BBC Studios Digital Brands Commissions Framed by Existence

BBC Studios Digital Brands has commissioned Framed by Existence from After Party Studios for its BBC Earth portfolio of digital channels.

Hosted by content creator and filmmaker Max Tobin, Framed by Existence explores the mechanics of the human mind, diving into ideas such as shame, power, fear, belief, fate and control. It reveals how evolution, culture and psychology shape the way humans think and behave.

The series also examines theories suggesting humans may tolerate flawed systems rather than risk the uncertainty of change, raising questions about how fear, stability and power shape society.

Framed by Existence is available now on the BBC Earth Science YouTube channel. The two-part series is sponsored by Audible.

“Reuniting with BBC Studios on Framed by Existence has been amazing,” said Alysha Christal, producer at After Party Studios. “Crafting innovative, highly engaging stories for digital audiences is what we do best, and this series gave us the perfect canvas to do that. Max has an extraordinary talent for making complex ideas feel accessible, bringing them to life in a way that’s fresh, distinctive and unmistakably his own—giving the series a voice that really resonates with viewers.”

Jasmine Dawson, senior VP of digital at BBC Studios, commented, “At BBC Studios Digital Brands, we’re committed to delivering a bold and diverse slate of original programming across our portfolio of channels, and Framed by Existence is a standout addition to that strategy. As one of multiple cross‑genre commissions we’re launching this year, it brings more of the fascinating, thought‑provoking storytelling audiences expect from the BBC Earth portfolio. Collaborating once again with Max’s distinctive creative voice, working with the exceptional production craft of After Party Studios and having the support of Audible has been incredibly rewarding. We’re excited to share this series with our global audiences.”

“It was a pleasure working with After Party Studios and BBC Studios on this particularly weird science series,” Tobin added. “Psychological theories are often so rogue and essentially insane that they feel like science fiction, so it’s been wonderful to explore some of the whackiest beliefs held by the world’s experts and how they can help us in our own lives.”