Animation for Accessible Education Platforms

The bulk of our ongoing work with the BBC centres around delivering video content for their award winning Bitesize platform. Each project consists of a series of films focussing on an overarching theme or subject, and we are challenged with finding new and exciting ways to bring each subject to life. 

Often using animation as our creative discipline of choice, we have greater scope to explore a concept and find the extra layer of visual engagement that will resonate with a younger audience.

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

  • Three children standing in a living room talking while an adult looks on - Heehaw production for BBC Bitesize
  • Three children standing in a shop with a shop keeper looking on - Stills from Heehaw production for BBC Bitesize
  • Boy standing with a thought bubble thinking about the distance from Poland to scotland on a map - Stills from Heehaw production for BBC Bitesize
  • Nature scene with river and mountains in the background. Dragonfly, frog and bird seen sitting in the landscape - Content taken from Heehaw film for BBC Bitesize
  • Family of cave people in the woods. The little girl is sat speaking to a person made of wood. Content taken from Heehaw film for BBC Bitesize
  • String is drawn between information on a Scottish witch trial - Stills taken from Heehaw project for BBC Bitesize
  • A map with three paper flags to represent the triple allied alliance in world war one - Stills taken from Heehaw project for BBC Bitesize
  • Various cut out images that represent the start of world war one - English as an additional language - Heehaw production for BBC Bitesize
  • A man and a woman sail through a storm in the 16th century - Image taken from Heehaw project for BBC Bitesize
  • Child with a bag on his back and a book in his hand has four people pointing at him - Still from film by Heehaw for BBC Bitesize
  • Child with a backpack on and a phone in his hand is looking at lots of social media posts - Image taken from BBC Own it project by Heehaw Productions

Partners in education

As you might imagine, working in education means that projects are delivered in close partnership with both the team at the BBC and specialised education consultants. Messaging has to be correct and delivered appropriately, and the input and feedback of a specialist steering group is invaluable to success. 

As ever, our focus is on thinking differently, and this has led to the realisation of some truly fascinating concepts and a collaboration with Dr WHO himself, David Tennant.

BBC Bitesize - English as an Additional Language

Three students learn English together as they get into a bunch of odd, and downright funny, situations only animation can create. Who knew learning English could be so much fun?

BBC Bitesize - Energy

David Tennant introduces us to the different types of personified energy from Hydro, an animated Scottish laird, to Biomass, a blob of stinky green goop.

BBC Bitesize - Sustainability

To be or not to be… sustainable? This animation tells you everything you need to know about sustainability using fun characters to pull a lot of the weight.

BBC Bitesize - North Berwick Witch Trials

Scotland’s dark history of witches is explored through this animation, where events in a small town near Edinburgh directed the actions of a superstitious king in England.

Children’s BBC - Journey of a Photo

Photos can travel far, like, really far. This animation shows the journey of a photo and teaches children that being safe online is better than being a viral sensation.

BBC Bitesize - Alliances

A single bullet started the most catastrophic war the world has ever seen. This animation explores the European alliances on both sides of World War One.

Animation for the classroom

Behind the scenes

Finding new ways to use animation to explore a huge variety of concepts is one of the reasons we love working with the BBC and the team at Bitesize. They challenge us to think outside of the box and come up with characters, scenes and transitions that keep young viewers engaged and entertained, as well as informed. Here are some development sketches from some of our past BBC projects.

  • Three children sat in a classroom drawing - Images taken from Heehaw project for BBC Bitesize
  • Three children sitting in the school canteen eating their lunch and talking - Image taken from BBC Bitesize English as an additional language film by Heehaw
  • Young boy in a tunnel - Image taken from Heehaw English as an Additional Language project for BBC Bitesize
  • A young boy digs a tunnel by candle light - Image taken from Heehaw production for BBC Bitesize
  • Girl thinking about food with the onions, lentils, potatoes and tomatoes on screen - Image taken from English as an additional language for the BBC by Heehaw
  • Reusuable superheroes called Tex, Aluminium, Wood, Glass, Iron and Copper - Characters from the BBC Bitesize Energy series by Heehaw
  • Character from the BBC Bitesize energy series produced by Heehaw
  • Character designs from BBC Bitesize English as an additional language project by Heehaw
  • Soldiers make their way through a trench in WW1 - Image from a Heehaw animation for BBC Bitesize
  • A soldier stands in a trench as planes fly over head - A Heehaw animation for BBC Bitesize

Our Client Case Studies:

Animated green monster for BBC Bitesize

BBC
Kieran Reilly - BMX Rider - Red Bull Wingfinder
Children looking and smiling at camera - Heehaw Productions project for United Nations
Man walking beside palm trees - Hilton - Curio Road Trip
The Hidden Histories of Queer Art - Heehaw film for National Galleries of Scotland
Animated characters standing on plinths - Bailie Gifford Business Operations - Heehaw Production