Reference videos

I've been looking at how other people approach the climate change issue through the use of animation. Animation is a useful tool when addressing the climate change problem as it can present information in a simple way while entertaining the audience and keeping them engaged. Some are more successful than others in doing this and I will attempt to explain what I think works (or doesn't work) about each one and why.

350.org animation


This is a campaign on what scientists reckon is the safe CO2 level in the atmosphere- (350 parts per million). The animation aims to promote the idea, the number itself and to prompt change. It has no words, which lets it be spread all over the world. It uses graphics to show what 350 is about in a simple way. I think it is successful in this method, and has done well to promote the idea without dialogue.

Act on CO2 Storybook


This campaign uses shock tactics, making the audience consider the world they are leaving behind for the next generation. The idea takes the form of a storybook, using minimal animation just to draw attention to the imagery and to keep the audience engaged. The audience feels empathy for the little girl who asks about a 'happy ending' (again carrying on the storybook theme) which has to be our own making.

WWF Environment animation


This animation promotes change in the most direct and simple way- showing us what needs to change and how to change for the better. It ends in the message 'think new' after showing 'new habits', 'new technologies' and 'new ideas', which all prompt change directly, discarding the old habits and ideas in favor of the new. Its an animation with a very distinctive style in character design, the use of colour, typography, and simple shapes.

Face the music, Oxfam campaign


The simple scene, evolving over time reminds me of some sort of simulation game in which the objective is to advance your civilisation. I like how the pace of the animation and the music evolve over time along with the advancement of the rich and poor worlds. The effects of our own advancement and greed come on fast compared to the rest of the animation, shocking the audience in a very direct way, the poor side taking the worst of it through flooding and drought.

Energy, Let's save it!


This is a fun animation, illustrating ways to save energy in your everyday life- at home, at work and in transit. The characters wear super hero costumes as they perform their duty, saving energy and in turn the world (as super heroes do). I'd say it's aimed more at children than adults with the super hero theme. It also prompts the audience to spread the message to others around them. It hardly uses scare tactics, only really illustrating what we're doing wrong and what we can do to fix it. The character designs and backgrounds have the style of old 50's cartoons, simple, curvy and cute. It appeals to a wide audience as there is no dialogue.

Recycle GB


This animation cleverly takes the form of a game in which the objective is to collect and recycle glass bottles. it's clearly aimed at children of the digital age, using a computer game as a means of educating them about recycling and how much energy it can save.


Animal planet: The animals save the planet (energy saving light bulbs)


This short animation uses visual humor- the struggling penguin vs the relaxed penguin to illustrate its point that energy saving light bulbs are much more efficient than ordinary ones. I think this method of delivery is successful as it is very literal while still remaining entertaining to the audience.


Animal planet: The animals save the planet (Gassy cows)


This animation uses simple toilet humour and visual jokes to appeal to a wide audience and illustrate the point that cows produce greenhouse 'gasses' and by eating less meat, there will be less cows. Being a vegetarian, this video isn't targeted at me so I'm not sure how effective it is in delivering the message home, but it certainly entertained me.

Gulf Power- Light painting


This advert uses the interesting effect of light painting to illustrate the use of power around the home. The method is by far more interesting than the message however and I'm not sure how effective it was in drawing people to the promoted website to 'learn more' most of the YouTube comments are about the light painting technique.

Today's weather


Stop motion, paper cut-out animation illustrating the effects of climate change. it says a lot in 30 seconds but ti lists more problems than solutions, which is something I'd want to avoid. I like the style of the animation however, and its simplicity in listing point after point.

Global warming domino (WWF Brazil)


This animation uses the domino effect to illustrate the chain reaction of events all over the world, set off by a logger cutting down a tree. It uses dark humor and shock tactics to illustrate its point (that what we do can come back to haunt us), to entertain the audience and to prompt action and change. I'm not sure who this animation is aimed at, however, unless its the loggers directly. The general idea however can be applied to a variety of situations and harmful environmental effects, not just logging. It only shows the effects of climate change, not the solutions to the problem.

Futurama- Global warming: None like it hot!


This funny clip takes the form of an educational video with humorous personification of 'sunbeams' and 'greenhouse gasses'. At the end it pokes fun at humankind's denial of the climate change problem.

Animated editorial cartoon


This cartoon amused me as it pokes fun at the nature of humankind in a very simple way, specifically the way we tend not to notice when we're doing harm until its too late.

Round wheel Rolls


Though not directly about climate change, this short animation pokes fun at those who ignore scientific evidence in favor of old, inefficient ways. It holds parallels to the current oil industry, climate chance sceptics and new renewable energy technology.