Into the Microverse: Journey through the Amazing World of Microbes

Friedrich Schiller University Jena partnered with Softmachine to create a planetarium film about microbiology, one of the university’s own areas of research excellence. The goal was a film that would delight audiences of every age while staying true to real science.

Softmachine worked closely with the university’s microbiologists throughout development, building the film’s visuals directly from their research. This close collaboration shaped everything from the accuracy of cellular structures to how the film portrays the way microbial communities interact and communicate.

The result is a warm, engaging documentary following C.A.R.L and C.A.R.L.A, two talking microscope robots, as they journey through water droplets, rock crevices, tree roots, fungi, and algae. Along the way, audiences discover how microbes keep our drinking water clean, help plants grow, sustain animal life, and shape the very air we breathe. Built specifically for the 360° dome, the film puts viewers right inside these hidden ecosystems.

Real-time microscopy footage blends seamlessly with animation throughout, giving the film a striking, authentic visual identity grounded in genuine scientific observation. It’s this kind of hands-on collaboration with leading researchers that Softmachine brings to every science-led production.

Why it matters for you: When your institution has groundbreaking research to share, Softmachine can help bring it to life with the accuracy, warmth, and visual richness that turns complex science into an experience audiences love.