2D Animation – Day at the Museum.
Creating a 2D Animation Video to Showcase the rules and layout of a museum.
The KAUST Museum, located on the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology campus, serves as a bridge between the University’s cutting-edge research and the rich legacy of scientific discovery from the Islamic Golden Age (650–1650). The museum celebrates the contributions of early Muslim scholars whose innovations shaped modern science and technology. They approached us to create a 2D animation video that would encourage more visitors, especially children and families, to explore the museum. The goal was to highlight its interactive exhibits, welcoming spaces, and inclusive environment. Making learning about history and science both engaging and accessible.
Project Objectives
The primary objective of this project was to create a bespoke 2D animation video that promotes the museum as an educational and inclusive destination. The animation needed to highlight the museum’s interactive exhibits, accessibility, and welcoming atmosphere, while also reflecting its deeper mission of connecting modern-day research with the rich scientific heritage of the Islamic Golden Age.
Key objectives included:
- Encouraging Visitors: Inspiring families and young audiences to visit the museum and explore its exhibits.
- Promoting Accessibility: Showcasing the museum as a friendly and inclusive environment for all visitors, including those with disabilities.
- Driving Engagement: Presenting the museum as an exciting, educational, and enjoyable experience that blends history with interactivity.
The Creative Process
Our creative process began with an in-depth exploration of the museum’s history, purpose, and audience. We collaborated closely with the client to ensure that the final animation aligned with their educational and cultural mission.
- Client Consultation:
We conducted several consultation sessions with their team to understand their objectives, target audience, and the key messages they wanted to convey, particularly the importance of inclusion, interactivity, and educational fun. - Research and Storyboarding:
We researched the museum’s themes, exhibits, and architectural layout to ensure authenticity in the storytelling. The storyboard outlined a guided journey through the museum, led by diverse characters, including a young girl in a wheelchair, to emphasize accessibility and inclusivity. - Script Development:
The script was written to be both educational and inviting, using a tone that would appeal to children and families while highlighting the museum’s rich connection to science, innovation, and culture. It was important to explain the different zones and that in those zones are exhibits with which you can engage and some you cannot. This formed all part of explaining the rules and layout of the museum. - Design and Animation:
This was a bespoke 2D animation project, meaning every visual element, from the characters to the environment, was created from scratch. The characters were designed with limited but expressive movements to maintain simplicity while ensuring representation and inclusivity. The museum’s interiors (7 zones) , interactive and noninteractive exhibits, and outdoor refreshment areas were carefully illustrated to mirror the real spaces and convey a sense of warmth and curiosity. - Voiceover and Sound Design:
An AI generated narration and lively background music were incorporated to give a positive atmosphere to the storytelling and to maintain viewer interest. Sound effects were used to bring interactivity to life, helping younger audiences connect with the museum’s atmosphere.
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Execution
The execution phase focused on seamlessly integrating all visual and auditory components into a cohesive final animation that captured the essence of the museum.
- Animation Production:
The storyboard was meticulously translated into a fully animated sequence. The production involved keyframe-based animation to ensure smooth and natural motion for characters and objects, along with easing techniques to create realistic acceleration and deceleration in movement. Scene composition leveraged multiple layers, including background, midground, and foreground elements, which were parallaxed to add depth and immersion to the museum tour. Vector-based assets were rigged with digital bones for precise character animation, enabling gestures, expressions, and interactive movements without redrawing each frame. Transitions between scenes were enhanced with motion graphics elements, such as animated overlays, dynamic camera pans, and zooms, which guided the viewer’s focus and maintained engagement. Additionally, color correction and lighting effects were applied to maintain visual consistency. - Client Reviews:
We collaborated with the client at multiple milestones, incorporating their feedback to ensure that the representation of spaces, characters, and inclusivity elements met their expectations. - Final Edits and Polishing:
The animation underwent refinement to balance pacing, enhance visual clarity, and ensure that both educational and emotional tones were achieved in harmony.
Results
The completed 2D animation video successfully met all project objectives and was well received by the KAUST Museum team and its audience.
Key outcomes included:
- Increased Engagement: The animation effectively captured attention and conveyed that the museum is both educational and enjoyable for visitors of all ages.
- Visitor Appeal: The animation helped position the museum as a must-visit destination.
Conclusion
This project showcases our ability to transform educational messages into engaging visual stories. Through a fully customisable, hand-crafted 2D approach, we created an animation that celebrates inclusivity, curiosity, and discovery.
By bringing the museum’s story to life in an accessible and entertaining way, this project exemplifies our commitment to producing creative content that not only informs but also inspires future generations of learners and innovators.
We are a leading video production company in Johannesburg and have one of the top learner management systems in South Africa.
We specialise in Video Production, Photography, Graphic Design, eLearning Development, Web Design, Animation and Creative Consultation. | info@oliverkarstel.co.za | www.oliverkarstel.co.za | IG.com/oliverkarstel
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Info
3D Animation
KAUST Museum
Animation
17/10/2025
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