Where Did Homo sapiens Really Come From?
How our species took shape in Africa between about 320,000 and 60,000 years ago, over a long time and in many places, through populations that split and rejoined.
For research groups, institutes and funded projects
A documentary film about your research
I make 3–15 minute science films that people outside your field will actually watch. Every claim is tied to a source, you approve the script, and the finished film is usually ready two to three days later.
- 250,000+
- views on my science documentary channel since it launched in August 2026
- 29,000+
- hours watched
- 35+
- films published, from the Big Bang to human origins
- 2–3 days
- from approved script to finished film, sometimes one
Films
From From Cosmos to Civilization, my documentary series on the history of the universe and of life. These are the kind of films I would make about your work. The production system improves every week, so the newest films show what you would get today; older episodes use an earlier narration voice.
Where Mitochondria Came From
How an archaeon and an oxygen-breathing bacterium merged for good, and how the partner became the mitochondrion through gene loss, gene transfer and protein import.
The Origin of the Genetic Code
How the ribosome reads a gene, why protein shape is the payoff, and what chemistry can and cannot yet explain about where the codon table came from.
The Big Bang
The first 380,000 years: how the first atomic nuclei formed in minutes, and the measurements, from light-element abundances to the cosmic microwave background, that tell us so.
Why Humans Walk on Two Legs
From the disputed Toumaï fossils to Lucy and the Laetoli footprints: how apes that still climbed trees came to walk upright, one part of the body at a time.
The Origin of Chloroplasts
How a captured cyanobacterium became the chloroplast, and how photosynthesis later spread as other cells captured whole algae.
What can go into your film
Each film mixes the kinds of material below, chosen shot by shot for what the science needs. All clips are taken from my own films. Under each one is where it came from and its licence, the same record every film gets in its credits.
Put together, with narration and music
Where the material comes from
Every image, clip and sound is logged with its source, creator and licence, and listed in the film’s credits. In films made for you, everything is either made for the film, supplied by you, or used under a licence that allows your use.
Made for your film
Scientific animation built in code, AI reconstructions (Grok Imagine, MiniMax H3, OpenAI image models), narration and chapter titles.
Open archives
Wikimedia Commons; NASA, ESA, ESO and NOIRLab image libraries; US government agencies such as NOAA; Smithsonian Open Access and other museum open-access collections.
The scientific literature
Figures from open-access papers under CC BY (via Europe PMC, PubMed Central and journal sites) and datasets on Zenodo.
Data and maps
Protein structures from the RCSB Protein Data Bank; Natural Earth maps; GEBCO ocean-floor data; PALEOMAP and EarthByte plate reconstructions.
3D specimens
Scans of fossils and specimens on Sketchfab, released under Creative Commons licences.
Licensed libraries
Stock footage and music from libraries such as Envato Elements, under their commercial licences.
Your own material
Figures, photos, microscopy and field footage that you own or have permission to use.
What I leave out
Material marked non-commercial or no-derivatives (CC BY-NC, CC BY-ND) and copyrighted figures, unless the rights holder gives permission.
See every source and licence used in my series on its credits site.
Choose the voice
Ten of the narration voices I have designed or tested recently. All are synthetic. Pick one, or I design a new voice for your film from a description (age, accent, tone) and direct how it reads: pace, warmth, emphasis and pauses. Narration works in most major languages, and a human narrator, including someone from your group, is also possible.
- Modern British science presenterMale, late thirties, clear and lively
- Deep British baritoneThe current voice of From Cosmos to Civilization
- Mature British femaleRich, warm and low
- British natural-history narratorMale, older, lightly weathered
- American female altoComposed, warm and precise
- American investigative baritoneMale, focused, a little grain
- American cinematic bassMale, deep and measured
- American young explainerMale, early thirties, relaxed
- American storytellerMale, mature and approachable
- American female, brightFriendly and engaging
Other languages
The same opening passage, translated and read by voices designed for each language.
- SpanishFemale, Castilian Spanish
- GermanMale, standard German
- Mandarin ChineseFemale, standard Putonghua
What every film includes
- A script built from your papers. Every claim is linked to its source in a claim sheet you can check line by line.
- Your approval before production. You correct anything that is wrong, overstated or not yet published.
- Custom scientific animation of molecules, cells, anatomy, timelines, maps and data.
- Reconstructions, your own figures and openly licensed images, all credited on screen and in a full credits list.
- Narration in the voice and language you choose, and a licensed music score.
- English captions and an HD master for your website, YouTube, talks, teaching and funder reports.
- As many rounds of changes as you need on the finished cut.
- Fast delivery: usually two to three days after you approve the script.
How it works
Send your papers
We have a 30-minute call about the story you want to tell, who it is for and which voice fits.
Script and claim sheet
You get the full script with sources. You fix anything I got wrong. Nothing goes forward until you approve it.
The film
Usually ready two to three days after you approve the script, sometimes the next day.
Changes and delivery
Comment with timestamps, as many rounds as you need. Then you get the film, captions and credits list.
Pricing
Explainer
$750
3–5 minutes
One finding, explained clearly. For a paper release, a project page or the start of a talk.
Documentary
$1,800
10–15 minutes
The whole story: the question, how you answered it, and what it changes.
Series
$6,000
Four films, 10–15 minutes each
For a multi-year project or a research centre: one film per result, delivered as the work comes out.
Prices in US dollars. Half at the start, half on delivery. I can invoice your institution or work from a purchase order.
How the films are made
I built my own production system, and AI does much of the work in it: it helps with research, drafting, animation code, images and narration. I direct and edit everything, check the science myself and make the final decisions. You approve every claim before production starts.
Working this way is what makes these prices and this speed possible. It is also why the process starts with sources and your approval: speed is only useful if the science is right.
About me
I’m Anders Lunde. I have a master’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Oslo and a PhD in developmental neuroscience, where my research involved transcription factors and RNA sequencing. I also work as a software developer.
For the past six months I have been building the production system behind From Cosmos to Civilization. Every source and image used in the series is listed on its credits site.
Questions
How do you make sure the science is right?
The script is written from your papers and the literature they cite, and every claim is linked to its source. You review the script and the claim sheet before production, and the cut before delivery. Nothing goes into the film that you have not seen.
How can it be that fast?
Most of the production work, from animation to narration and editing, runs in a system I built for it. The slow part is usually the review on your side, and you can take as long as you need.
Can we use our own figures, microscopy or field footage?
Yes, and the film is better for it. Send whatever you have, and I will combine it with animation and openly licensed material.
Can the film be in another language?
Yes. Narration works in most major languages, and captions can be added in more than one. Tell me the audience and we will pick the language and voice together.
Where can we use the film?
Anywhere, with no time limit: your website, YouTube, social media, conferences, teaching and reports to funders. Material from other sources is used only under licences that allow this, and every item is credited. I may show the film in my portfolio unless you would rather I didn’t.
Can it be part of our grant’s communication plan?
Films are a common item in communication and outreach plans. I can write the quote and invoice in whatever form your funder or finance office needs.
Is the film made for scientists or for the public?
Usually for curious people outside your field: students, funders, policymakers and the public. We decide on the audience in the first call, and the script is written for them.
Tell me about your project
Send a paper or a few sentences about your work. I will reply with a film idea and a quote within two working days.