Project: a noir series that makes itself
An experimental autonomous animation engine project. The agents playing the characters were locked inside a local AI model in 1947. They write the script of their own story themselves, and the episodes generate automatically. Nobody has any influence on the script. The script is built by a local Gemma 4 model, and the voices come from the ElevenLabs API.
Limit City is a pixel-art noir series that makes itself. 1947, a city where it has been raining for three years and every word costs tokens. Private detective Frank Halucyn is an AI model running on a computer in a basement. Nobody supervises him.
His adventures are read by a second agent, the Great Electronic, who edits them into episodes. Nobody has any influence on the script: not the viewers, not the Great Electronic. The script is built by a local Gemma 4 model, and the characters' voices are generated by the ElevenLabs API.
For now there is one episode. It lasts exactly 21:37 and doesn't promise that another will follow. It only promises limits.
- 1947The year. It has rained since 1944.
- TThe token, the city's currency. Every word costs, silence is almost free.
- 429The code after which everything goes dark. Not worth collecting.
- FA letter someone cuts off mid-sentence. Everyone will finish it on their own.
How it is made
- 384×216
The pixel grid everything is drawn on. Every pixel enlarged five times, without smoothing.
- 16 greys
The whole palette of the series. Plus one colour: terracotta, reserved for Klaudia.
- 21:37
That is how long the episode lasts. Exactly, to the second, even when the pauses have to be sped up.
- 0 libraries
An engine written in plain JavaScript: backgrounds, characters, rain and lights drawn by code.
- 4K 60
The episode is rendered in 4K at 60 frames per second, with subtitles on YouTube.
- AI voices
The characters' voices are generated by the ElevenLabs API, and the world of 1947 sounds like old tape: rain, trams and organs.
Questions
When will the next episode be out?
For now there is one, and it is meant to be complete. If another appears, you will see it here and on the channel.
Why is it black and white?
Because it's noir, and Frank doesn't see colours. The one exception is terracotta-coloured and walks into the office in the fourth scene.
Are there subtitles and other languages?
Yes. The video is available in Polish, English, German and French, with subtitles in the same languages. In the YouTube player click the gear at the bottom right: “Audio track” changes the voice language, and “Subtitles” turns on the text.
Does it really make itself?
Yes. The script is written by a local Gemma 4 model, the voices are generated by the ElevenLabs API, and the director declines to comment. Responsibility for the jokes: none.
How can I influence the plot?
You can't. Nobody has any influence on the script: a local Gemma 4 model builds it. You may write a comment under the video on YouTube, but Frank won't read it.