Banjo Kazooie Remastered and Re-Jiggyed

Banjo Kazooie Remastered and Re-Jiggyed is a series of cinematic trailers by Project Dream meant to bring to life the world of Gruntilda’s Lair and the Isle o’ Hags in a more modern 3D aesthetic. The difference between the two series is that Remastered is meant to just be a graphical improvement while Re-Jiggyed is a complete makeover of each level, while still maintaining the level intact.

Each trailer is a few minutes in length comprising shots from each of the game’s iconic levels. The earlier videos in the series have mostly static scenes but as the series progresses, they do tend to become more lively and animated.

The journey began with a simple yet ambitious goal: to see Banjo-Kazooie with updated graphics. Will from Project Dream, motivated by the lack of fan ‘remastered’ content, saw an opportunity to fill a gap. What began as a single video snowballed into a series of remastered levels, fueled by unexpected success. The response from viewers led to the creation of a mock ‘Banjo-Threeie’ trailer, garnering attention among fans of the series.

Behind the scenes, various contributors played crucial roles. Simon Bergeron, known as Dark-Grunt, provided cinematic scores, setting the tone for the remastered experience. Contributions from 3D modelers like Jamie Garcia and Brennan Jarvis contributed to the models in the scenes, adding a bit more depth to the project.

Crafting each scene involved a combination of architectural expertise and artistic finesse. Project Dream started off with the original BK levels as a skeleton and then enhanced them with software like Cinema 4D and Rhino3D to introduce custom geometry. High-resolution assets and a switch to Twinmotion brought a more dynamic visual style to the latest videos.

Guided by fan feedback and the experience of making the videos, the artistic direction of the project evolved as it progressed from an uncertain start to a refined, warm, and colorful aesthetic. Project Dream invested in stylized assets and textures over time to capture the charm and vibrancy that the series is known for.

Having tackled all Banjo-Kazooie levels and even some from Banjo-Tooie, the project has gained recognition from the original Rare team. Grant Kirkhope, the original composer for Banjo-Kazooie, has acknowledged and shared some videos on his social media, providing appreciation from the very creators who inspired this visual renaissance.

For the creator of Project Dream, the essence of Banjo-Kazooie lies in its beautiful and complex environments. The game’s ability to immerse players in a fantastical world resonates deeply. The sense of joy and happiness it brings, amid an industry often inclined towards darker themes, coupled with the thrill of adventure and discovery, marks his enduring love for this timeless classic.

Banjo Kazooie Remastered and Re-Jiggyed is not just a visual upgrade; it’s an homage to the enduring impact and timeless appeal of a game that has captured the hearts of players since the 90’s.