Simple History
Simple History brings the past to life through animated videos about battles, everyday life and unusual technology, created by historian and illustrator Daniel Turner.
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Latest
Simple History’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- Sniper Decoys: Dummy Heads2019 · Animated explainer
YouTube - Schwerer Gustav - Rail Super Gun (Behemoth)2017 · Animated explainer
YouTube - The Medic Who fought a War without a Weapon2018 · Desmond Doss biography
YouTube - Trench Systems (Cross Section)2018 · Cross-section explainer
YouTube - Google Play BooksSimple History: A simple guide to World War I2014 · Digital book edition
Overview
- Creator
- Daniel Turner, historian, writer and illustrator
- Started
- September 2013, with the first Simple History: WWI book
- YouTube debut
- Channel joined October 1, 2014
- Format
- Animated history explainers, biographies and cross sections
- Reach
- More than 5 million YouTube subscribers
- Partnership
- Electrify Video Partners announced its investment in April 2024
Mini bio
How it started.
Daniel Turner combined his interests in history and illustration to make the past easier to picture. Simple History began in September 2013 with a World War I book, before expanding to YouTube in 2014. Turner studied history at University College London.
Finding an audience.
The animated series turns battles, inventions and individual lives into visual stories. Its back catalogue includes the widely watched “Sniper Decoys: Dummy Heads,” “Schwerer Gustav” and the story of medic Desmond Doss. In a 2020 interview, Turner said teachers and military personnel had used episodes in classes.
The team behind the drawings.
Simple History describes a process that includes research, scriptwriting, fact checking, narration, costume research, drawing, animation and sound. Recent episodes credit Chris Kane as narrator alongside teams of writers, artists and animators.
A growing project.
In April 2024, Electrify Video Partners announced an investment in Simple History to support new formats, audiences and expansion beyond content. The channel now has more than five million subscribers and continues to publish both longer videos and Shorts.
Creditschronological, newest first
Animated videos
- 2026The Deadliest Secret of Unit 731Production channel; Daniel Turner credited as creator and Chris Kane as narrator
- 2019Sniper Decoys: Dummy HeadsAnimated history video
- 2018The Medic Who fought a War without a WeaponAnimated biography of Desmond Doss
- 2018Trench Systems (Cross Section)Created by Daniel Turner; narrated by Chris Kane
- 2017Schwerer Gustav - Rail Super Gun (Behemoth)Animated history video
Books
- 2014Simple History: A simple guide to World War IDaniel Turner, author; digital edition
Quotes
My idea was to get more people interested in history, through the charming medium of animation.Daniel Turner, Forbes
Turner explained the idea behind the channel in a September 2020 interview.
Trivia
- Turner used to draw comic-strip timelines in school to help historical events stick in his memory.
- His father is a historical re-enactor, and family outings included military history shows and museums.
- The project began with illustrated books before it became an animated YouTube channel.
- Costume accuracy is part of the team’s research process before animation begins.
Find Simple History
Follow the team for new animated journeys into the past.
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