The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a dedicated UK charity, is on a vital mission: protecting bumblebees and reversing the alarming decline of their populations in the UK. With three bumblebee species already lost and nine more under threat, raising awareness is a crucial part of their conservation efforts.

This includes educating the public about bumblebee life cycles, diets, ideal habitats, and how we – yes, us big stinky humans – can help these vital pollinators thrive.

This particular project involved creating a 2D explainer animation focused on the nesting habits of queen bumblebees. Our star is a white-tailed bumblebee, as she emerges from hibernation and embarks on her quest to find the perfect location for a new nest.

As an unabashed animal nut (bookshelves overflowing with natural history, never miss an Attenborough!), designing and animating these fuzzy queens was an absolute joy. The challenge was striking a delicate balance: the animation needed to be realistic enough for viewers to identify the featured bumblebee species, along with the surrounding flora and fauna. Simultaneously, it had to be appealing to a wider audience (let's face it, bumblebee legs can be a tad…off-putting to non-entomologists, and their faces are certainly unique!). This required a thoughtful approach to character design for animation to ensure both accuracy and charm.

The resulting 2D animated explainer video was a huge success, garnering tens of thousands of views on YouTube. Crucially, it was strategically written and designed to be easily segmented into smaller, engaging snippets perfect for platforms like Instagram and other social media channels. This approach has seen the animation racking up likes and shares, effectively raising awareness and, hopefully, playing its part in reversing the plight of the bumblebee through engaging animated content. This project highlights the power of 2D animation for charities and the effectiveness of animated videos for raising awareness about important environmental issues.