettes, Antfood carefully crafted small sonic details to make the world feel lived in and authentic. We pulled incredibly specific sounds from our multiple libraries to tastefully curate the sounds of each vignette. We paid careful attention to the time of year (warm wind vs. cold wind) and the timing with which cars would go by or birds would chirp to ensure the real world felt indeed, real.

Each biome in the game, such as a desert, swamp, robot factory, and an ice mine, features a distinctive soundtrack that reflects the unique characteristics of its environment but all share a cohesive aesthetic and timbre, ensuring a seamless auditory experience that captures the essence of an alternate 1985.

The music is modularly constructed, allowing for endless variations that keep the soundtrack fresh and evolving throughout the player’s journey. This ensures that the audio remains immersive and engaging, offering a non-repetitive experience that prevents fatigue and enhances the overall gameplay.

The Netflix Original film, The Electric State, features the A-List stars Chris Pratt and Millie Bobbie Brown. Because Millie is such a recognizable and beloved talent, Antfood found and cast the perfect younger voice for the different versions of Michelle throughout the game.

Playing Kid Cosmo brings Chris and Michelle together throughout their childhood. The game features a reactive dialogue element, meaning as the user plays through the game, they can hear the siblings comment and exclaim at important moments. With the reactive dialogue in mind, we recorded each line to have the most emotion possible to draw users into the narrative.