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Helping raise awareness of rare diseases through an engaging animation viewed and shared around the world.
We partnered with Shape History and Eurodis for World Rare Disease Day 2022 to produce a not-for-profit animated awareness film supporting the international campaign. The animation was created to help explain the importance of Rare Disease Day while encouraging greater understanding, inclusion and support for the millions of people worldwide living with a rare disease. The finished film formed part of a global awareness campaign and was translated into multiple languages to reach audiences across many different countries.
Rare diseases affect millions of people worldwide, yet many remain little understood by the general public. The campaign needed to communicate an important message in a way that was warm, inclusive and easy to understand, while working effectively across different languages and cultures. The illustrations were designed to communicate emotion and hope without relying heavily on dialogue, making the animation well suited to international audiences and translation into multiple languages. Friendly pacing, clear visual metaphors and accessible design helped ensure the message could be understood by viewers of all ages.
The piece focuses on connecting individuals who are living with Rare Diseases who often feel isolated. Highlighting how the protagonists are fighting against the odds and are living life to the full. Inclusivity was central to the project. The characters represent people of different ages, ethnicities and visible disabilities, reflecting the diversity of the global rare disease community. By creating welcoming, representative illustrations, the animation encourages more people to see themselves within the campaign while reinforcing its message of understanding and inclusion.
We worked in a versatile digitally drawn style as the portraits weren't entirely animatable. It was really satisfying to make some animation for a mental health initiative that works with people living with rare diseases. The animation was designed to remain engaging regardless of language, allowing the campaign to be translated and shared internationally while maintaining a consistent visual identity.The artwork was created in Photoshop and animated in After Effects.
