From Mascots to Medicine: How Animation and 3D Printing Are Changing the Game
Yesterday a few of our team took a trip to the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology — and let’s just say, we left more than a little inspired (and not just because I-Me tried to sneak into their 3D printer).
The facilities are cutting-edge, the ambition is high, and the opportunity for collaboration? Huge. One moment we were chatting with brilliant students, the next we were marvelling at a 3D-printed hand with intricate, multi-colour details showing veins, arteries, bone, and muscle. Previously, you had to choose between vibrant colour or accurate anatomical detail — but now? You get both. No compromises, just wow.
We’re already seeing animation stretch far beyond film and telly. It’s solving problems in industries like:
Branding & Marketing
Imagine bringing your brand mascot literally to life. A physical, animated character your audience can hold, scan, or see replicated across physical and digital worlds. With 3D printing, branded giveaways don’t have to be boring pens and keyrings — they can be your story, made tangible.
Health & Safety
We know storytelling helps messages stick. Now imagine pairing a powerful animated explainer with a 3D model of the very equipment or injury being explained. Suddenly training sessions are no longer just informative — they’re interactive, tactile, and unforgettable.
Medicine & Education
Detailed, full-colour anatomical models used to cost the earth and take weeks to produce. Now, 3D printers can create lifelike organs, limbs, and systems with surgical precision and storytelling power. Add animation, and you've got an educational toolkit that hits home on every level.
The real magic lies in combining the imaginative power of animation with the physical impact of 3D printing. Whether it’s creating a clone army of I-Me (don’t tempt him) or building a model that helps someone understand complex medical treatment, the goal is the same: simplify complexity, and make communication stick.
And as AI floods the digital space, making it harder than ever to stand out, this fusion of digital and physical has never felt more powerful. A well-crafted animation can grab attention — but pair it with something you can actually hold, build, or experience in 3D? That’s where memorability lives. In an age of scrolls and swipes, tactility could be your secret weapon.
At Carse & Waterman, we’re excited by what we saw at the Institute — and even more excited about what comes next. Because when technology meets storytelling, it’s not just cool. It’s transformative.