At Explanimate!, we’re all family people. We all have friends (well, maybe not Trav). We all have people we love and care about, people whose lives are priceless. So, when Rare Cancers Australia approached us to create a video that touched on this deeply personal message, we knew we had to say yes.
Their goal was to communicate the importance of balancing the financial cost of investing in emerging cancer treatments with the life changing benefits gained when someone successfully treats their cancer. It was a challenging and sensitive topic that required a thoughtful approach, one that would strike the perfect balance between emotion and information.
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Tackling a subject as serious as rare cancers required careful planning. The video needed to evoke an emotional response while maintaining the integrity of key facts and statistics. Every element, from the wording in the script to the animation style, casting, and music, was chosen deliberately to create an impact.
The challenge was ensuring the information resonated with audiences in a meaningful way. We had to consider how to present the message in a way that was both thought-provoking and compelling, without being overwhelming.
One of the most significant decisions in this project was determining which parts of the script would be animated and which would be delivered by a presenter. By having presenters deliver the more fact-heavy lines, we ensured the information felt authentic and credible, making the statistics and key points more impactful.
At the same time, animation gave us the flexibility to heighten or soften the emotional impact as needed. Pairing emotionally resonant lines with striking yet tasteful visuals allowed us to create a carefully calibrated response in our audience, one that was moving without being manipulative.
We developed a visual style that complemented the dual approach of live-action and animation. The animation needed to be engaging yet subtle enough to not overshadow the message. Using a soft colour palette and fluid motion, we crafted scenes that enhanced the storytelling without feeling heavy handed.
Our design choices were made with intention - to support the script, enhance the narrative, and guide the viewer through the emotional highs and lows of the story Rare Cancers Australia needed to tell.
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Once the initial animation and live action segments were in place, we worked closely with Rare Cancers Australia to fine-tune every detail. This stage involved careful revisions to ensure that every moment, every transition, and every piece of information hit the right note.
We adjusted the balance of emotional storytelling and factual delivery, making sure the final video was both informative and moving. Our iterative process ensured that every second of the video served a purpose and contributed to the overall impact.
The final video delivered exactly what Rare Cancers Australia needed: a powerful, thought-provoking piece that conveyed their message with clarity and heart. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with the video striking the right balance of emotional engagement and factual accuracy.
We’re proud of the outcome, and more importantly, so was our client. Now, if only we could use a similar approach to find Trav some friends…
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