Whether a non-profit’s message to the public needs to uplift and motivate or educate and spread awareness, the capability of animation remains constant – it explains processes clearly, visualizes statistics in a comprehensible way, and emotes what words alone can’t. Here’s how some of the US’ top 20 non-profits have utilized the medium in a host of creative ways to increase support towards their cause.
To break down how they process and deliver donations, Samaritans Purse used a combination of animation and live action in their explainer video, “The Journey of a Shoebox”. This mixture of mediums had actors traveling through animated backgrounds, creating a narrative structure that wasn’t bound by location restraints. Another of Samaritans Purse’s explainer videos, “Lola’s Lion” utilized stop animation to bring stuffed animals to life, a decision that captured the essence of magic and joy a donation would bring to a child in need. With the first animation being a minute long and the latter extending to twelve, animation proves a flexible tool that can connect and engage with audience’s regardless of runtime.
Emphasizing the impact of a solution through the use of statistics often leads to more confusion. Tasked with having to explain metrics in the billions, The Nature’s Conservancy turned to animation in their video, “A Natural Solution to Climate Change”. When the voice over describes the impact of conserving forests having pulled “3.9 billion metric tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere”, a visual comparison slides across the screen. With the audience now clear on just how significant that number is, confidence in the company and cause can increase. For those wanting to get involved, having an animation that puts overwhelming statistics into perspective makes people feel hopeful, and for those who have already made a difference, seeing that accomplishment laid out makes a contributor all the more proud.
Reaching out to as many people as possible is one of the main goals of a PSA, and for the American Red Cross, subtitles and voice over aren’t necessary to comprehend the meaning behind their animation on blood donation. Through the use of clear, simplified visuals, the basics and importance of the donation process transcends both language and ability barriers. Animation in this case also displays what for many is a daunting topic in a non-graphic way, helping people feel at ease with learning more and broadening the target audience too.
If you would like to learn more about how non-profits can benefit from animation, feel free to contact us at hello@synima.com.
