This week, we met Tom Sanders, founder and animation director of Tin Mouse Studios — a purpose-driven animation studio behind educational projects for the Science Museum, TED-Ed, the NHS and more. We explore what it takes to build a meaningful creative business that bridges science, storytelling, and design. From pitching ideas to crafting explainers for public health, Tom shares his insight into what makes science communication powerful.

The conversation dives into how AI is reshaping animation and education, and why human curiosity and critical thinking still lead the way. Tom discusses the art of turning complex topics into visual stories anyone can understand, the specific constraints of making video for different spaces, and how to balance creativity with accuracy. 

Tune in to hear how Tom’s purpose-first approach fuels both his business and creativity, and the lessons he’s learned from a decade of experience.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

👉How to build a purpose-driven creative studio that blends animation, education, and science communication.

👉Why simplicity and storytelling outperform jargon when explaining complex scientific ideas.

👉A behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to create educational films for institutions like the Science Museum and NHS, from pitch to final animation.

👤 About the Guest

Tom is the founder and animation director of Tinmouse Animation Studios. For almost 10 years, Tinmouse has been creating content that truly matters through education and purpose-led projects, with clients including the London Science Museum, UK Parliament Education, TedEd and Imperial College London. He also runs a geography website for kids, Archie and Bean’s Adventures.

Follow Tom here:

• Website: https://www.tinmouseanimation.com/ 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomsanderstinmouse/ 

• Science Museum Showcase: https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/sound-and-vision 

• Archie and Beans: https://www.archiboldclutterbuck.co.uk/ 

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🔑 Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction to Tinmouse Animation Studios

01:34 The Remote Studio Experience

02:11 The Animation Production Process

04:48 Diverse Projects and Niche Focus

07:26 Passion for Animation and Career Journey

09:03 Evolution of Animation Practices

09:50 The Impact of AI on Animation

13:52 The Importance of Research in Educational Content

15:59 Case Study: Science Museum Project

21:46 Navigating Multiple Roles in Animation

23:12 Building Confidence in a Non-Traditional Career

28:27 Case Study: COVID-19 Educational Videos

31:37 Creating Relatable Content in Animation

34:53 Measuring Success in Educational Videos

38:10 Balancing Creativity and Accuracy in Science Communication

41:03 The Animation Production Process

47:01 Passion for Education and Geography

50:55 Future Aspirations and the Role of AI in Animation

📲 Connect with The SciComm Spectrum

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescicommspectrum 

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youtube-scriptwriter/ 

Music by music_for_video from Pixabay 18169

Animations by TinMouse Studios

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