Have you ever looked at that ancient Ouija Board you just unearthed deep from the back of your favorite antique store and thought, “Gee, I wish this thing was a little more current?” The modern ghost clearly requires a modern Ouija, and that’s exactly what the Emouija Board hopes to be: A Ouija Board… with emoji on it! Gosh, why didn’t anyone think of this sooner? It’s just what we need to pep up the world of grade school sleepovers and Halloween parties! I don’t know about you, but I think the idea is hilarious. And no wonder — it’s the creation of a trio of professional funny people, Avery Monsen, Taylor Moore, and Ryan Williams. The best part? It might actually become a reality: Monsen, Moore, and Williams are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Emouija Board to life.
According to the Kickstarter page, the Emouija Board will be “an encyclopedic tour of the most useful emoji for modern spirit communication, all laid out on a beautifully designed 18 x 18 quad-fold board.” In addition to such classic emoji favorites as the woman in the red dress and the pile of poo, it will also feature a bunch of new emoji specially designed by Monsen. Remember that incredible Vine of 100 brand-new emoji like “A Box Which Must Never Be Opened” from about six months ago? That came from Monsen, so rest assured, he’s no stranger to emoji design. If you donate enough to the project, the trio will even work with you to create your very own bespoke emoji for inclusion on the board — which, by the way, will have a planchette shaped like a spectral hand. Because, well… it couldn’t very well not be one, right?
What kind of questions can a spirit answer with the aid of an Emouija Board? The Kickstarter video has some ideas! How about:
Spirit, Spirit, What Do You Miss Most in Life?
Haircuts. I feel you, Emouji Board spirit; I’m actually in dire need of one myself right now.
Spirit, Spirit, What Was Your Day Job in Life?
Our intrepid young mediums translate this answer as “Spanish Dancer.” I’d also suggest “Dancing With the Stars Contestant" and “Professional Lady in Red.”
Spirit, Spirit, What Happens When We Die?
Sorry, everyone. It looks like Nietzsche was right.
There are some who feel that Ouija Boards should never, ever be messed with. While I respect that opinion and would never operate a Oujia Board in the presence of someone who holds it, however, I am not one of them. As I once commented, I had a Oujia Board as a kid; but, since not once did anything even remotely supernatural happen with it, I remain a skeptic as to whether or not they actually work. Also I find it difficult to believe that a few pieces of cardboard and plastic manufactured by a toy company are inherently evil, no matter what the movie says. But hey, if I get my own Emouija Board and suddenly vanish, never to be heard of again, I grant you full rights to say, “I told you so.
Although this particular project is geared towards creating a physical Emouija Board, let’s face it: If it reaches its goal this time round, the arrival of a smartphone and/or tablet app in the future is inevitable. In the meantime, though, head on over to the Emouija Board Kickstarter page to find out more and donate, and watch the full promo video below:
Images: Scott Beale/Flickr; Emouija Board/Kickstarter (3)
