History Brought to Life
For families, educators, & hobbyists everywhere! Transform your family heritage or historical figures into life-like experiences. Upload personal photos—or create AI-generated portraits—then animate, and bring their stories to life with customized voices.
From milestone messages, to legacy storytelling, and cultural education, Ancestry Alive™ brings the past to life.
↓ Click below to see what it’s all about ↓

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Ancestry Alive Explained

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Melville history

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Message_from Great Grandma

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Chumash Elder Statement

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Marie Curie History

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Flora Hunter Story

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John Skertich Message

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Frederick Douglas Message

These are just a few ways people have brought their ancestors and heroes to life.
Let's Get Started!
✉️ Ready to Travel Back in Time?
Reach Out
Share Your Vision
Tell us about the video you'd like to create — whether it's an ancestor tribute, a message from a historical figure, or something totally unique.
Get Personalized Guidance
We'll follow up personally to walk you through next steps.
💡 Not sure where to start? That's okay too. Just tell us who you're thinking about and why — and we'll help you figure out the rest.
How It Works
Option 1. Ancestor Video
Perfect for Personal Messages and Family Legacy Storytelling
How it works:
  • You upload an existing photograph or generate an AI image of an ancestor (which will be sent to you for approval).
  • Upload a message/script.
  • Pick a voice (from curated AI voice list).
  • Optional: Work with us on refining the script.
  • Optional: With family permission, work with us to use the person's real voice if a quality sample exists.
  • Optional: Incorporate music and additional storytelling shots to make a mini-documentary.
Then:
  • If it's an existing uploaded photo, we confirm that it is possible to use for lipsync. (Note: it must be a relatively high resolution, and their face must be prominently looking at the camera).
  • If it's an AI-generated image, we wait to get your confirmation that you like it, and want to move forward.
  • To assure ethical AI usage and quality control, we then animate and lipsync the message to the image.
  • You receive your message by email within 24 to 72 hours of the green light to produce the video (slightly longer if optional items are added).
Option 2. Historical Figure Video
Perfect for Educators, Cultural Storytelling, and Novelty Gifts
How it works:
  • You select a historical figure (must be someone whose likeness is in the public domain).
  • You upload the message/script you want to have them say.
  • Voice and image have been preselected.
  • Optional: Work with us on refining the script.
  • Optional: Work with us to explore alternative images of the historical figure and/or additional storytelling shots.
  • Optional: Incorporate music and additional storytelling shots to make a mini-documentary.
Then:
• To assure ethical AI usage and quality control, we animate and lipsync the message to the image.
• You receive your message by email within 24 to 72 hours (slightly longer if optional items are added).
AI Ancestor Image Generation
When physical photographs aren't available, our technology offers innovative solutions to visualize your family history.
No Photos? No Problem
Create authentic portraits of ancestors using just written descriptions, genealogical data, and family traits. Our AI generates historically accurate representations that honor your family's legacy.
Era-Specific Details
Every generated image includes period-appropriate clothing, hairstyles, and backgrounds, placing your ancestors in their authentic historical context.
Ethical Generation
Our responsible AI framework ensures respectful representation while avoiding stereotypes, allowing you to visualize your ancestry with dignity.
Scripting the Message
Customization
You write your own custom script to share family stories with authentic historical context or deliver a specific history lesson you want to teach.
Optional Script Assist
You can work with us to refine what you want to say so that it's clear, and gets across the message you want.
Ancestor Voice Selection
Bring your ancestors to life with authentic, customizable vocal characteristics.
Voice Library
Choose from over 100 voices with varying emotional tones to match your ancestor's likely speaking style.
Regional Dialects
Select accents and speech patterns specific to your ancestor's geographic origins.
Additional Shots (B-Roll)
Enhance your ancestor animations with contextual footage that creates a more complete visual story.
Contextual Footage
Add relevant historical settings and environments that match your ancestor's era and location.
Visual Enhancement
Incorporate supplementary imagery that enriches the storytelling experience and provides historical context.
Documentary Elements
Include period-appropriate scenes, objects, and locations to build a more immersive historical narrative.
Preservation and Sharing
Don't let your legacy get lost to history.
Next Generation Family Storytelling
Easily share your animated family memories across social platforms or via private links to family members.
Gifts
Our videos make for perfect gifts for any special occasion.
Pricing
🎁 For Families, Gift Givers & Everyday Storytellers
🧓 Ancestor Tribute Video
Perfect for memorials, birthday gifts, legacy projects, or just to honor a loved one.
Starts at $349 for a 1-2 minute video
Add-ons:
• Script development or emotional polishing: +$100
• Music + 4-5 Additional Shots: +$200
• Voice cloning from a real recording: starting at +$500 (depending on the quality of the source audio, additional work may be needed to make it usable for cloning)
🎩 Historical Figure Message
Starts at $279 for a 1-2 minute video
Add-ons:
• Script refinement or co-writing: +$100
• Music + 4-5 Additional Shots: +$200
🏛️ For Museums, Schools & Cultural Institutions
Whether you're enhancing an exhibit, creating immersive curriculum content, or reviving historical voices for a digital archive, we offer bespoke production services tailored to your institution's needs.
💡 Ideal For:
• Museum Exhibits
• Digital Installations
• K-12 & Higher Education
• Local History Projects
• Foundations & Archives
Package Description Starting Price:
1 Video Single 1- 2min exhibit feature or speaker $750–$1500
3 Videos Small series or curriculum unit $2,000 - $4000
5 Videos Museum or School bundle $3,250–$7,000
10 Video Educational package $5,000 and up
Add-ons (per video):
• Script development or emotional polishing: +$100
• Music + 4-5 Additional Shots: +$200
• Voice cloning from a real recording: starting at +$500 (depending on the quality of the source audio, additional work may be needed to make it usable for cloning)
Each project is unique — we'll quote based on scope, licensing, and editorial depth.
Remember those old time photos you could get on vacation back in the day? This is the next generation of that.
Adam Smith ("the father of economics")
Now Let's Go!
(if you didn't click on it before)
✉️ Ready to Bring the Past to Life?
👉 Email us directly at info@ancestryalive.com
Tell us a bit about the video you're imagining, and we'll personally guide you from there.
💡 Not sure what you want yet? That's okay. Just tell us who you're thinking about — a relative, a moment in time, a famous figure — and we'll help you shape the story.
FAQ
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get my video?
Most projects are delivered within 24–72 hours after you approve the image and script.
If you request add-ons like music, B-roll, or voice cloning, it may take slightly longer — but we’ll always communicate timelines clearly.
Can you really clone someone’s voice?
Yes — if you provide a high-quality voice recording (and have permission), we can create a synthetic version of that voice using ethical, AI-driven tools.
Please note: This is a premium service and subject to approval based on audio quality and appropriateness.
What if I don’t have a photo of my ancestor?
No problem. Just describe them — appearance, era, location — and we’ll generate a respectful, historically appropriate image using AI.
You’ll always approve the image before we begin production.
Can I write the message myself?
Absolutely. You can upload a written script — or we can help shape your message for tone, length, and emotional impact. It’s your story — we’re here to help you tell it.
Can I use a historical figure in a custom message?
Yes, as long as the figure is in the public domain (most pre-1920 historical figures qualify). We offer a curated list of pre-approved options, or you can request someone specific — we’ll confirm rights and availability.
Isn’t this… kind of creepy?
We get it — this is powerful, and sometimes it catches people off guard. But our goal isn’t to trick anyone or replace real memories. This is about storytelling, legacy, and connection — not deception.
Think of it as a blend of documentary filmmaking, digital art, and family archiving — not a deepfake. You stay in control the entire time, and we are upfront that these videos are not real archival material. They fill in the gaps were actual archives of key stories and people do not, unfortunately, exist.
What are your ethical guidelines?
We take ethics seriously.
• We never use someone’s voice without consent.
• We only animate public domain figures, user-submitted ancestors with family permission, or work one-on-one with the estates of famous writers, athletes, and more.
• You approve every image and script before production.
This isn’t about fooling people — it’s about honoring stories with care and creativity.
How do I get started?
Just email us directly at info@ancestryalive.com​
Tell us what you’re thinking — even if it’s just an idea — and we’ll walk you through the rest.
Ancestry Alive™ is a product of Heroscope Media, Inc.