Science Animated - Sci Ani

What Science Animated - Sci Ani does

Science Animated (Sci Ani) is a UK-based scientific communication agency that produces bespoke animations converting complex peer-reviewed research into accessible visual content. Founded in 2016 by Simon and operating from the Cotswolds under the legal entity Research Publishing International Ltd (company number 10135100), the company offers five animation styles — full 3D animation, 2D with 3D models, standard 2D, whiteboard, and tailored styling — priced per minute from £460 to £9,240+. Each project is managed by a dedicated editor from script writing through voiceover recording and social media distribution, with a guaranteed promotional reach of 85,000 people across YouTube (under Creative Commons), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

The underlying technology is craft-based rather than platform-based: in-house 2D and 3D animation production augmented by WordPress for web services, with no proprietary AI/ML stack or software product. Complementary offerings include WordPress website design and build (from £2,425), hosting and maintenance (from £295/year), SEO, analytics, and a full brand development suite covering logos, guidelines, and marketing collateral. A sister company, ResearchPod, extends the offering into podcast content.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time project fees for bespoke animation work, supplemented by recurring hosting subscriptions, brand service fees, and partnership-driven distribution (notably paid placements via Researcher App). Sci Ani has served 215 institutions across 26 countries including Harvard, Oxford, Imperial College London, CERN, ETH Zürich, and AAAS, and has produced 280+ animations spanning health, environment, physics, and behavioural sciences. The company is privately held, founder-owned, operates with 30+ staff, and has no disclosed external funding.

Name

Science Animated - Sci Ani

Legal name

Research Publishing International Ltd

Website

https://sciani.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UK-based scientific communication agency producing bespoke 2D, 3D, whiteboard, and hybrid animations for researchers, academic institutions, biotech firms, and healthcare organisations, with complementary web, hosting, and brand services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Animation Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multimedia Learning Production (Video, Animation, Interactive) (EDAGAKAG), Graphics, Branding & Character Generation (CG) (MPAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Scientific animation services
• Research communication
• Scientific visualization
• Medical education videos
• Brand development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stroud

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Animation Production: Primary revenue stream from creating bespoke scientific animations. Pricing varies by animation style (2D, 3D, whiteboard, tailored) with per-minute rates ranging from £460 to £9,240+
2. Website Design and Build: Web development services using WordPress, with prices starting from £2,425 for one-page websites
3. Hosting and Maintenance: Website hosting services starting from £295 per year with fully managed support
4. Brand Development Services: Logo development, brand guidelines, and marketing collateral creation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Science Animated (Sci Ani) is a scientific communication agency that produces bespoke 2D, 3D, and whiteboard animations based on specific researchers' work. The company offers a complete end-to-end service covering script writing, animation production, voiceover recording, and social media promotion, serving academic, healthcare, commercial, non-profit, e-learning, and government clients globally.

Product overview

Science Animated (Sci Ani) offers a comprehensive suite of research-driven animation and digital services for academic, commercial, and institutional clients. The core offering centres on five animation styles: 3D Animation (high-end bespoke), 2D with 3D Models (hybrid approach), 2D Animation (house style), Whiteboard Animation (cost-effective), and Tailored Styling (custom visual approach). Complementary digital services include Website Design and Build (WordPress-based), Hosting and Maintenance, SEO Optimisation, and Analytics and Reporting. Brand development services cover Logo Development, Brand Guidelines, Brand Positioning and Nomenclature, and Brand Templates and Marketing Collaterals. The company provides a complete service from script writing through to social media promotion, with a global reach of 85,000 people through their promotional channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ResearchPod: Sister company that helps researchers connect with a global audience of peers and the public through podcasts.

Products and services

• 3D Animation High-end bespoke 3D animation service that conveys complex scientific concepts with intricate detail, depth, and a polished realistic or stylised finish. Suitable for very complex information or when viewing from multiple angles adds to understanding.
• 2D with 3D Models Animation service combining 2D storytelling with added 3D models for technical elements or moments requiring depth and multiple viewing angles. Offers both narrative clarity and technical depth at a moderate price point.
• 2D Animation Standard 2D animation produced in the company's house style, suitable for simpler concepts and narrative storytelling with engaging imagery.
• Whiteboard Animation Lower-cost animation style featuring simulated whiteboard explanations with hands drawing artwork and text onscreen. Effective for introducing research papers, explaining technology to non-specialists, and educational purposes.
• Website Design and Build Website development service using WordPress platform, ranging from simple one-page websites to complex sites with custom design elements and interactivity.
• Hosting and Maintenance Managed hosting infrastructure and ongoing technical support for client websites, ensuring security and reliability, with subscription pricing starting from £295 per year.
• SEO Optimisation Search engine optimisation services including audits for existing sites and full optimisation for new sites to improve Google rankings.
• Analytics and Reporting Web analytics services to analyse visitor behaviour and report key metrics for optimising website user experience.
• Logo Development Custom logo design service creating recognisable visual identities for projects, companies, or products based on client requirements.
• Brand Guidelines Design principle documentation ensuring consistent visual style across all client documents and content.
• Brand Positioning and Nomenclature Brand strategy service positioning client brands in the market and developing memorable brand names reflecting unique positioning.
• Brand Templates and Marketing Collaterals Rollout of branding across online and offline materials including email signatures, social templates, business cards, and presentation templates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80%+ of all traffic will consist of video by 2021 (industry statistic cited)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BakerBaird CommunicationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-award winning strategic public relations consultancy with background in national media, Government, NHS, Higher Education and technology. Creates societal impact through campaigns and has worked at senior Whitehall level including No10 Downing Street.
• Future Science GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgressive publisher founded in 2001 focused on communicating breakthrough medical, biotechnological and scientific research. Manages publishing imprints including Future Science, Future Medicine, Newlands Press, and PharmaPlatforms. Also develops specialist knowledge networks.
• WhatBox LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreates tailor-made partnerships establishing and strengthening industry links between emerging start-ups to large corporates with academic expertise. Helps leverage multiple funding opportunities and builds collaboration for research and development.
• KognityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital education platform providing quality, curriculum-aligned content. Offers auto-correcting assignments and student progress analysis with interactive content for student engagement.
• Researcher AppcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld's leading mobile discovery platform for scientists and researchers. Over 60 publishers including Springer Nature, ACS, Wiley, Taylor & Francis trust their advertising channels. Offers paid distribution starting at $500 for individual PIs and authors.
• ResearchPodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company helping researchers connect with global audience of peers and public through podcast content.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Research Square: Research communication and preprint services platform serving academic authors and institutions. Comparable in buyer (researchers/research administrators) but delivers services rather than animation.
• Mind the Graph: Scientific visual communication platform for graphical abstracts, infographics and posters. Listed as SciAni's own technology partner but addresses the same 'researcher visual comms' pain point with a self-serve, lower-cost model.
• Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell: Animation studio producing high-quality educational and science explainer videos at scale. Comparable in animation-for-science-communication category but operates consumer/D2C at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• AXS Studio: Scientific animation and interactive media studio specialising in molecular biology, pharma and biotech visualisation. Closely comparable in craft, science-specialisation and client mix.
• Nature Video (Springer Nature): In-house video team of Nature producing scientific animations and short films for published research. Comparable in craft and audience but operates as a publisher-aligned function rather than commercial agency.
• Cognition Studio: Science-focused visual communication studio producing animations, illustrations and interactive content for research, biotech and academic clients. Strong direct overlap in offerings and buyer.
• Helix Visual: Medical and scientific animation agency producing 3D MOA videos and mechanism-of-action content for pharma and biotech. Direct overlap in 3D scientific animation for life-sciences clients.
• Random42 Scientific Communication: UK-based scientific and medical animation studio producing explainer animations for pharma, biotech and academia. Most direct comparable in target market, offering mix (2D/3D medical animation) and pricing tier.
• Nucleus Medical Media: Medical and scientific animation and illustration studio serving healthcare, pharma and academic clients. Directly comparable in services (3D/2D medical animations) and end customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• TED-Ed: Educational animation initiative producing short animated lessons on scientific and academic topics. Comparable in animation-for-learning output but operates as a non-profit media platform rather than commercial agency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Sci_Ani
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SciAni
• Facebookfacebook.com/scianimation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sci-ani-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Science Animated - Sci Ani