Medical Animation Production for UKRI
Cass Productions created this medical animation production for UKRI to explore research into a potential new approach to treating schizophrenia.
Combining interviews with 2D animation and visual storytelling, the film brings together scientific research and lived experience to explain a complex and sensitive subject in an accessible, human way.
The film features Rich, who shares his personal experience of living with schizophrenia and the limitations of existing treatments.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
1.4M+ views
On YouTube
UKRI
Client
Further commissions
Following the project
Mixed media
Interviews + 2D animation
Explaining complex medical research
The film explores research by Autifony Therapeutics into AUT00206, an experimental treatment being investigated for its potential to address cognitive difficulties associated with schizophrenia.
One of the creative challenges was communicating the science clearly without overwhelming the audience with technical information. Animation allowed us to visualise abstract ideas and support the interview content, helping viewers understand both the research and why it could matter to people living with the condition.
Combining research with lived experience
Rather than explaining the research purely from a scientific perspective, the film also incorporates the lived experience of Rich, who discusses the realities of schizophrenia and the impact of existing treatments on everyday life.
Bringing these perspectives together allowed the film to connect the science with the people it could ultimately affect. Our approach was deliberately sensitive and understated, giving contributor
Reaching more than 1.4 million viewers
Published by UK Research and Innovation on YouTube, the film has now been viewed more than 1.4 million times, demonstrating the reach that clear, engaging storytelling can achieve when communicating complex research.
The project also formed part of an ongoing relationship with UKRI, who went on to commission Cass Productions for further film and animation projects.
Using animation to make the invisible visible
2D animation and motion graphics were used throughout the film to communicate concepts that couldn’t easily be captured through live-action footage alone.
The visual treatment helped illustrate aspects of cognition, treatment and scientific research while maintaining an appropriate tone for the subject matter. Animation was integrated with the interviews rather than treated as a separate element, creating a coherent visual narrative throughout the film.
Medical and healthcare storytelling
We work with healthcare organisations, researchers and public-sector bodies to communicate complex and sensitive subjects through film and animation.
From patient stories and research films to medical explainers and public health campaigns, our approach combines clear communication with thoughtful, human storytelling.
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