To design and animate a motion graphics explainer video which gives a brief overview of the planet Mars.
As part of the BBC’s new Knowledge & Learning website, we were tasked with producing an animated explainer video to tell the story of Mars, aimed at viewers with limited initial knowledge of the red planet.
To capture the history of human fascination with Mars, we adopted an informative and educational tone. We designed a slick documentary-style video, incorporating animated CG planets, infographics, and representations of the Martian surface as seen by the Curiosity rover.
The video begins by setting the stage with a view of the night sky, slowly zooming in on Mars. We then delve into the early observations of Mars by ancient civilizations, illustrating how the red planet has intrigued humans for centuries.
Moving forward, the animation highlights key milestones in our understanding of Mars, from the first telescopic observations to modern-day explorations. We use animated infographics to explain the planet’s geological features, such as its vast canyons, towering volcanoes, and mysterious surface formations.
The video transitions to focus on Mars’ atmosphere, depicting its thin, carbon dioxide-rich composition and showcasing dynamic weather patterns, including dust storms and temperature fluctuations. We then introduce Mars’ two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, explaining their characteristics and potential origins.
To illustrate the advancements in Mars exploration, we feature representations of various missions, such as the Viking landers, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and the recent Perseverance rover. These segments are enriched with CG animations showing the rovers in action, capturing the excitement of discovery.
The video also explores the ongoing and future missions aimed at studying Mars, including plans for human exploration. We highlight the scientific goals and potential benefits of these missions, emphasizing the quest to understand whether life ever existed on Mars and what the future holds for human settlement.
In the concluding section, we summarise Mars’ significance in our solar system and the broader context of space exploration. The video zooms out from the Martian surface, placing it within the vast expanse of space, and leaves viewers with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
The entire production was crafted using After Effects, ensuring a cohesive and engaging visual style. The final product is an informative and visually captivating explainer video that educates viewers about Mars while sparking their interest in further exploration of the red planet.
