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Case study · animated series

Everything

In 22 minutes

An animated film cycle that became the signature engine of the Dostoevsky Lecture Hall channel. One big topic — exactly 22 minutes

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Client: Dostoevsky Lecture Hall

33.5 M
ViewsYouTube + VK Video + RuTube

46 films in the cycle, 22 minutes — a strict clock, 2D + 3D animation and neural networks in the pipeline

Clients and partners
About the cycle

Everything
most fascinating
in 22 minutes

“In 22 minutes” is a cycle of animated films where each episode unpacks a big topic in 22 minutes: a major figure, a historical era, war, a scientific field, or a cultural phenomenon. The format works equally for school students, university audiences, and adults following the Lecture Hall

A strict format

22 minutes is the shared runtime for the whole cycle. Script, voice, and edit are cut to fit so every film lands as “one topic — one sitting”

2D + 3D + AI

Collages, shapes, archival image treatment, 3D modeling, and neural networks in the pipeline — our own serial animation conveyor for dozens of episodes a year

Fact-checking and editing

Every script goes through an editor and a scientific consultant: names, dates, quotes, and claims are verified against sources before recording

One visual language

46 films in one visual standard: palette, typography, narrator voice, and sound design read as a series — not one-off clips

Poster for the animated cycle “In 22 minutes”, Dostoevsky Lecture HallClient

Dostoevsky
Lecture Hall

HistoryLiteratureScienceArt

Russia’s largest educational media project: lectures, interviews, podcasts, and animated films available for free. We produce the “In 22 minutes” cycle end to end with the Lecture Hall

Selected films

22 films

We showcase 22 films from the cycle — different eras and themes so you can see the visual language and animation quality. All are playable on this page

33.5M views across the full cycle
Poster for the documentary series “Historical Detective” by 2U Studio
Another studio project
Documentary series

“Historical Detective” — 14 episodes on the riddles of Russian history

A documentary series on key mysteries of Russian history. 2U Studio produced the project turnkey for the Russian Institute of History and the Dostoevsky Lecture Hall

HistoryInvestigationsExpertsCinematic craft
14episodes
5.3Mviews
View case study
Pipeline

From script
to render

Six stages every film in the cycle passes through. We use the same pipeline on commercial 2D/3D animation and educational video projects

  1. 01
    Stage 01 / 0622 minutes — a hard standard

    Script development

    Screenwriter and scientific consultant, dramaturgy, and fact-checking. Output: a script timed to exactly 22 minutes

  2. 02
    Stage 02 / 06One voice for the whole series

    Voiceover

    Casting a narrator for educational film, studio recording of clean voice, processing, and sync with the future picture edit

  3. 03
    Stage 03 / 06A unique look per film

    Visual concept

    Moodboard, palette, references, and style for each topic: architecture, painting, war, biography. Every film gets its own visual world

  4. 04
    Stage 04 / 06Shapes, collage, motion, neural nets

    2D animation and AI

    Rhythmic image editing, shape animation, archival photos and textures, period styling, reconstructions with generative AI — the backbone of each film

  5. 05
    Stage 05 / 063D modeling and render

    3D animation

    Modeling, texturing, rigging, and rendering 3D scenes — reconstructions of events, objects, and spaces you cannot show with archives alone

  6. 06
    Stage 06 / 06VK Video + RuTube + YouTube

    Edit, sound, and release

    Final assembly, sound design, music, and mastering for video platforms

Credits

The team
behind the cycle

Serial production inside one studio — from script to render and revisions

01Editorial and script3
  • ScreenwriterText for a 22-minute clock, adapted to the narrator’s voice
  • Scientific consultantHistorical and factual verification of the material
  • Project managerSeries schedule, approvals, and client documentation
02Voice and sound3
  • NarratorClean voice recording in one timbre for the entire cycle
  • Sound designerMusic, ambiences, foley, mastering for platforms
  • Sound engineerStudio recording, cleanup, and mix of the voice track
03Visuals and animation5
  • Art directorVisual concept, palette, references, typography
  • 2D animatorShape animation, collage, archival image treatment
  • 3D generalistModeling, texturing, rigging, and rendering scenes
  • AI specialistNeural networks for imagery and pipeline acceleration
  • Film editorFinal assembly, pacing, color grading
Need a film, infographic, or a series?

We’ll estimate
your animation

We do motion design in the same pipeline as “In 22 minutes”: promos, video explainers, educational films, motion for events and social, series under one visual key. Describe the brief — we’ll quote budget and timeline

Promo spots and ads
Explainer video and infographics
Educational films
Motion for events and social
Series and brand packs
2D, 3D, and neural networks
Motion design and animation →

Reply within 2 business days. Consultation is free

Related services

More from the studio

Motion design and animation

2D + 3D, collage, and shape animation — the same pipeline as “In 22 minutes”. A series or a standalone film

Interviews and video lectures

Experts and heroes on set or location — the educational format continued in live action

Promo films

Short promo or educational films up to 3 minutes: script, animation, voiceover, and sound design

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Get to know the studio

TURNKEY FORMATS

The studio’s main directions. One screen, one story — swipe to browse

Slide 1 of 6

Motion design and animation

Motion & animation

Design that actually leads the cut

Promos, explainers, in-frame infographics, titles and idents, AI ads and campaign-ready assets. One pipeline from styleframes to the final file — one cycle with an experienced team of professionals

Motion: scope, process, and work
Event photo and video coverage

Event coverage

Event coverage raised to the level of craft

Conferences, strategy offsites, awards, trade shows, and company events: camera, light, sound, and edit for the format. We’ve been media partners for many federal-level venues — and we know what discipline means when the outcome has to be clear

Event coverage: details and portfolio
Lecture and interview production

Lectures & interviews

Long-form you don’t treat like a short reel

Courses, webinars, podcasts, interviews, and lectures: script, set, image, sound, and delivery for your channel. We shoot and edit in an educational, business-appropriate tone — at our locations or yours in Moscow, or on out-of-town trips

Lectures & interviews: what’s included
Documentary and brand film

Documentary

A brand and production story that actually inspires

Image, production, and corporate documentary films: shoot, edit, motion, and work with the people in front of the camera. A good fit when you need a story where retention comes from substance — the facts, the texture, not the soundtrack alone

Documentary: story and timeline
Commercial video and AI production

Commercials

Campaigns built to perform

AI ads and A/B creative, TV and digital promos, script to animatic in one team. From concept to release when you need speed, clear metrics, and fast iterations

Commercial: AI and timelines
AI video from photos: production for events, campaigns, and corporate work

Video from photos

Only photos — a finished video

AI in the pipeline: a video from your photos and the brief. Pacing, music, transitions for events and campaigns when you need a fast, high-impact result without a heavy shoot

Video from photos: what’s included

Let’s talk about your animated cycle

+7 (938) 095-63-95

or describe the task in the form

We unpack the cycle’s theme, propose format and runtime, and give a budget range. We work with media, museums, universities, corporate academies, and brands

  • Script and scientific consulting
  • Studio voiceover
  • 2D and 3D animation, neural networks
  • Publishing on YouTube, VK, RuTube
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