Complexly
 | |
| Formerly | EcoGeek LLC |
|---|---|
| Industry | Videoandaudio production |
| Genre | Educational entertainment |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Hank GreenandJohn Green |
| Headquarters | |
Key people |
|
| Brands |
|
Number of employees | Over 70[1](2024) |
| Website | complexly |
Complexlyis an American onlinevideoandaudioproduction company,based inMissoula, Montana,andIndianapolis, Indiana.Its founders arebrothersJohnandHank Green(who acted as CEO until late 2023), who began theirVlogbrothersYouTubechannel in 2007.[2]In 2012, the Greens began producing educational video content with theYouTubechannelsCrash CourseandSciShow,and in the years since have created many other channels and podcasts which have been folded into the company.[3]Originally namedEcoGeek LLC,it was founded byHank Greento support his blog on environmental and science issues and was renamed in 2016.[4]Also associated with the Green brothers, but separate from Complexly's operations, areDFTBA Records,theProject for Awesome,VidCon(acquired byViacom),[5]and Subbable (acquired byPatreon).[6][7]The company's strengths in educational content has led to production funding from Google,[8]PBS,[9][10]and thePoetry Foundation[11]among other corporations and charitable foundations.[12]
Julie Walsh Smith became acting CEO of the company in September 2023.[13][14]
Video productions
[edit]Crash Course
[edit]Multiple hosts and courses; see main article
Crash Courseis an educational YouTube channel providing manycourses of study,often based around theAPcurriculum of a given subject. The level of study matches that of high school or early college, but the content is available for all ages. Many courses are co-produced withPBS Digital Studios. The channel launched in 2012, with two subjects, World History and Biology, being taught byJohn GreenandHank Green,respectively.
SciShow
[edit]Multiple hosts and channels; see main article
SciShowis a series ofscience-related videos, hosted primarily byHank Greenand Michael Aranda. Video topics include breaking scientific news, in-depth analyses of scientific concepts and science history, and science fact compilations. A spin-off channel,SciShow Space,launched in April 2014 to specialize inspaceexploration, astronomy, and cosmology.[15]A second spin-off,SciShow Kids,launched in March 2015 to specialize in delivering science topics to children.[16]Kidswent on hiatus in late 2018, returning in April 2020.[17][18]A third spinoff channel was announced in February 2017,SciShow Psych,which debuted in March 2017, specializing in psychology and neuroscience.[19]Apodcast,SciShow Tangents,was launched in November 2018; it features entertaining exchanges of scientific facts among many of the shows' staffers, and is directed at a mature audience.[20]
SciShow Kids
[edit]Host: Jessi Knudsen Castañeda Co-host: Anthony Brown (since end of hiatus)
SciShow Kidsis aYouTubechannel dedicated to science news and topics of interest to grade-school-aged children. SciShow Kids went on hiatus from January 2019 to August 2020.[21]
The Art Assignment
[edit]Host:Sarah Urist Green
The Art Assignment is aPBS Digital Studiosco-production focused oncontemporary art.Initially oriented around 'assignments' given by noted artists to the audience to complete, it has gradually shifted its emphasis to discuss contemporary art in a broader sense. In 2020, hostSarah Urist Greenpublished a book,You Are an Artist,based on the art assignment concept.[22]
Healthcare Triage
[edit]Host:Aaron Carroll
Healthcare Triageis a series about modernhealthcarethat discusses healthcare policy and medical research, and answers questions about medicine, health, and healthcare.
Eons
[edit]Hosts: Blake di Pastino, Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez (since 2021); formerly Hank Green
Eonsis aPBS Digital Studiosco-production, a channel about thehistory of lifeon Earth.
Journey to the Microcosmos
[edit]Hosts: Hank Green, Deboki Chakravarti (since 2021)
Journey to the Microcosmospresents the living collections ofmicrobiologistJames Weiss to give a close-up look of microscopic life. Music byAndrew Huang,narrated by Hank Green.
Ours Poetica
[edit]Host: Various
Ours Poeticacaptures the intimate experience of holding a poem in your hands and listening as it is read by a distinctive voice. A co-production withThe Poetry Foundation,and poet Paige Lewis.
Bizarre Beasts
[edit]Host:Hank Green,Sarah Suta
Bizarre Beastsspun off from a monthlyVlogbrotherssegment hosted byHank Greencentred on animal species displaying unusual anatomy or behaviour. After a one-year pilot, it was made into its own monthly series on theBizarre BeastsYouTubechannel. Subscribers to theBizarre Beasts Pin Clubreceive a pin of each animal featured.
Complexly
[edit]Host: various
Complexly launched a self-named channel in May 2018, to share themed playlists, post one-off videos and miniseries, and pilot new channels.
Audio productions
[edit]In November 2018, Complexly fully launched a co-production arrangement withWNYC Studiosfor three regular podcasts; two had been produced independently before, one was new (but adapted from an old format). Two years later the co-production was ended, and Complexly now produces the shows on its own.
Dear Hank & John
[edit]Hosts: Hank Green and John Green
Originally launched in 2015, this weekly podcast features Hank and John Green answering questions e-mailed by listeners, giving "dubious" advice and providing weekly news for the planetMarsand the 4th-tierEnglish footballclubAFC Wimbledon.
SciShow Tangents
[edit]Panel: Hank Green, Sam Schultz, Ceri Riley; formerly Stefan Chin
Adapted from their previous show,Holy Fucking Science,Tangentsis a weekly science-based show whereSciShowstaffers puzzle and entertain each other with fascinating facts. Starting from the May 17, 2022, episode, video recordings of each episode are also posted to YouTube.
Eons: Mysteries of Deep Time
[edit]Host: Blake de Pastino, Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez
Launched in March 2022,Eons: Mysteries of Deep Timeis adapted from theYoutubeseriesPBS Eons,and explores some of the greatest mysteries innatural history.
Productions no longer affiliated with Complexly
[edit]The Brain Scoop
[edit]Host:Emily Graslie
The Brain Scoopwas first created by Hank Green when he visitedthe zoological museumat theUniversity of Montanaand met one of its collections volunteers, Emily Graslie. Her on-camera presence was exceptional, and he launched a channel soon afterward based in that museum with Graslie as host, in January 2013. The channel enjoyed remarkable success and in a matter of months had caught the attention of staffers at theField Museumin Chicago; Graslie and the program moved there in August 2013. After a period where the Field licensed the program from Green, they eventually purchased all its rights and trademarks; they produced the show in-house until it was wrapped up in 2020.
Mental Floss Video
[edit]Hosts: John Green,Elliott Morgan,others
Mental Flossis the video arm ofMental Floss,providing interesting facts centered on one particular subject matter. Complexly produced the channel's content from 2013 to 2018; from 2019 on, Mental Floss brought its production in-house.
The Financial Diet
[edit]Host: Chelsea Fagan
The Financial Dietis apersonal financeadvice channel, directed toward young adults and particularly young women.
Sexplanations
[edit]Host:Lindsey Doe
Sexplanationsis a video series explaining sexual topics, hosted by clinicalsexologistDr. Lindsey Doe.
Animal Wonders
[edit]Host: Jessi Knudsen Castañeda
Animal Wondersis a video series from the namesake wildlife animal center outside of Missoula. It focuses on the center's 80+ exotic animals, including their care and habitat.
Ceased productions
[edit]100 Days
[edit]Hosts: John Green, Chris Waters
100 Dayswas a video series that acted as a personal initiative of John Green, exploring how to 'have a healthymidlife crisis'. He is joined in physical exercises and other feats by his best friend Chris. It ran through the early months of 2017.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
[edit]Host: John Green
A podcast originally launched in January 2018, each episode ofThe Anthropocene Reviewedfeatures Green reviewing "facets of the human condition on afive-star scale".[23]The name comes from theAnthropocene,the proposedepochthat includes significanthuman impact on the environment.[24]Episodes typically contain Green reviewing two topics, accompanied by stories on how they have affected his life. The final episode was released in August 2021.
Crash Course Kids
[edit]Host:Sabrina Cruz
Crash Course Kidswas a bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course about grade school science.
How to Adult
[edit]Hosts: Hank Green, Rachel Calderon Navarro
How to Adultwas a general advice channel directed toward young adults entering the broader world of adulthood for the first time. The channel was originated in 2014 byT. Michael MartinandEmma Millswho hosted it until August 2016; Complexly revived it with their blessing in March 2017, and the channel aired its final episode in April 2018.[25]
Holy Fucking Science
[edit]Host: various
Holy Fucking Sciencewas a science-based entertainment show where four people (typically SciShow staffers, and guests) get together to try to astound and amaze each other with scientific facts and discoveries; it was directed at adults only. Though each episode was filmed and posted to YouTube, it was intended to be enjoyed as a podcast. Their regular sponsor was Montana breweryBig Sky Brewing Company.The show ceased in March 2018 after 58 episodes, with the promise of a similar production to soon replace it;[26]SciShow Tangentstook its place in November 2018.
Nature League
[edit]Host: Brit Garner
Nature Leaguewas an internet show exploring nature; each month had a new theme, and each week a different format.
The Origin of Everything
[edit]Host:Danielle Bainbridge
The Origin of Everythingwas a show about under-told history and culture that challenges our everyday assumptions. Having first launched as aPBS Digital Studiosproduction in 2018, with its second season in 2019 it became a Complexly co-production; following its third season in 2020, PBS cancelled the show.
How to Vote in Every State
[edit]Host:Hank Green(2016, 2018, 2022), Nicole Sweeney (2020), Evelyn Ngugi (Voter Guide)
How to Vote in Every Statewas an initiative based around the2016 United States electionsto help voters determine how to properly register and submit their vote. Videos were posted for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as for those in the military, overseas, and in unincorporated territories. The series was re-done two years later for the2018 United States elections;a further version for the2020 United States electionswas also made, with the assistance of thePoynter Institute's MediaWise project, which also allowed them to augment the channel with an 8-episode Voter Guide series. Complexly chose not to renew the series for 2024, as resources from organizations such asVote.orgwere considered to be suitable alternatives.
References
[edit]- ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9_DcKq1jbk
- ^Pierce, Jennifer Burek (2020).Narratives, Nerdfighters, and New Media.University of Iowa Press.doi:10.2307/j.ctv16x2c1r.6.ISBN978-1-60938-718-1.JSTORj.ctv16x2c1r.S2CID241893288.
- ^"About Complexly".Complexly.Retrieved11 March2018.
- ^Green, Hank."Changing Our Business a Bit".Vlogbrothers.YouTube.Retrieved12 March2018.
- ^Spangler, Todd (2018-02-07)."Viacom Announces Acquisition of VidCon Internet-Video Conference".Variety.Retrieved2021-12-24.
- ^Patel, Nilay (2 August 2022)."Why Hank Green can't quit YouTube for TikTok".The Verge.Retrieved5 August2022.
- ^Pham, Alex."Patreon Acquires Subbable, Aligning the YouTube Stars".Forbes.Retrieved2021-12-24.
- ^"YouTube Reveals Original Channels".Tubefilter.2011-10-29.Retrieved2021-12-28.
- ^"PBS Digital Studios and Complexly Announce New Paleontology Series EONS".About PBS – Main.Retrieved2021-12-28.
- ^Erickson, David (December 18, 2018)."'A show about life': Missoula science communicators produce PBS show 'Eons'".Missoulian.Retrieved2 May2021.
- ^Johnson, Steve (September 11, 2019)."How to reach people with poetry? 'Fault in Our Stars' author John Green, Chicago Poetry Foundation are trying YouTube".Chicago Tribune.Retrieved2 May2021.
- ^"Partner with Us – Complexly".complexly.com/.Retrieved28 December2021.
- ^Spangler, Todd (17 October 2023)."Hank and John Green's YouTube Studio Complexly Taps Julie Walsh Smith as Acting CEO, Gabriel Blanco as First Content Chief".Variety.Retrieved17 October2023.
- ^"About Us".Complexly.Retrieved29 August2023.
- ^Green, Hank (March 26, 2014).SciShow Space Launch.SciShow.YouTube.RetrievedJanuary 19,2015.
- ^Knudsen Castañeda, Jessi (February 23, 2015).SciShow Kids.SciShow.YouTube.RetrievedFebruary 23,2015.
- ^"Our Favorites, Compilation".SciShow Kids.YouTube.Retrieved20 February2020.
- ^"Explore the Fort! | SciShow Kids Compilation".YouTube.2020-04-08.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-05-10.Retrieved2020-05-09.
- ^Green, Hank (February 27, 2017).SciShow Psych Trailer.SciShow.YouTube.RetrievedFebruary 27,2017.
- ^"SciShow Tangents".WNYC Studios.Retrieved30 November2018.
- ^"SciShow Kids is back on August 17th!".YouTube.SciShow Kids.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-11-02.
- ^"You Are An Artist".Penguin Books Limited.Retrieved18 October2020.
- ^"The Anthropocene Reviewed: Episodes | WNYC Studios | Podcasts".WNYC Studios.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-08-18.Retrieved2021-09-30.
- ^Locker, Melissa (2018-11-08)."Exclusive: John and Hank Green have a slate of podcasts coming to WNYC Studios".Fast Company.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-08-02.Retrieved2019-08-02.
- ^"How to Say Goodbye".How to Adult.YouTube.Retrieved11 April2018.
- ^"HFS Podcast #58 - It's the End of the Fartball as We Know It".Holy Fucking Science.YouTube.Retrieved21 March2018.