Church of Whale Fall

waiting for a blessing

[@blunderbass851]

Take me to Whurch

[@Halberddent]

Somebody had to say it

[@sleepyheadlbp55]

ill worship like a . fish

[@buggibii]

i'll tell you my sharks and you can sharpen your knifefish

[@carlphilips8813]

Heat

[@mothgirl326]

Offer me that marine snow

[@SkippertheBart]

A vaulted ivory ceiling and a polished crystal floor. A cathedral if I ever saw one.

[@spiderill7791]

🎵 We are two mariners Our ships' sole survivors In this belly of a whale Its ribs are ceiling beams Its guts are carpeting I guess we have some time to kill...🎵

[@GandalfTheTsaagan]

Fun Fact: Some of the deep sea scavengers that today feed on whale bones might have originated all the way back in the Mesozoic as they fed on the bones of Ichthyosaurs and other marine reptiles.

[@DrakonBlake]

Giant cephalopod (shell) might’ve been a tasty treat for scavengers even earlier than that. Though specific adaptations to feeding on large marine reptile carcasses might translate better to ones for feeding on whale carcasses

[@getrichquicc]

They are the only ones that survived the mass extinctions, the asteroid would have just created more food for them by killing the surface animals.

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

So what you're saying is, this is the oldest religion on Earth?

[@fungustheclown666]

Other fun fact, whale falls cause rapid evolution of species, every time one shows up its like an adaptation party to the things usually surviving on just marine snow. New to science species are found on them often.

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

@@fungustheclown666 That sounds more like convenience sampling to me. It's a common bias that science has.

[@MackenzieChandlerDunnavant]

I've long thought that if God made any animal in his image, it'd be a whale. They're intelligent, they sing, and their bodies form entire worlds when they die. Literally the kind of thing mythology is born out of.

[@flup1303]

And their carcasses explode spraying purge juice all over the beach lmao

[@crouton7070]

God isn't a monkey, what that means is he gave us traits in the image of Himself, immortal souls, creativity, pattern recognition (to see the beauty of His creation), that sort of thing.

[@justasmltwngir1732]

@@crouton7070mhm!

[@joshuabaker859]

The secret is that God made every animal in his image. Whales and mosquitos and snakes and humans alike. Life is a miracle and through evolution we grow our fragment of divinity

[@flup1303]

@@crouton7070 What part of God's image involves shitting when you die and intestinal bloating due to gas buildup, causing putrescine blood-slime to be pushed out of the nose and mouth? Yucky. Did Jesus do that when he died? Ecclesiastes 12:7 kinda skips over being eaten by worms with the whole "dust" thing. Job is definitely based though. Job 17:13-14: "If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness, I have said to corruption, 'You are my father,' to the worm, 'You are my mother and my sister.'"

[@xaleoart]

This perfectly encapsulates the ephemeral joy of whale fall, felt on a scale of time so different than ours.

[@JN-so6wt]

the secondary catastrophe on top of the first of hunting most whales nearly to extinction to fuel the industrial revolution is the theft of such ecosystems from the environment. who knows how many deep sea extinctions occurred unbeknownst to us due to loss of keystone resources+biomes of whale fall

[@snailyman]

getting huge osamu sato (eastern mind, lsd dream emulator) vibes, absolutely adore it

[@everydaylouie]

ah! you get me

[@owgirl]

I would play the LouieSD Dream Emulator game

[@jr.jackrabbit10]

@@everydaylouiei’m on a hylics kick rn so i’m inclined to believe there’s some level of influence here as well

[@alfredandersson875]

Schiz​@@jr.jackrabbit10

[@squtnik]

​@@jr.jackrabbit10hylics is easily my favorite game ever I'm always glad to see it get mentioned

[@MyopicMickey]

Whale Falls are why I made the benevolent death god in my homebrew setting represented with whale imagery

[@Sammie1053]

That's one of the coolest and most clever things I've heard in a while

[@herpderp3916]

That's an excellent idea

[@michaelk9279]

Shamelessly plagiarizing this one

[@dragonluvver975]

That's seriously so cool

[@maxwellfujs6124]

OOOHH HELL YEAH! Wow that’s fascinating.

[@cyh2499]

I genuinely can’t explain why I love this so much. Maybe the eerie music and setting, the retro videogame vibe, the weird little dance cult members do, idk. Its all so bizarre but like in a good way

[@Sireington]

It’s not really creepy IMO, it just feels so interesting seeing these creatures interpret the nature we understand in the lens of a blessing from an unknown creator. It’s like it sparks my wonder on what other practices this “religion” has. Are there other sects? What other rituals do they perform? What is their creation myth?

[@JackfrostAtreidesOmegaXZero]

Maybe.... Uh.... EVERYTHING.

[@venburylabs]

Literally was at my local aquarium two days ago looking at the whale fall diorama in the deep sea exhibit. Impeccable timing

[@Aerwasilien]

Like literally?

[@abirdbrain9109]

monterey bay aquarium has an amazing one + see sea isopods!!!

[@venburylabs]

@@abirdbrain9109 That's my local one! I got to pet the giant isopod!

[@tinyghoul6598]

​@@venburylabsFUCK YEAH!! I love the giant isopods! Did you pet any batrays?

[@salem3641]

i haven’t been to the monterey bay aquarium for some time… they have isopods now??? i gotta go back!!!

[@OG_Mereles]

I'd like to believe that, while deep sea creatures would not be able to see the moon, they would know about it because they would feel the moon's gravitational pull and its effect on the oceans tides. So they might still call that phenomenon a 'moon' ❤

[@Astra_the_dragon_uwu]

actually, many twilight zone organisms migrate up to the surface periodically! I don't think deep-sea isopods do it, but many plankton do.

[@Felix-nz7lq]

I imagine ocean currents probably outpower tidal effects by orders of magnitude at those depths.

[@PUNK69420]

SPOOKY OCEAN CULT LOUIE UR SO REAL FOR THIS!!!

[@tomhomunculus]

I wish this was feature film length, I absolutely adore it

[@benreber6321]

Check out Angels Egg if you get a chance!

[@cinnabard955]

They’re all so cute and only a little terrifying

[@dstrut]

I just finished reading 'Calf Cleaving in the Benthic Black' by Isabel J. Kim literal seconds before watching this. Eerie how life syncs up sometimes.

[@low-on-sertonin]

Your comment made me look up the story and read it in one sitting. It was an excellent read! Thank you!

[@TheNight469]

Welcome to Church.

[@InfernalPume]

whalecome to church

[@_bentobi]

This is what I want to see on KZbin. Incredible

[@ypp0p]

Ive watched this countless times and i wish i could go back and experience watching it for the first time again. This has a very specific feeling tied to it.

[@Nemo_Innominis]

Wow. It's a truly gem. I once wrote two articles about "whale fall" and "abyssal snow". And now, I see This: a truly lovecraftian re-reading of these concepts with strange, but very tightening style. Reminds me of ENA and some very strange, unsetting KZbin videos. Good job.

[@monster3339]

massive Hylics vibes, ahaha. love it.

[@pikazooka]

especially the dance animations

[@lightandsalt7612]

Shout out to those who know Hylics!

[@AphidKirby]

This is making my head spin... a society forming down there, with no way to tell time, with very sparce glimpses into the world above, would 100% form a religion like this

[@Molonara]

Style reminds me of Yames’ games like Water Womb World, Discover My Body, and Growing My Grandpa! Love it!

[@pikazooka]

Also Hylics

[@allenmaask6448]

Yo cool pfp, what is it?

[@Molonara]

@@allenmaask6448 symbol of the evil AI virus XANA from the mid 2000s show Code Lyoko. If you’ve never seen, it’s all on KZbin. I recommend the ep Cold War to get a feel of the stakes, one of my favs.

[@coenvannoord4976]

I cannot express how much i love this. Took me a little but to realise the first guys face js the carapace of a heikegani crab

[@anaismitropoulos3416]

I have never seen anything remotely like this. As a marine Biology student and a lover of absurd art, this has struck a chord in my creative spirit. I need to know more.

[@itsashane1552]

I literally said out loud “what’s a moon” before the character said it as a joke

[@fyrenwater]

Haunting and beautiful. Did you know a whale fall can change the ecosystem for 100 years?

[@rinarina6247]

Louie is the only person brave enough to answer the question “What if Splatoon was like, so cursed 💀”

[@RegiArt7]

But… it already is. That’s just splatoon. Splatoon is cursed splatoon.

[@virgilepiaux150]

​@@RegiArt7Nah. Cursed Splatoon is when you edit the inkfisn to look more like humans

[@rainjstorm]

This is the art I needed to see so bad. It's just so well done. Takes me back to the crunchy but beautifully executed masterpieces the really cool homeschooled kids somehow always knew about, not just Runescape or Knights of The Old Republic; really unique and transcendent experiences that had me awake, terrified, and unable to look away. Louie. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@TheCutethulhu]

That's some of the most Hylics level stuff I've seen lately. And I love it. Excellent work.

[@danaj-b9452]

I keep rewatching this. I love when they do their freaky lil dance the most

[@gaberahamlincoln7358]

I am glad that whale fall is finally getting the appreciation it deserves among biomes! Brilliant stuff.

[@willphoenix5464]

I love this!!!!!!!!!!! Come my benthic brethren, and pray for prey!

[@thekiss2083]

Ah! The crunchy pre-rendered 90s CG! So beautiful

[@aekaydubs]

Barely related: There’s a colorful whale statue in Salt Lake City that has spawned an ironic cult following called the Church of the Sacred Whale. You can even find versions of the state flag featuring it. All hail the Whale.

[@TheLastHylianTitan]

Whale Mary, full of grace, the Moon is with thee…

[@VoiceActorYourNameHere]

This was your most unsettling and mystical video so far. I love it! It's wonderfully made, especially the background ambience, the main priest's voice and the break of tension when the sea creatures recieve their blessing

[@heidibarker9550]

I have no idea how I got here, but I'm glad I did. I too feel the glory of the Whale Fall.

[@orangejulesbox]

This is fantastic! Very spooky, very fascinating, has such a grungy, "before the world began" vibe. Love it!

[@Dan_too]

One of my favorite phenomenons elaborated on, wonderful

[@0hellow797]

Love the dithering/shading on this one, the character design is great too

[@alexanderwizardjar9540]

This feels like it was made to be shown to me in a vision. Thank you.

[@shinyshinyyshinyyy2197]

i love the surreal bizarre freakiness, reminds me of that subgenre of horror with things like water womb world

[@kyoyameganebereznoff]

This has already become one of my all-time favorite videos.

[@benreber6321]

Really love this short. The atmosphere is giving Angel's Egg vibes in the best way.

[@DmitriDmitri]

Absolutely horrific. Thank you Louie, this gave me a lot of inspiration!

[@ghostphy]

Its giving water womb world in the best way, love it!

[@andromediane]

I need more of this. This should be an entire RPG. This is amazing.

[@doorknob7420]

its giving that one worthikids animation

[@Isaac-vm5is]

Rejoice!

[@ik4muzu]

I'm high asf and I swear this was one of the greatest pieces of art I've seen in my life

[@KatHarpy]

immediately reminded me of Water Womb World

[@thomaslai1381]

So I’m not crazy then!

[@karanbharat1951]

Dude, I'm literally making a painting on Whale Fall and this is the most emotionally striking piece of work I've ever seen on that same topic!!! thank you for making this. it's Beautiful.

[@madamHoodie1]

Getting some really good Hylics vibes

[@Morbid6253]

Yes! Saw the notification and I knew it would be a banger!

[@pietincat]

I’d love to see you team up with someone like David Szymanski to make a game. The eeriness of this reminds me of Iron Lung.

[@shupliance]

absolutely smashing. what a time. rejoice!!!

[@submarine001]

I kind of laughed at the end because that's what actually appears when all the meat is gone

[@maddstermind11037]

god this fucks insanely hard. everything about this is absolutely perfect

[@redstealth5106]

aquatic sexerrific 🐠

[@mk30709]

Omg you make the coolest stuff i swear to god! The colors, lighting, textures, character designs, the f ing font are all so cool and perfect for this video! I want a poster of this real bad

[@Sebastian-pq3qk]

legit so good.... reminds me of one of my favorite games, Hylics

[@Tenshii_Artii]

This kind of giving me Yames vibes for some reason. I loved this! So mysterious and dreamy!

[@m.i.c.h.o]

For sure!

[@mozzfes3514]

So good! I love the atmosphere and your sound design!

[@Badderpillar]

Big big Mason Lindroth vibes on this one

[@dion_spyro]

every louie zong video deserves its own fandom

[@FlnFl]

Whale Falls are such a fascinating little ecosystem, especially when the bone worms dig into the bones and sprout like weird little fleshy flowers in the carcass

[@elske9219]

youtube recommendations never seize to amaze me

[@reservoarhund]

I haven’t been as happy with something that might just be garbled Swedish since the Tekken 2 intro in ’96 🎉❤ Absolute masterclass in mood.

[@TonyBMW]

I can’t stop watching this.

[@user-db2lt3mk2c]

The music of rejoice reminded me of underground level in Tomba 2. Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@esponjita1796]

Absolutely delightful, I adore this so much I love you Louie

[@tomfoolery-4444]

This is my favorite. Just, full stop. Favorite.

[@superhetoric]

what love de lic game is this

[@int0thedepths]

This is perfect 💯 Love the art style, the slight goofiness and Lovecraftian vibe. Feels almost like an awkward SpongeBob spinoff.

[@goopi_eh]

Hell yeah, Water Womb World reference.

[@hoshigumo]

Praise be unto LZ. May his gland endure a thousand years.

[@nene_aka_bloobinub]

Oh wow! Love the vibe!

[@mossasaur]

Aw man I love Splatoon In all seriousness, THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!! Great work!!!

[@katlyn4326]

amazing content, found you from rat taxi but LOVING the spooky stuff. whale falls are awesome

[@sanddall-asy9310]

This is so eerie and captivating.

[@Nemo_Innominis]

Also, this gritty visuals and ambient are reminded me about Iron lung.

[@bendonks9559]

inspired from this

[@codysingleton6262]

Gives off steong Hylics Vibes with it involving a cycle of life and death celebrated.

[@fruttibotti1430]

Love the vibes on this one!

[@danielserrano929]

This gives me the feeling of playing Iron Lung on a N64 or Gameboy. The pixels, the subject matter, even the music lol.

[@MrAlexandersaurus]

This is so wonderful!

[@Ryuusei924]

what a pleasure to watch a video from you made in one of my all-time favorite video styles: ominous but silly!

[@pepsimanbooster]

thank you you are an inspiration

[@moss_yt]

I’m absolutely obsessed with this!!!

[@legofishjpeg]

i am unsettled. this is a masterpiece.

[@miunya]

Yes this is the 1am content I signed up for

[@RisqueRique]

This is amazing I need more

[@RallyTheTally]

God does bring blessings if you pray, but I've never been given a gaint dead whale!

[@pteroid11]

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen an animation about freaky lil dudes at the bottom of the ocean culminating in a whalefall I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird it happened twice.

[@kyoyameganebereznoff]

I’d love to know the name of the other one you saw.

[@pteroid11]

@@kyoyameganebereznoff Donks by Felix Colgrave

[@Robin_Goodfellow]

This is nuts in the best way possible

[@melskunk]

Incredible, perfect thing to watch at 2am

[@zazander732]

Awesome stuff, great job.

[@lizdensmore1691]

I loved this ❤

[@Eye-Of-The-Beholder]

Brings back memories of Water Womb World Very well made

[@thevoidanswerswithjazz2215]

Amazing! This is definitely something I'd love to see more of, not just this story but like this vibe in general ❤

[@jojobigcoat]

This scratches every itch on my body

[@kevinnestor7887]

this has restored my faith

[@stevenostuni6266]

This is like in Moon RPG when you turn on the tv and learn how many animals you saved