Norwich, U.K.-based animation studio Curveball Media created a compelling animation for The Wellcome Trust to help raise $8 billion for research into COVID-19.
“We asked Curveball to script and design a video that would make a clear and compelling case for investing in research, and how research is an essential part of any response to epidemics,” said Lara Clements, Head of Audiences & Evaluation, Wellcome Trust. “We needed the video to clarify what research gaps exist and why, and the urgency behind this new call for funding. That message also had to encourage a sense of hope around collective solutions and progress being made. And we believe it does that very well.”
This animation is the latest epidemic-related video Curveball has made for The Wellcome Trust. Scripted and designed to appeal to people from every nationality, the piece was presented to global leaders, G7 and G20 policy makers, the IMF, World Bank, business leaders and philanthropists as part of the EU Commission’s Global Coronavirus Response event on May 4.
“One of the challenges with creating pieces like this is connecting emotionally with a wide range of people from a huge array of nationalities and backgrounds, scientific or otherwise,” said Oliver Lawer, Creative Director of Curveball Media. “Everybody is being affected by the virus in different ways and we needed to create a piece that pulled people together. Made them see and feel the wider picture and impact of what could be achieved by collective action. The message had to move doubters from a position of ‘I won’t fund this’, to B, ‘I will fund this.’”
The studio’s Strategic Director, Daniel Spencer, added, “It’s incredible. Really. To be able to work on projects like this gives us the opportunity to make an immediate difference to something that’s affecting everyone on the planet right now.”
Norwich and Norfolk county are a thriving greenhouse of companies and organizations at the forefront of COVID response action. The University of East Anglia is developing antibody tests. Norwich Research Park has joined a £20 million national genome project. Rainbird AI’s automation technology has been deployed by the NHS. Thyngs launched a free solution to ramp up remote fundraising for charities amid a multimillion pound donation slump. The Norwich School has produced 8,820 PPE face shields. Iceni Diagnostics is creating 20-minute COVID-19 test kits. And SynchNorwich, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the UEA have joined forces to 3D print ventilator parts.
Curveball Media is an award-winning film and animation studio creating original films and animations for global brands and organizations including: The NHS, Eton College, Airbus, The Salvation Army, The Royal Voluntary Service and Heathrow. The studio’s previous award-winning animation for The Wellcome Trust, Let’s Outsmart Epidemics, was also presented at Davos in a similar fundraising campaign in 2017.
