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Provenance manifest: The 2025-26 Premier League title race

Output: video.mp4 in this folder (30 seconds), rendered from animation.html (web page: index.html; web version of this manifest: manifest.html). Storyline 3 of storylines-data/manchester-city.json.

Built by outputs/motion-kit/motion.py, which checks every quote and figure below against the fetched article text before the animation is written. The animation reads its words only from this list, so what is on screen is exactly what is listed here.

Entries are grouped by the beat of the video in which they appear, in order. Labels (dates, stage names) are marked as such. Narrated lines are listed under the beat in which they are spoken (sections marked "narration"), follow the same rules as on-screen text, and are also collected with their timings in narration.md.

Three things are generated from the Storylines data and not listed entry by entry: the Storyline title (used exactly as given), the end card crediting each article by headline and date, and the Read more list on the web page. The soundtrack is music and sound effects synthesised in code by outputs/motion-kit/audio.py (no samples, no licensed music, no speech), so it adds no words or facts. The end card closes with the line "Every fact on screen comes from these articles · theguardian.com". The date rail's stop labels are the dates of the beats listed below.

0:00 · Title

1Guardian reporting, 25 April – 19 May 2026

• NoteSpan of publication dates of the Storyline’s key stories.

0:02 · Sunday 19 April

2Sun 19 Apr

• NoteDate derived: the 25 April article (a Saturday) calls the match “last Sunday’s pivotal game”.

3City beat Arsenal in a pivotal game

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• Supportslast Sunday’s pivotal game at the Eithad Stadium

4City 2 · Arsenal 1

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• SupportsCity went on to win 2-1

0:02 · Sunday 19 April · narration

5City beat Arsenal in April.

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• Supportslast Sunday’s pivotal game
• SupportsCity went on to win 2-1
• NoteApril: the game was on Sunday 19 April, “last Sunday” in this 25 April article.

0:05 · Saturday 25 April

6Sat 25 Apr

• NoteDate: the article, published on Saturday 25 April 2026, says Arsenal won “on Saturday”.

7Arsenal go three points clear, having played a game more

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• Supportsto move three points back in front of City at the top of the table, albeit having played an extra match

8Mikel Arteta now says City’s Khusanov should have been sent off on 19 April. At the time, it caused little controversy.

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• SupportsThe Arsenal manager insisted that the City defender, Abdukodir Khusanov, should have been sent off
• Supportsan incident that did not generate much controversy, the consensus being Khusanov had defended his position fairly
• Note19 April is “last Sunday” in this 25 April article.

9Arsenal 1 · Newcastle 0

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• SupportsArsenal had beaten Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium

103 points

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• Supportsto move three points back in front of City
• Note“Three” written as 3.

11Arsenal ahead, having played an extra match

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• Supportsalbeit having played an extra match

0:05 · Saturday 25 April · narration

12Then Arsenal went three points clear, having played a game more.

• SourceMikel Arteta criticises red card escapes for Newcastle’s Pope and City’s Khusanov (25 April 2026)
• Supportsto move three points back in front of City at the top of the table, albeit having played an extra match

0:10 · Monday 4 May

13Mon 4 May

• NoteDate: the report was published on Monday 4 May 2026; the Brentford report calls it “Monday’s 3-3 draw at Everton”.

14A 97th-minute equaliser saves a point at Everton

• SourceManchester City’s wild draw at Everton hands Arsenal title edge despite late Doku strike (4 May 2026)
• SupportsJérémy Doku’s superb 97th-minute equaliser for Manchester City

15The Guardian’s report: “It is out of City’s hands now.”

• SourceManchester City’s wild draw at Everton hands Arsenal title edge despite late Doku strike (4 May 2026)
• SupportsIt is out of City’s hands now.

16Everton 3 · City 3

• SourceManchester City keep pressure on Arsenal as Jérémy Doku sparks defeat of Brentford (9 May 2026)
• SupportsMonday’s 3-3 draw at Everton

173 wins

• SourceManchester City’s wild draw at Everton hands Arsenal title edge despite late Doku strike (4 May 2026)
• SupportsArsenal are three wins from winning their first league title in 22 years.
• Note“Three” written as 3.

18Arsenal’s distance from the title

• SourceManchester City’s wild draw at Everton hands Arsenal title edge despite late Doku strike (4 May 2026)
• SupportsArsenal are three wins from winning their first league title

0:13 · Saturday 9 May

19Sat 9 May

• NoteDate: the report was published on Saturday 9 May 2026 and refers to Arsenal’s trip to West Ham “on Sunday”.

20City win to keep up the pressure

• SourceManchester City keep pressure on Arsenal as Jérémy Doku sparks defeat of Brentford (9 May 2026)
• SupportsManchester City keep pressure on ArsenalFrom the headline or standfirst, not the body text
• Supportssecure victory and three points to keep their breath on Arsenal’s neck

21City 3 · Brentford 0

• SourceFoden inspires Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace to close gap at top (13 May 2026)
• Supportsthe 3-0 win against Brentford

222 points

• SourceManchester City keep pressure on Arsenal as Jérémy Doku sparks defeat of Brentford (9 May 2026)
• Supportsthe deficit is down to two points but each have played 35 matches
• Note“Two” written as 2.

23Arsenal ahead, 35 games each

• SourceManchester City keep pressure on Arsenal as Jérémy Doku sparks defeat of Brentford (9 May 2026)
• Supportseach have played 35 matches

0:13 · Saturday 9 May · narration

24City drew at Everton, then beat Brentford

• SourceManchester City keep pressure on Arsenal as Jérémy Doku sparks defeat of Brentford (9 May 2026)
• SupportsMonday’s 3-3 draw at Everton
• SupportsManchester City keep pressure on Arsenal as Jérémy Doku sparks defeat of BrentfordFrom the headline or standfirst, not the body text

0:17 · Wednesday 13 May

25Wed 13 May

• NoteDate: the report was published on Wednesday 13 May 2026 and says Arsenal host Burnley “on Monday”.

26If Arsenal beat Burnley and City don’t win at Bournemouth, Arsenal are champions

• SourceFoden inspires Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace to close gap at top (13 May 2026)
• Supportsif Arsenal defeat Burnley on Monday, and City fail to do the same at Bournemouth the next day, then Mikel Arteta’s team will be champions

27City 3 · Crystal Palace 0

• SourceFoden inspires Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace to close gap at top (13 May 2026)
• Supportsas Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0From the headline or standfirst, not the body text
• SupportsSavinho scoring on 84 minutes to follow Antoine Semenyo’s and Omar Marmoush’s first-half strikes

282 points

• SourceFoden inspires Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace to close gap at top (13 May 2026)
• Supportstakes Manchester City back to within two points of Arsenal after 36 games each
• Note“Two” written as 2.

29Arsenal ahead, 36 games each

• SourceFoden inspires Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace to close gap at top (13 May 2026)
• Supportsafter 36 games each

0:17 · Wednesday 13 May · narration

30and Crystal Palace, to get within two points.

• SourceFoden inspires Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace to close gap at top (13 May 2026)
• Supportsas Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 to close to within two points of ArsenalFrom the headline or standfirst, not the body text
• Supportstakes Manchester City back to within two points of Arsenal after 36 games each

0:20 · Tuesday 19 May

31Tue 19 May

• NoteDate: the report was published on Tuesday 19 May 2026.

32Arsenal are champions, their first title in 22 years

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• Supportsthat means Arsenal are the 2025-26 Premier League championsFrom the headline or standfirst, not the body text
• SupportsCongratulations, Arsenal, champions of England after 22 years.

33Bournemouth 1 · City 1

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• Supportsheld Manchester City to a 1-1 drawFrom the headline or standfirst, not the body text
• SupportsErling Haaland’s late equaliser was nowhere near enough.

34Junior Kroupi scores for Bournemouth

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• SupportsWhen Kroupi scored his brilliant strike

35Champions: Arsenal

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• SupportsCongratulations, Arsenal, champions of England after 22 years.

0:20 · Tuesday 19 May · narration

36Then a draw at Bournemouth meant Arsenal were champions.

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• Supportsheld Manchester City to a 1-1 draw that means Arsenal are the 2025-26 Premier League championsFrom the headline or standfirst, not the body text
• SupportsCongratulations, Arsenal, champions of England after 22 years.

0:25 · The last word

37“They deserve it.”

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• Supports“They deserve it.”

38Pep Guardiola, City manager, congratulating Arsenal

• SourceKroupi goal hands title to Arsenal as Bournemouth hold off late City rally (19 May 2026)
• Supports“On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, we congratulate Mikel and all the staff, players and fans on winning the Premier League,” he said.

0:27 · End card

39Drawn from Guardian journalism

• NoteEnd card heading.

Page header

40Thirty seconds on the last month of the title race: the results, the gap between Arsenal and Manchester City, and the draw that settled it.

• NoteSummary of the video. Each element is sourced in the script below.

Checks

• Staying inside the Storyline. Arsenal's win over Burnley on 18 May is reported only in an article from a different Storyline (Guardiola's departure). This video uses only its own Storyline's articles, so it shows the condition set out on 13 May ("if Arsenal defeat Burnley … and City fail to do the same at Bournemouth") and then the draw that made Arsenal champions, without reporting the Burnley result.
• The gap. Each figure is given as the report gives it: three points with Arsenal having played an extra match (25 April); two points with 35 games each (9 May); two points with 36 games each (13 May). On 4 May the report gives no points gap, so the video shows its "three wins from winning their first league title" instead.
• Scores. City 2-1 Arsenal and Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle (25 April article); Everton 3-3 City (4 May); City 3-0 Brentford (the 13 May report's "3-0 win against Brentford"); City 3-0 Crystal Palace (13 May); Bournemouth 1-1 City (19 May). Home side first.
• Arteta's complaint. On 25 April Arteta said City's Khusanov should have been sent off in the 19 April game (not the Newcastle match, where his complaint was about Newcastle's Pope). The article says the incident "did not generate much controversy" at the time; the screen says so too.
• Headline and standfirst sources. Where a score is stated only in a Guardian standfirst in the Storylines data, the manifest says so, and a body passage is cited alongside it where one exists.
• 19 April. The 25 April article spells the ground "Eithad Stadium" (a typo). The video does not name the ground, only that it was "a pivotal game", the article's phrase.
• Team colours. Red for Arsenal and light blue for City are a charting convention to tell the teams apart, not club branding.
• Left out. Barney Ronay's opinion piece and the 4 May explainer on Guardiola's frustration. Both are credited on the end card.
• Images. None. Type, colour and drawn shapes only. Sound: music and effects synthesised in code; no samples, no licensed music; narration by a synthetic voice (Kokoro, run offline), held to the same sourcing rules.