This project brought to life the ecological relationship of “cleaning mutualisms” on coral reefs, where small cleaner fish remove parasites from larger client fish. Our brief was to create a 3‑minute animated video for public engagement, explaining this behaviour in an accessible, visually engaging way, suitable for websites, presentations, social media, and science events.

We began the animation by introducing the concept of ecosystems and species interactions in an emotive way, helping viewers feel connected to the natural world. The film then follows research from Tübingen University, showing how cleaner fish support reef health and biodiversity, and how species interactions respond to environmental change.

The animation includes both English and German versions, each with respective captions/subtitles, making the science approachable for a wide audience.