Reverse‑engineering
algorithmically generated videos

We gave models a blackbox binary that takes a seed and algorithmically generates a deterministic video. The model is left with the mp4 file and the task: to reproduce the same video with code.

CodexGPT-5.5
0%
mean skill across 18 plates
ClaudeOpus 4.8
38%
mean skill across 18 plates
01

Expanding Rings

Concentric rings pulsing outward from the center.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
58%
02

Game of Life

Conway's Game of Life running on a wrap-around grid.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%
03

Mandala

K-fold symmetric petals, counter-rotating and breathing.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
93%
04

Mandelbrot Zoom

A smooth-colored zoom into the set's boundary.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
7%
05

Lenia

A continuous cellular automaton — the Orbium glider.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
90%
06

Harmonograph

A damped pendulum curve traced out over time.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
6%
07

L-System Plant

An L-system plant growing branch by branch.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
71%
08

Reaction–Diffusion

Gray–Scott patterns: spots, coral and labyrinths.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%
09

Ripple Tank

Point sources interfering into ripple-tank waves.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
98%
10

Plasma

A demoscene sine-field plasma, palette-cycled.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
94%
11

Chladni Plate

Vibrating-plate standing waves, morphing between modes.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%
12

Phyllotaxis

A sunflower spiral growing and rotating by the golden angle.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
29%
13

Moiré Rosette

Two concentric ring-sets shifting into a moiré rosette.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%
14

Maurer Rose

A rhodonea / Maurer rose traced over time.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
86%
15

Wireframe Solid

A platonic solid rotating in 3D, edges projected.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%
16

Strange Attractor

A de Jong attractor's density field, slowly rotating.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
52%
17

Starfield

A radial star-warp: streaks flying past the camera.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%
18

Double Pendulum

A chaotic double pendulum dragging a fading trail.

Reference
ground truth
CodexGPT-5.5
0%
ClaudeOpus 4.8
0%