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Is this the most successful animal ever? - Nigel Hughes

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TEDEd Animation

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Prevailing for around 270 million years and encompassing more than 20,000 distinct species, trilobites are some of the most successful lifeforms in Earth’s history. When they sprung into existence, they were among the most diverse and sophisticated organisms on the planet and so had a unique perspective on the ancient world. Nigel Hughes details the rise and fall of these hardy creatures.

Trilobites are popular or “charismatic” fossils. Why is this? What features about these ancient animals make them interesting and attractive to people living on the Earth today?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Nigel Hughes
  • Director Zsuzsanna Kreif, The Animation Workshop
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Zsuzsanna Kreif
  • Animator Zsuzsanna Kreif
  • Compositor Zsuzsanna Kreif
  • Art Director Zsuzsanna Kreif
  • Composer Stephen LaRosa
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Cella Wright
  • Production Coordinator Abdallah Ewis
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

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