A four episode animated docuseries based on The Atlantic‘s “Life Up Close” project, exploring life in all its multitude of forms. From poisonous mushrooms and tree poaching to wolf conservation and amber mining, each episode dives into a fascinating, unexpected story of life on our planet.
We kicked things off by working closely with journalists to bring their research to life in a new way. Since we had a tight budget (and this was pre-Zoom), we got scrappy—reaching out to local NPR stations to help record interviews. Shoutout to NPR for being the gems they are.
From there, we handled the full documentary production, from editing to sound design to animation. We played with eerie, moody soundscapes for the Pacific Northwest, went full psychedelic for the mushroom episode, and tailored every style to fit the heart of each story. Every choice was intentional—always in service of the storytelling.
Series director & producer Elyse Kelly
Episode directors Ana Mouyis, Maya Edelman, Matt Reynolds, Lois de Silva
Title animator (The Atlantic) Caitlin Cadieux
Editor Dan Fipphen
Sound designer & mixer Chris Mastellone
An award-winning film studio known for stories that spark conversation, shift perspectives, and leave a lasting impact. Founded by director & producer Elyse Kelly.
