Life and Death Beneath an Alien Super-Organism I The Isla Project: Episode 6
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- In this episode of the Isla project, we travel to Isla's spore forests - unique ecosystems formed beneath the growth of Isla's largest organisms
All art was made by, and belongs to me unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Huge thanks to the awesome artists who created works for this episode:
Mathijs Megens: IG @Foldwave ( / foldwave )
Thanks for watching :)
![เปิดใจ พี่ญา คนรุม หลังทัวร์ลง หนักสุดในชีวิต!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2-OJZRtclro/mqdefault.jpg)
This actually isn't as different from a normal forest--or jungle even moreso--than one might think. Even different species of trees can link using fungus connected to their roots (mycorrhizal networks) and share resources amongst each other. For instance, birch and fir trees will share resources the other species needs during the other's weaker seasons of production, both as a whole and individually. Yes, there is competition, but also the older trees provide resources to the younger ones, and old matriarch tree stumps can be kept alive for hundreds of years by their descendants long after they've lost their canopy. Mother trees are also very important for the regeneration of forests that have been harvested or struck by disaster. The canopy itself also forms very notable layering in the habitat. Also comparative is things like aspen trees, some of which are singular superorganisms that spread across kilometers, but appear as complete individuals.
All of that is to say, while this is still different than anything found on earth and INCREDIBLY unique, it's also got a lot of similarities to some of the more surprisingly unique interactions in real life--which makes it even more impressive.
Well put. Personally I’m of the belief that we have a lot more to discover scientifically about the interconnectedness of forests here on earth, and this fictional version is a riff on many of the things we do know. The spore forests are very inspired by the aspen trees you mentioned, as well as the ideas of works like The Overstory and Nausicaa, which have heavy themes of interconnectedness. Thanks for your comment!
@@Oliver_but_digital And thank you for the soul you put into your art! Stuff like this helps inspire and get people interested in real nature as much as speculative nature! Great work as usual. :)
@@Oliver_but_digital The biotic snow immediately made me think of Nausicaa! Such a cool representation of an alien forest, haha. Amazing job with the episode, it's actually timed absolutely incredibly for me! I'm a gamedev artist about to start work on a forest inspired level and the planet our game takes place on is tidally locked so I've been keeping up with the series for inspiration. Our game is very very loose, not trying to be proper sci-fi or narrative driven, but I want it to feel like a collection of rich places on a planet so yeah, your work is very inspiring.
@@Oliver_but_digitalI knew I recognized some Nausicaä inspiration in this!
Who knows what crazy stuff we could find out in space
Legitimately the most detailed, well thought out, and original/innovative spec-ev project out there.
Some footnotes as always:
A huge thank you to my fav sound engineer Gabe Ballotta for mastering the audio for this episode! If you think this video sounds more professional than past installments, it is thanks to them - be sure to show them some love!
Next, as mentioned briefly in the video the next upload on this channel is going to feature a QnA (as well a lot of other updates), so leave any questions you may have somewhere in these comments!
Last but not least I want to thank all of the people who have supported this project thus far! You all are wonderful, and I'm really excited to show you everything I have planned. While I'm not able to reply to all of your comments, I see most of them. I appreciate your feedback, and it is constantly helping me to improve my craft and grow as an artist. I see this show as a step toward fulfilling my personal and professional creative aspirations, and I’ve never felt more driven to prove myself as an artist, writer, and designer
peace.
What would you say, out of all the animals in Isla; which is your favorite?
For the QnA:
1)
How much time does it Take you for the drawings/Scripts/concepts?
2)
Since wegen did you Work in the Project?
3)
What are your Inspirations for the creatures or how do you come Up with them.
4)
What is your thought process when you create a creature/biom or the script?
5)
And finally are the jaws of the creatures in the Thumbnail inspired by a sun spider?
Hope that this ar Not to many questions
Oh yeah and could you give us an Overview of the Major Kingdoms/Groups of Life Forms and how there related to each other?
for the Q and A
what´s Your Favorite creature fomr The Isla Project?
What keeps you motivated and inspired to keep creating this stuff. I’ve tried to make my own project and have drawn and written a tone, but recently I’ve been stuck not creating anything. Any tips?
Questions for QnA:
1. Will there be an episode describing in detail major clades of animals inhabiting Isla? That would make the fauna much more understandable, as well as this would be an opportunity to share very interesting information about Isla's natural history, obscure traits of creatures and be an insight into how a single body plan can be adapted to almost any niche.
2. Speaking of natural history, had any massive extinction events occured in that time? How many and what they brought?
3. What do you think will happen to the entire biosphere should the planet be "released" from its tidal lock?
Thank you very much for these videos. Very surreal and inspiring.
i just want to point out that it would be nearly impossible to un-tidally lock a planet, because that would require significant changes to either the planets orbit or its rotation, both of which would be pretty much out of the question
if you ever decide to compile the Isla project into a book - I will buy within a heartbeat
or better yet a tv show like star trek meets nature documentary
@@clown134 that'd be cool but I'd like a book. something i can hold and have.
WE MAKIN IT TO THE AMOEBIC SEA WITH THIS ONE 🔊🔊🔊🔥🔥🔥🔥
Wayne Barlowe's Expedition is waiting.
*Sea Strider Time!*
Bro I was like “amoebic sea? The one from Darwin IV?” Turns out yeAh
To get eaten by an emperor sea strider
*Pando Reference*
Bro this project is so sick the atmosphere is so thick
Its so easy to picture you carefully wandering around inside these dark canopies with all manner of little instruments and tools, taking notes and tiny samples, sneaking around with night vision goggles and counting specimens and collecting data before recording another entry into your voice memo field reports
I live for the Isla Project, absolutely love this series!
Your artwork is fantastic as always. The visuals of this series are among the best in all of spec evo IMO.
That’s good to hear
@@Oliver_but_digitalwhat other alien worlds are you planning to create and explore in the near future?
BABE WAKE UP NEW ISLA PROJECT
I thought the same thing when I went into my subscriptions only to see this
QnA submission: What does the creative process for this project tend to look like? Did you start with luca and try to move things on from there to ensure all the organisms appear related? Do you think 'Hmm, this would be cool' and keep things consistent with a list of shared traits? I've never really done a spec evo project myself so I'm very curious how yours came to be, especially since it's my favorite of the ones I've seen
Lets goo, one of the best spec evo projects on this platform is back! So well thought out ecosystems and morphology! Love to see it. :)
QnA questions
1 : favorite spec projects of other people youve read/watched.
2 : have you seen Kandy Egg's Exobiology series here on youtube?
3 : recommendations for how to learn about biology?
Please don't stop making these dude watching these makes my day better
For the QnA: Could you go into some detail about your artistic process? How did you learn to illustrate so well? What programs do you use (for both illustration and and animation). What’s your preferred method of finding people to collaborate with (like the amazing sound engineer of this episode)? And finally, do you have any tips for others starting out when it comes to spec evo art?
Honestly I would be very interested on an episode on the “behind the scenes” of making this if that’s ever something you feel like making. Overall, the quality of this project is beyond professional and I look forward to seeing more.
Questions
1. What would happen if the matriarch would die? How fast would the rest of the colony collapse?
2. Will we ever get a video of the different families of fauna?
3. What’s your favorite species you’ve created so far?
I love your videos and you are a huge inspiration to me as I try to create my own speculative biology project, thank you! :) ❤
The artwork reminds me of Hollow Knight
I just checked in on my subscriptions list and imagine my shock when I saw this
The kings has once again returned
Some QnA questions:
1)Does Isla experience seasonal changes? A tiny bit of excentricity can have a surprising effect on how much the star moves in the sky, especially near the terminator where a few degrees can be the difference between the star being obscured or quite a bit above the horizon. Plus theres obliquity with a similar effect but orthogonal in direction. Excentricity would be most visible at the leading/trailing poles and next to no effect at the geographic poles, the opposite for obliquity. Theres also milankovitch cycles which causes these parameters to very over time.
2)Does the stellar system have defined parameters for Isla and the rest of the planets, or more of a vague concept with all the focus on the surface? Red dwarves are well known for resonant orbits.
3)How is the 0 degree point defined? Is it 90 degrees from the substellar point? the point where the star is on the horizon? fully obscured by the horizon. Atmospheric refraction would cause the star to be visible further apart than in a vacuum and it depends on air density
Hooray! Always super excited for another one of these to drop - one of the coolest and most interesting spec evo projects I feel. And this is no exception - an entire biome that grows under a singular organism is so cool.
So QnA question time:
1. What first inspired you to undertake this project?
2. How did you start out such a major undertaking
3. What major changes has the project undergone since its conception
This is such a fascinating and immersive world you’ve managed to create. I’ve the feeling we haven’t even scratched the surface yet, so I look forward to continuing this journey to explore Islas biosphere 😁
P.s. I’ll throw in a cheeky bonus question if you don’t mind, I’m a palaeontologist irl and I’m curious of if you’ve thought of any extinct species for the project? Organisms that no longer exist on Isla except as fossils, admittedly I’d also be interested to know what these sort of fossils look like? Heck I’m curious if there are any living fossil present on Isla kinda like the Coelacanths of Earth.
Hi how much is your salary
@@cevatkokbudak6414 varies a lot depending on location and the organisation you work for, including your position in said organisation. Although in my experience it seems to vary between £25,000-£40,000. There’s a lot of difference between researcher, museum or lab based roles making it harder to narrow down I’m afraid 😅
Totally incredible piece, I have no words to describe it! This may be plaguing life outside of Earth with the same type of body type as Isla.
Damm imagine being a soldier guarding a cientific research team and your spaceship crashes in a dark, strange fugous region and only you survive, with no knowledge or preparation for that environment, you must escape...
plot of scavengers reign
Goated show @@clown134
You'd certainly starve or be poisoned. We wpuld have no protection against the phytotoxins contained in the plants.
Well, there are older stories akin to this. The walls of eryx by hp lovecraft is a good one
Another great episode! The sound design really was fantastic. I loved the way the ambiance changed as we moved through the forest to reflect the camera's position above and below the canopy.
I'm so happy this is still going. And I absolutely love every new video. Thank you sir.
I haven't seen this series in a while, and the animation at the beginning was really good!
one of the best series on al of TH-cam, thank you so much for making this
Thanks for the kind words!
You're really setting the bar high for spec evolution videos: imaginative concepts, superb artwork, and atmospheric, high class video production. Looking forward to more.
Visually and narratively captivating and detailed.
Wonderful combination of imagination and real-world science. Thank you for your hard work!
Holy crap I Love Speculative Evolution! Especially when it's done this well! This is honestly amazing! I love those parts that look a lot like Bacteriophages & the thumbnail looks like a Bobbit worms mouth. This entire project and the art, sound, narration & science behind all of it is AMAZING! Keep up the great work 👍🏻
I absolute love your work that's the best speculative project I've ever seen
Yes my favorite speculative evolution series is back!
oh hell yea, following the progress you shared on insta really pays off when the product is as good as this!!
and for the QnA, have you ever considered sharing any of the etymologies of the species, genera and the clades in general?
This is by far my favorite Speculative Evolution project. It is so unique innovative and interesting. Keep up the good work.
Not only you have a great imagination, you also have good scientific knowledge to make it cosnsistent and you provide not only great visual representation but also great narration! This is absolutely great work!!
One of the best if not the best spec evo projects rn. Good work
Favourite alien world.
Curious Archive needs to cover your work! You are an incredible world builder and it always makes my day when you upload. Keep up the great work!
Also the soundscapes and illustrations are beautiful
WOOHOO! More aliens!
Reminds me of the super organism we have over here in Texas!
How is a new matriarch created? How does a new colony start? Also, I am excited to learn more about the ecosystems of the Lush Plains and the Arid Flats, as well as the Terminator.
This all feels so spectacularly, beautifully alien.
Our prayers were heard
i know this released less than a week ago- but i just ran across your channel and binged the whole set of episodes released, i genuinely cannot wait for more
i love foreign lands and their creatures, then tack on the way its presented and it only grows it exponentially (least for me)
For Q&A:Are there any intelligent species on Isla?
Also keep up the good work man, this is the best spec bio project I've ever seen.
plase no.
Please yes!
I remember seeing a Reddit comment addressing that once
This is one my favorite worldbuilding series here on youtube. The world feels so alive. Beutiful work!
WE MAKING IT OUT OF THE PERMIAN BASIN SUPERORGANISM WITH THIS ONE 🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Lovely! Rewatching all your vids!
Man this channel has the coolest design ive seen on youtube
Question for QnA:
First, thank you for such a fantastic video series. Love it very much. ❤ Second, if you could go back to your teenage self and tell them anything, what would you say?
LETS GOOOOO!!! My favorite spec-evo series on TH-cam coming back with another heater. The detail of the organisms, the way they interact with each other and their environment, the depth of the biospheres. All of it is incredible.
Best spec evo project I've ever seen
Amazing video! The attention to detail here is why the isla project is my favorite speculative evolution series on youtube
Excellent work as always---fascinating ideas. The visuals are incredible and the animations immersive. Can't wait for what's next.
THANK YOU I've been starving for stuff like this, I love it!!!
The concept that certain species that live in these super-organism are unique to their own spore forest is such a cool idea. Imagine exploring these spore forests, each one would have different species that you haven't seen in other spore forests. Near endless discoveries.
Cool The Fungus reminds me of the forest made of one tree called Pando!
omg this project is so cool, looking forward for more
Amazing, criminally underrated content.
God I love this. You seem to have accounted for every detail. It feels real even though it is fiction. Great work!
Babe wake up there’s a new Isla project video!! ❤
This whole project is just so well thought out, that it feels like there would actually be a planet somewhere out there just like yours. Amazing work!
Also, as a question, are there multiple matriarchs per spore forest, and if so, how densely packed are they?
I know this is a stupid question but do you think you'll ever make an animated show about this alien planet I'm just curious ? love your videos by the way huge fan of your Channel after watching the first video I got recommended immediately subscribed 👍
WOOOOOO
Hell yeah
Is there any geologic history to Isla (as in, any plate movements)? And where and when did the LUCA of Isla exist?
This is so damn cool!
Kudos & Cheers for this, for making an alien world that almost perfectly feels like what an alien eco*system* would be like.
As for the Q&A, assuming certain events play out, what species (either from earth for isla) would be the most likely to become an invasive for the other?
The Spore Forest is wonderful! Any inspiration from Ghibli's Sea of Decay?
Totally!
I was waiting for someone else to say it in case I wasn’t just imagining it. Very cool
MOM THE ISLA PROJECT UPLOADED!!!!!!!!
man needs to set up a print shop for this art, would defo buy a poster of the shroom forest
YEEEEES
QnA Question: With the amount of detail you've put into this project, will it become anything more in the future? Say a survival/exploration game? I think walking around Isla in a video game would be a next level experience. That or maybe a movie/series or something from the perspective of an explorer or research team of the planet.
Awesome.
The permian basin superorganism has relocated
Question for the QA:
I know this will sound quite Terran/Earthly centric but if you were to put Isla in a level of development (if there is such a thing) where would it be? Early to Late Paleozoic? Early to Late Mesozoic? Early to late Cenozoic?
Pretty much I am asking how much has life developed in Isla since it's origin.
You’re back!
This is the first episode in which you mention flying animals. I think they deserve a more detailed scope. Are there flying animals outside the fungal forest? My guess is that animals can use the strong winds to migrate quickly while expending less energy. By flying high they can ride the currents which take them to the dark side and by flying low they ride the winds which take them back to the lit side. There could possibly be a dark side biome which animals can visit to escape predators from the lit side of the planet.
This ismy favorite specilative biology peoject besides the magic rpg world one i lost track off
absolutely wonderful.
Cool
outstanding
WE GOIN BACK TO ISLA, BOYS, STRAP IN
So cool
Question for Qna: will there be organisms that live on the dark side of the planet? that autotrophic organisms use other means of obtaining energy such as chemosynthesis or electrosynthesis?
so very cool
It's interesting how "stuadship" (i believe it was called) has potential to be an actual opponent for possible human obsticle as a "heart of the forest" :3
I could almost imagine the oncreadible energy storage could be worth the likes of *really, really finite* feul. Hyper oil~
The googly eye looking geographic feature made me laugh.
This forest reminds me of the Toxic Jungle in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. A large insular and interconnected somewhat fungal environment which is aggressively protected by its fauna.
i want a Isla Project book... now
I have a question, about the plants and animals. How do they taste? Are they edible? What could you and couldn’t you eat on this planet?
For Q&A: you’ve mentioned kinetotrophs (I think), organisms that somehow use kinetic energy to get energy. I’m really curious to know how that works.
Reminds me of the Toxic Jungle from Nausicaä Of the valley of the wind.
Questions
How well can a carbon-based being survive deadly heat?
How close to technological can a biological being get through natural means?
What prevents complex cave ecosystems?
These may not be Isla questions, but that's why I said "questions" not "QnA"
Feel free to ignore me :)
Good video
LETTSS GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I fucking love this channel
Today is a good day
Very great video. As a not much of a biology person I was wondering how does competition within one superorganism work? It feels like a waste of resources. The plants that grow above the "canopy" and attract pollinators from below, how to their spores get to the surface?