The Katie Haines Memorial Trust approached production studio Not To Scale to create Cause for Alarm, an animation piece designed to raise raising of carbon monoxide poisoning, the silent killer which the Memorial Trust founders lost their daughter to in 2010. Released in conjunction with the official Gas Safety Week, September 19-25 in the U.K., the short film details the risks of poisoning in the home, the importance of properly maintaining appliances and having a working detector to alert you to the presence of the invisible, odorless gas.
Director/animator/designer Matt Smithson of Not To Scale used a saturated color palette and a hand-drawn, cutout style for the infographic, with strong shapes and fluid transitions adding momentum to the animation. Cleverly contrasting typography and textures come to life throughout, with the film managing to communicate a positive message of easy preventative measures despite the solemn subject.
CreditsClient The Katie Haines Memorial Trust Animation/Production Not To Scale, London Matt Smithson, director/animation/design; Katie Smithson, design; Maki Yoshikura, Geoff McDowall, Pauline McDowall, character animation; Kehinde Omisore, animation assistant; Kelly Ford, producer. (Toolbox: Photoshop, After Effects, Flash) Music Josh Smoak, Eastward Music
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More