The Movements of the Universe

Animating Astronomy: A Practice-Based PhD

The movements of the Universe

Based on interviews with NASA scientists, this animation transforms astrophysical explanations into gesture-inspired visual storytelling.

Sabbatical/PhD Exhibition at the Maryland Institute College of Art
An exhibition showcasing The Movements of the Universe film and a selection of Astro-animation workshops conducted in collaboration with scientists and participants across multiple cities.

NASA scientists offering their insights and reflections on the animation The Movements of the Universe.

The Eclipse

An astro-animation created with astronomers at the 2024 HEAD Meeting, just before the eclipse.
The Eclipse was selected by several international festivals and received the Audience Award at the Iron Mule Festival and Best Science Fact Film at the San Francisco Science Fiction Short Film & TV Festival.

Pluto

Workshop participants from Baltimore and Liverpool reimagined NASA’s New Horizons images of Pluto.
The resulting film was showcased alongside The Eclipse at the 2025 British Science Festival.

Sunspot

Animations from workshops in Baltimore and Padova bring Galileo’s observations and NASA imagery of sunspots to life

Astro-animation workshops invite people to explore astronomy through drawing and animation.

About MeLaurence Arcadias is a French/American animator, professor, and former chair of the Animation Department at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore. Her award-winning films have screened internationally, including the César Award–shortlisted Tempête dans une chambre à coucher. She has also worked as an Animator in Residence at Apple’s Advanced Technology Group and co-founded the Paris-based production company Amorce Films.At MICA, she co-leads the Astro-Animation class with astronomer Robin Corbet, where students collaborate with NASA scientists to create animations from cutting-edge astrophysics research. This unique approach combines art and science to make complex astronomical ideas more accessible and engaging.She is currently pursuing a PhD at Liverpool John Moores University and the Transart Institute, exploring animation as a bridge between scientific knowledge and artistic expression.

Laurence Arcadias at the Iron Mule Festival in NYC