About Origins: The Journey of Humankind

Origins: The Journey of Humankind is a captivating docudrama series that premiered in 2017. It traces the innovations that made us modern, weaving stories of the profound turning points in human history with the science behind those innovations. The series, which launched on National Geographic, is a journey through 2 million years of human history in eight episodes and covers themes such as Fire, War, Medicine, Communication, Shelter, Exploration, Transportation and Money.

Making / Production

Origins: The Journey of Humankind is produced by Melodysheep, and Asylum Entertainment for National Geographic. The series was envisioned by its host, Jason Silva, and the creators to be a sort of mash-up between documentary, theater and musical piece. Silva, described as a 'wonder junkie,' brings each episode's theme to life with a stylized, high-energy and passionate delivery.

Actors

• Jason Silva: The host and guide through the journey of humankind. His passionate interpretation of human history and his enthusiasm for the topics discussed are the catalyst for the success of this series.
• Rachel Goldstein: She played the roles of various characters throughout the series, bringing to life historical figures and events as the series travelled through time.
• Derrick Aguis: Featured in various roles as well. His performances added depth to the historical recreations presented in the series.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series includes a unique blend of scripted drama and documentary sequences, innovative use of graphics and original music to make history come alive.
• Each episode in the series marks a major turning point in human history, with topics addressing concepts that fundamentally changed the human race.

Music, Soundtrack

• The series features an original score by Melodysheep, who also served as one of the producers. Melodysheep is well-known for creating 'musical science' content using autotuning and remixing techniques.
• The combination of themes from tribal to electronic in the soundtrack mirrors the progression of human history, adding emotional depth to the storytelling.