Autistica

World Autism Awareness Week

Graphic showing award recognitions: Shortlist for Film Craft Animation International at The Kinsale Shark Awards, and Best Video Campaign Finalist at The Drum Social Purpose Awards.

Creating Empathy Through Animation

Autistica asked us to create an immersive animation that would help audiences understand the everyday experiences of autistic people, both the challenges they face and the value they bring to society.

The animation served as the centrepiece for Autistica’s World Autism Awareness Week 2019 campaign. It needed to be emotionally resonant, highly shareable, and able to spark meaningful conversations around autism awareness, inclusion, and neurodiversity in everyday life.

 

Illustration of a crowded London Underground train with a person squeezed between passengers, conveying a sense of overwhelm, observed by watchful cartoon eyes on nearby train windows.
Illustration of a woman holding a crying baby on a subway train, seated next to a smiling man, with a window and abstract motion lines in the background.
Illustration of three people reading a purple letter together under a bright blue sky, with light flares and expressions of curiosity and interest on their faces.
Illustration of two people sitting on a bench in a park at sunset, petting a dog, with trees framing the scene and a city skyline in the background.

Co-Creating an Authentic Autistic Perspective

To ensure the animation reflected autistic experiences accurately and respectfully, we collaborated closely with Autistica and their community. We conducted surveys and ran focus groups with autistic children, adults, and parents of profoundly autistic individuals to gather deep, first-hand insight.

These findings shaped every aspect of the creative process, from lighting and pacing to sound design and narrative tone. Ongoing feedback guided us throughout production, and the final animation was voiced by autistic actor Jules Robertson, adding further authenticity and visibility to the campaign.

 

 

Illustration of passengers standing inside a crowded subway train, one holding a phone and others gripping handrails, viewed through a window partially obscured by dark swirling shapes.