ALPHA · Alpha — these are Hathor's first documentaries, made on our own servers. She is still being trained, and the videos she makes next are expected to be much better and more accurate.

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Izanagi and Izanami: the Making of the Islands

From the celestial bridge to the purification of the gods, the mythic origins of Japan’s islands and deities are traced through ancient texts and archaeological interpretation.

Chapters

0:07 The Celestial Beginning
0:58 Creation of the Islands
1:32 Tragedy and Descent
2:20 Purification and Birth of the Sun

On-screen text

0:07 The Celestial Beginning
0:14 The Celestial Beginning
0:31 Floating Bridge of Heaven in Kojiki Tradition / scripture · Kojiki
0:49 Heavenly marriage pillar Tradition / scripture · Nihon Shoki
0:58 Creation of the Islands
1:14 Onogoro linked to Awaji Island The Institute's interpretation · Izumo Fudoki
1:32 Tragedy and Descent
1:46 Peach tree marks Yomi boundary (Kojiki) Tradition / scripture · Kojiki
2:13 Ōkane blocks Yomi entrance (Kojiki) Tradition / scripture · Kojiki
2:20 Purification and Birth of the Sun
2:27 Purification and Birth of the Sun
2:44 Izanagi's purification Tradition / scripture · Kojiki
3:02 Amaterasu born from eye Tradition / scripture · Kojiki
3:29 Susanoo from nose Tradition / scripture · Kojiki

Sources

Tradition / scripture: Kojiki · Nihon Shoki

The Institute's interpretation: Izumo Fudoki

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 55 s of CPU.

Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (22) — the next things to make

The Celestial Beginning: Introduce the mythic cosmology and the tools used to shape the world.
Close‑up of a glittering spear being lowered into brine, droplets sparkling as they fall.
Close‑up of a glittering spear being lowered into brine, droplets sparkling as they fall.
Creation of the Islands: Show how the first landforms and deities were born from the divine act.
Specks of water falling from the spear, each expanding into a miniature landmass surrounded by mist.
Radiant figures emerging from a glowing womb against a backdrop of newly formed islands.
Radiant figures emerging from a glowing womb against a backdrop of newly formed islands.
Izanami lies on a woven mat, flames licking her body as the newborn fire god Kagutsuchi bursts forth in glowing embers.
Izanagi walks alone along a desolate shoreline under a pale moon, clutching a wooden staff, his cloak billowing in cold wind.
A misty mountain path winds upward, torches flicker along stone steps, leading toward a yawning dark cave that hints at the underworld.
Izanagi steps into the gloom, his silhouette outlined by faint red light, as shadows of unseen spirits drift silently around him.
Inside Yomi, a vast hall of stone stretches, skeletal figures recline, dim lanterns cast wavering light on damp walls.
Izanami appears, pale and bound in ethereal chains, her hair singed, eyes distant, embodying sorrowful stillness.
Izanagi reaches out trembling, his hand hovering inches from her cheek, longing to bridge the chasm of death.
She recoils, a cold wind rushes, a veil of darkness spreads, signaling the irrevocable separation between them.
The peach tree glows brighter, its bark shimmering, the boundary line between worlds pulsing like a heartbeat.
Izanagi flees, the cavern trembles, rocks tumble, sparks of fire ignite his footsteps as he rushes outward.
He pauses at the mouth, glancing back as shadowy figures surge forward, claws scraping the stone.
With both hands, he lifts the massive boulder Ōkane, muscles straining, dust spiraling around the stone.
The boulder settles, a faint amber glow leaks, then darkness swallows the light, sealing Yomi forever.
Silvery glow spilling from an eye, a calm male deity materializing.
Silvery glow spilling from an eye, a calm male deity materializing.