Synopsis:
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood. This film explains a concept called co-regulation. Co-regulation involves supporting another person when managing big feelings and returning to a state of calm. When adults co-regulate children, they help a child deal with positive or negative feelings that might otherwise be overwhelming. This enables the child to return to a state where they can think clearly, feel safe and respond to the world around them in helpful ways. This film was illustrated by Brian Rea, animated by Delcan & Co and produced by Dutch Uncle.
- Year:
- 2025
- Country:
- United Kingdom
- Running time:
- 2 min.
- Technique:
- 2D Animation, Hand-drawn Animation
- Production type:
- Professional
- Animators:
- Brian Rea, Delcan & Co
- Production:
- Dutch Uncle
- Distribution:
- Centre for Early Childhood
- Genre:
- Family
- Tags:
- Educational, Mental health, Relationships, Calming, Non-violent
- Audience:
- Adults
-
The Explainer Series: How we grow an emotionally healthy brain
2025 Adults 4 min
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood. This film explains describes the rapid development that happens in early childhood. It explains how early relationships, surroundings and experiences shape development and can have lasting effects throughout life. This film was illustrated by Jasmine Hortop, animated by Real Good Liars and produced by Making Pictures.
- Documentary
- Family
-
The Explainer Series: Noticing and navigating feelings
2025 Adults 3 min
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood. This film unpacks a concept called attunement. In attuned conversations, adults notice a child’s emotional state, name what they are feeling and help them to manage these feelings. The film also describes other ways adults can talk to babies and young children about emotions and how this supports development. This film was illustrated by Alec Doherty, animated by Plastic Horse and produced by Grand Matter.
- Drama
- Family
-
The Explainer Series: Back and forth interactions
2025 Adults 3 min
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood. This film unpacks a concept called contingent responsiveness (also known as serve and return). Contingent responsiveness is what happens when an adult notices a baby or child’s cue or signal and responds in a way that is sensitive and appropriate. This is a central part of nurturing care. This film was illustrated by Haley Tippmann, animated by Henrique Barone and produced by Oskar Illustration.
- Documentary
- Family
-
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood.
- Documentary
- Family
-
The Explainer Series: Creating space for connection
2025 Adults 3 min
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood. This film explains a concept called pacing. When we pace our interactions with children, we adjust our tempo and slow down to help them to process information and respond. Pacing creates space and time for meaningful connection, giving the child greater opportunity to engage positively in an interaction or activity. This film was illustrated by Owen Gildersleeve, animated by Plastic Horse and produced by Grand Matter.
- Documentary
- Family
-
The Explainer Series: Supporting early learning
2025 Adults 3 min
The Explainer Series – A series of animated films explaining brain development and illustrating the science behind social and emotional development in early childhood. This film explains a concept called scaffolding. Scaffolding occurs when adults support children’s learning by helping them to do something for themselves, adjusting the level of guidance and support provided, led by the child’s needs and abilities. This supports the child in mastering new skills. This film was illustrated by Vicki Turner, animated by Plastic Horse and produced by Grand Matter.
- Family
- Pre-school
-
Flipped
2018 4+ 5 min
by Hend Esmat, Lamiaa Diab
What if the roles of kids and adults were switched? The story follows a day full of bizarrely reversed interactions, unravelling the dynamics of the relationship of grown-ups and children.
- Comedy
- Family
- Experimental
-
The Mole and the Earthworm
2015 4+ 3 min
by Johannes Schiehsl
One day, a little mole discovers that all of the other animals have a friend of their same species to play with, but the mole is all alone and very sad. To make matters worse, all the food is starting to rebel. A fat earthworm escapes in a hurry, right under the mole’s nose. The hunt inside the tunnels begins! Finally the earthworm is caught, but just as the mole is about to bite down, he realises that it’s not an earthworm but another mole’s tail. Now that they’ve found each other, there’s a happy ending under the molehill.
- Comedy
- Romance
- Family
-
Every Child
1979 7+ 6 min
by Eugene Fedorenko
This animated short follows an unwanted baby who is passed from house to house until he is taken in and cared for by two homeless men. The film is the Canadian contribution to an hour-long feature film celebrating UNESCO’s Year of the Child (1979). It illustrates one of the ten principles of the Declaration of Children’s Rights: every child is entitled to a name and a nationality.
- Drama
- Comedy
- Tragicomedy
- Family
-
Joanna Quinn Master Class
2022 All audiences 64 min
Joanna Quinn, whose acclaimed body of work includes the Oscar-nominated shorts Famous Fred, The Wife of Bath and her most recent film Affairs of the Art, speaks with Ben Mitchell of Skwigly Online Animation Magazine in an exclusive talk as part of the Linoleum Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival. Having achieved major success at the very beginning of her career with her multi-award-winning debut film Girls Night Out, Joanna has since become an inspirational figurehead to many in the animation world through the work of her studio Beryl Productions. In this talk Joanna will offer unique insight into the highs and lows of industry success and how she has navigated the emotional pitfalls that come with it, from grappling with feelings of failure against high expectations, balancing personal projects and professional commissions, to dealing with imposter syndrome, burnout, staying motivated when life gets in the way and the challenges the younger generation face in the current social media climate and the pressures to succeed that come with it.
- Documentary
- Making of
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Natasza Cetner – Director interview, Animatricks 2022
2021 All audiences 20 min
The director interview with Natasha Cetner.
- Documentary
- Making of
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Masterclass: Lorraine Lordan on her career as an animation director
2020 All audiences 53 min
Lorraine Lordan talks from Ireland on her international career in animation. She explains how she has been able to balance making a short film with lead roles on features, and shares what she has learnt along the way.
- Documentary
- Making of