UEA

A collaboration between our very own Sonic of animation, Martin, and freelance illustrator extraordinaire Joe McLean

Today, we’re highlighting one of our all-time favourite animations. The University of East Anglia (UEA) has been a close collaborator of ours for years. We’ve worked with them across both film and animation, and every project pushes us creatively. They always bring out the best in us, and we love working with them because of it.

This particular animation, Protecting Our Pollinators, was a collaboration between our animation expert Martin and freelance illustrator Joe McLean. As an animated explainer video company, we were tasked with creating an engaging and educational film that explores the vital role of pollinators. While many people think of bees first, pollinators can also include flies, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, and even reptiles and mice in certain parts of the world. These creatures have co-evolved with flowering plants for millions of years, shaping the vast diversity of flowers we see today.

UEA’s research analysed data from 126 global experiments that excluded vertebrate pollinators like birds and bats. The findings were staggering—excluding these pollinators led to an average 63% reduction in fruit and seed production. Our challenge was to transform this research into a visually compelling animation that would bring the findings to a wider audience.To capture the beauty of nature, our team opted for a hand-drawn-style illustration. This approach added an organic, storybook quality, reflecting the imperfections and charm of the natural world. A balanced colour palette of greens, contrasted with bold pops of colour, helped reinforce the diversity of nature and made the animation visually striking.

The soundtrack was carefully chosen to add depth and warmth to the visuals. Sweeping crescendos and choral flourishes guided the audience through the animation, while diegetic sound effects brought each scene to life. As an animated explainer video company, we know that sound design is just as important as the visuals—it creates an immersive, emotional connection to the story.

This animation is a standout in the Meantime archives. It’s not just because of the craft involved but because of the opportunity to contribute to an important scientific conversation. We love working with UEA and the wider research community because it allows us to learn about fascinating new topics. The natural world matters deeply to us, and we’re proud to have played a small role in raising awareness about pollinators.

If you’re looking for an animated explainer video company to bring research, education, or science to life, we’d love to help. Animation has the power to make complex ideas accessible and engaging, and we’re always ready for the next challenge.