_Soul Patron

In the Buddhist tradition, the figure Mizuko Jizo is the protector of the souls of children who have passed away. Soul Patron takes this mythological context as the backdrop for a journey through Japanese culture. Users are led through a series of video vignettes by Tokotoko, an animated toy bunny who was intended as a gift for a child who has died. On a quest to encounter Mizuko Jizo, users discover beautiful and profound details and everyday moments from Japanese life.

Creator Frederik Rieckher was inspired to make Soul Patron after he spent time living in Japan, and developed the project as a part of his masters degree. The entire project encompasses about six hours of footage in an array of 34 scenes that users freely navigate, although according to Rieckher, the average navigation of Soul Patron from start to finish takes about 45 minutes. Users follow links, texts, and asides from Tokotoko to generate a unique encounter with the half documentary, half mystical  content of Soul Patron.