The series of short animated videos, Natural Habitat Shorts (NHS), has become a global phenomenon, extending far beyond its American origins. This animation project portrays animals in familiar human situations while simultaneously revealing facts about their unusual habits.
What started as a small creative endeavor by three friends has now led the creators to China to meet an audience they did not expect. Initially, in 2020, the team viewed NHS as a form of self-expression alongside their main work, aiming only to gather a 'small fan base.'
The first short video featured animals working in a grocery store. However, when some viewers did not understand the motives behind the animals' behavior, the authors saw an opportunity to add educational content. For example, a bat character appeared in the video using echolocation, which explained its cry.
From that moment on, NHS formed its recognizable concept: placing animals with real traits into situations understandable to humans. One of the creators, Nicole Lowe, noted that 'everyone goes to work and encounters everyday human problems,' adding that placing animals in such circumstances with their eccentric habits adds an extra layer of comedy.
This approach, according to the creators, also helps explain why the series resonates across cultural boundaries. The creators emphasize that even when American humor is not perfectly translated, emotions such as stress, envy, and awkwardness remain universally understood. Brennan Brinkley, another creator of NHS, believes that 'a lot of humor comes from the discomfort and stress that animals face. It's a kind of universal thing.'
An Unexpected Connection with China
China became an unexpected market that the team discovered almost by chance. The group began receiving messages from Chinese viewers on international platforms and later found out that their videos were actively circulating in China. Tyler Kula, one of the creators, recalled: 'We wondered: how are they watching our videos?'
This year, NHS officially opened accounts on Chinese social media platforms. The creators expressed admiration for the enthusiasm and creativity of Chinese viewers, including fans who sent them drawings and gifts. In mid-September, the three creators visited China and met their Chinese fans in person. This trip also sparked ideas for future stories. The team is considering including more Chinese animals, such as giant and red pandas, and integrating their unique characteristics into the humorous scenarios defining NHS.
The creators also see a growing part of the animation landscape in China. For Brinkley, films like 'Ne Zha 2' demonstrate the competitiveness of the Chinese animation market.
From Short Videos to Bigger Dreams
As NHS develops, opportunities are expanding beyond short videos. The authors have stated a desire to explore children's books, a feature-length animated film, and even a video game. Tyler Kula noted: 'Sometimes we appear in a place like China and realize: oh, there is a bigger world. That is definitely a dream.'