Lost Cities: World of Corals, Experimental Documentary

Lost Cities in an experimental online documentary that imparts crucial information about the crisis currently facing corals globally, and inspires individual action. With its unique layout, non-linear narrative, and evocative design, Lost Cities aims to draw in a broader audience than the typical nature documentary. It allows visitors to set their own pace and explore according to their interests, offering in-depth information and achievable means to help corals.

Floating particles, spiral motifs, and an underwater ambience transport the audience to these “cathedrals of the sea.” The site’s audio elements provide further engagement: The expressive soundscape (composed by Jesse Solomon Clark) and warm, precise narration provided by the late Dr. Ruth Gates makes this a truly singular experience.

Contextual “pop-ups” enrich stories with supplemental information for curious viewers, and an immersive, full-screen format focuses the visitor entirely on the world of corals. Gates’ narration—the final recording taken of her voice—pays a lasting tribute to her lifelong commitment to saving coral reefs worldwide. Lost Cities honors the enduring nature of her work, which lives on in the communities she inspired.

Lost Cities’ core software was built utilizing react.js, three.js, and a simplex noise library to create the 3D floating particle effects and title animation. The website also features a generative music engine that dynamically creates a unique soundtrack for each visitor. This system was created using libraries from CreateJS to preload and smoothly fade between sound assets from a library of over 130 MP3 files.