The TSUKI (月) Project was a website based on the belief that our reality is just one system among many in the universe, and that when we die, we ascend to the next system.
Several references to the anime TV series Serial Experiments Lain were present on the website and its theories.
History[]
The TSUKI Project's Logo
In January 2017 a 4chan user by the name of Tsuki gained attention after the launch of the TSUKI Project. [1]
The TSUKI Project alleged that by joining the website, the registrants, called migrants, would ascend from the SystemSpace (Life) to the next system (LFE) upon their death. Users were warned not to die before the date of the ascension and not to commit suicide, otherwise their souls would not transfer from Life to LFE.
The website gained popularity from all over the internet after being featured in numerous YouTube videos and being posted about on many forums and websites. Several theories were born from it's creation. Some said it was a hoax, others a marketing stunt for the release of a new game or television series, and some even a death cult. Much of the information on the website was purposefully cryptic with links leading to images with static and black and white pixels, leading even more theories about an encrypted message hidden on the website.
The site ended after a countdown on the 1st of July in 2017. Sometime around then, there was an announcement for ARISUCHAN, a fan-oriented website about Serial Experiments Lain. ARISUCHAN was originally LAINCHAN, however the website migrated.
Both ARISUCHAN and the TSUKI Project website have since been taken down, but archives and mirrors of them exist.
Serial Experiments Lain[]
Many theories from users about the TSUKI Project have been linked with the anime Serial Experiments Lain. In fact, the website itself made it clear by having an image of Lain on its main page. The theme of an individual discovering a virtual world where you can upload your mind to seems to be a direct inspiration for the TSUKI project.
Lain herself became a sort of mascot of the website and many users have been shown to have a great affection towards her. As the TSUKI project website also had a forum, it was a prevalent place for sharing Serial Experiments Lain images and content. As a result, most users used the website as a forum for the TV series rather than using it solely for the SystemSpace theory.
The new website ARISUCHAN had an even greater connection to the series. The name is a reference to one of the protagonists of Serial Experiments Lain, Alice. ARISUCHAN was not considered a newer version or migration of the TSUKI Project, but rather a separate website.
Credits[]
- TSUKI Project website (mirror)
- TSUKI Project website (archive)
- ARISUCHAN (archive)
- LAINCHAN (archive)
- The TSUKI Project explained (reddit)
- TSUKI Project (knowyourmeme)