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Marshalls – Biodiversity
Promoting biodiversity in gardens for climate-conscious landscapers
Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership
Name of project
Connected Ecosystems Explainer Animations
Audience
People interested in the marine and coastal environment, living, working or visiting the Yorkshire coast
What we did
Research & concept development, visual development, scripting, sound design & mix, design & animation, project management
Deliverables
Four 2-minute animations, cutdown trailers, and stills for print and digital marketing
Play
Celebrating the secrets of the Yorkshire Coast.
The problem
Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership commissioned us to produce a four-film animation series exploring different elements of Yorkshire’s coastal and marine environment. YMNP aims to change how people view and use Yorkshire’s seas and coasts, to help these unique environments thrive. The animations increase public engagement with local coastal and marine conservation and recovery in the face of the climate crisis.
Our solution
Creating a series of animations about the importance of the nature on our doorstep was a dream project for us. The four animations take you under the water, visualising the hidden magic below the waves. The team championed Yorkshire’s varied landscapes and wildlife, with beautifully designed postcard scenes of recognisable locations and meticulous attention to detail for iconic species in the region. These scenes are complemented by diagrammatic illustrations with text annotations that visualise complex subject matter. Then through sound design, we created a rich immersive experience with the sounds of the sea – layering bird calls and waves lapping.
Delivering amazing results
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25species designed
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16 weekturnaround
Pause
Changing the view of the Yorkshire coastline.
It was important that our illustrations were scientifically and geographically accurate while entertaining for the non-technical audience. Blending different textures, the team captured the rugged nature of the Yorkshire coastline. Each postcard shot is based on familiar coastal locations, referencing the geographical features that show off the coastline’s formidable personality.
The designs put the beauty and diversity of these ecosystems front and centre, accurately representing the iconic wildlife. Our wildlife illustrations include tiny details for specific species of birds and fish that call Yorkshire their home. Bringing these together, we built up rich visuals that take audiences into ecosystems they may have never seen, such as kelp forests. The details help people understand these exceptional worlds, inspiring and encouraging them to learn more about our wonderful Yorkshire coast, and YMNP and their partner’s work.
The animations were produced for YMNP in collaboration with their charitable partner North York Moors Trust and funders Environment Agency as part of the Championing Coastal Coordination fund.
Engaging in coastal recovery.
We produced four films for the series, each focussed on a different element of Yorkshire’s coastal and marine environment. From brief, through scripting, design, and animation, we delivered all films in 16 weeks. This included feedback from YMNP at every stage.
In ‘The Secret of the Shoal’, we tell the story of the humble shoaling fish and the ways the success of these small species impacts the whole coastal ecosystem. ‘The Beauty of Blue Carbon’ explains how kelp and sediment capture carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, just like trees on land. During ‘Super Sediments’, we show how sediments from the Holderness coastline become unique habitats for wildlife further down the coast. Finally, our fourth film, ‘Coastal Climate Change’ brings these topics together to show how the climate crisis is affecting the Yorkshire coast.
Watch all four films and find out more about YMNP here.
Play
It has been a pleasure working with Little Motel – the team understood the brief and worked closely with me to make sure every aspect of each animation was accurate, whilst also being engaging, informative and looking good! These animations are a perfect tool to inspire, enthuse and encourage people to find out more about our wonderful Yorkshire coast.— Heather Davison-Smith Development Officer Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership
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