Kalanoro Turns a Malagasy Shared Bus Into a Band's Tour Bus

A shared bus becomes a band's home on the road in Kalanoro. In a new interview with Game*Spark, Madagascar-based Red Raketa Studio explained why that vehicle and many other details in its action adventure feel familiar to people from the island.

The game's fantasy world draws on Malagasy folklore, landscapes and music. The studio's account, published November 4, connects those influences to specific choices in the character and world design.

A familiar ride, reimagined

The taxi-brousse, a shared bus used in Madagascar, becomes the band's tour bus. New Tales describes the vehicle as a travelling base where players spend time with the lemur musicians they rescue.

Red Raketa told Game*Spark that the fictional island of Lemuria also takes cues from Malagasy landscapes and plants, including baobabs. The team cited regional architecture, traditional clothing and colourful lambahoany textiles among its visual references.

Food belongs in that world too: the studio says players can prepare dishes and sweets including ravitoto, koba and menakely for their companions.

Read the Red Raketa Studio interview at Game*Spark

A folklore figure with a new personality

The game's name comes from a mysterious, often small and hairy being in Malagasy folklore. Red Raketa said co-founder and narrative designer Dina's fascination with the stories helped make the creature a starting point for the project.

The team gave its protagonist a distinct personality rather than aiming for a literal adaptation. The result is an adventure where a folklore-inspired hero recruits a band while confronting the witch who rules Lemuria.

Founded in 2021, Red Raketa told Game*Spark that Kalanoro grew from three people to eight core members, with around ten additional Malagasy freelance creators contributing across disciplines including animation, concept art, sound and music. SEGA says the game was released on September 24, 2026.

See SEGA's launch announcement