In collaboration with the NSW Ministry of Health and the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, and working alongside SquareCell, we created five quirky character animations that explore the effects of drugs and alcohol on the developing brain.  The project began in 2019, when we were commissioned to produce three animations focusing on alcohol, MDMA, and cannabis, and how each impacts a growing brain. The inspiration for the lightbulb characters came from the idea of a “lightbulb moment” — that spark of inspiration that can lead us to act, whether responsibly or not. Designing the characters as lightbulbs allowed us to incorporate a visible “brain wire,” giving us a creative way to illustrate the brain’s response to different substances.  Through flickering lights, colour changes, and dimming effects, we were able to communicate these impacts in an engaging and accessible way.  Following the success of the initial three videos, the NSW Ministry of Health approached us again to develop two additional animations. These focused on the effects of vaping, and mixing alcohol with antidepressants, on the developing brain.  Picking up where we left off made the process much smoother. With pre-rigged characters and ready-made assets, we were able to move quickly into pre-visualisation. This allowed us to spend more time exploring new environments and experimenting with dynamic camera work, making the creative process even more enjoyable.

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Created in 2019 and 2023

Software: Maya, Redshift, Nuke, Davinci Resolve

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