Some of our favourite 2D animations made in our animation studio!
We are proud to have had the opportunity to work for The Children's Commissioner for England, championing the voices and needs of children in the heart of Government.
We animated the stories of five young people in four short videos telling their experiences of growing up in children's homes and their journeys into independent adult life.
First night
"What's it like, living in a children's home?"
Two young men talk about how they first came to live in a children's home. They discuss their anxieties and uncertainties of their first night living in a new house and how they came to settle in and enjoy their new environment.
"On the walls they got lots of pictures of us ... It's nice for anyone who visits us to see that pictures are being displayed because it feels like there's a sense of pride for the house to have us"
How they have come to feel a sense of belonging in their shared house and ways that their new house has become their home.
From Dirt to a Diamond
"I turned 18, I moved into my bedsit. You think having your own home is very cool. It's very hard to actually run your own home."
A young woman describes her difficulties on leaving care when she moved in to her first home. Her journey through college, to success in her first job and ways that she has learned to feel good about herself.
How she asked for help, and worked with a leaving care personal advisor to clear her debts to help her to get through college. She moved into a brand new home and excelled in her first job. How her self esteem has sky rocketed and she went on to receive a National Apprentice Award and get a coveted invitation to the Queen's Garden Party.
Lightbulb Moment
"I was literally doing nothing with my life. I was in semi-independent living with a bunch of other angry teenagers. All we ever used to do was sit around and party, get drunk, waste my life. A circle of negativity was happening and I can just remember having this mindset of terribleness."
How she connected with other like-minded people through the leaving care forum, tried thinking about things differently and got involved with positive activities.
Taking life one day at a time with happy thoughts and deeds has given her new purpose and direction in her life.
The More You Give, the More You Get Back
"I live around 126 miles away. You do feel sometimes sad because they live so far away and you can't see them straight away. When I feel like I need to talk, I don't talk. I just pull a face. Because I can't say " I need to talk to you, I need a word" I need someone to ask me if I'm doing OK."
In the animation he tells of how he learned to work with staff, talk about his feelings and open up to find positive ways to manage his anger.
He's found new ways to relax and enjoy himself and is going on to make the most of life.