The Best Nonprofit Animations of 2024 (So Far)
Join us as we reveal the most inspiring nonprofit animated videos of 2024 (so far).
10. Strengthening systems to keep taps flowing
Kicking off our list is WaterAid, an international nonprofit dedicated to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene. Their animated video, "Strengthening Systems to Keep Taps Flowing, Toilets Working, and Hygiene Habits Reinforced," highlights millions lacking clean water and sanitation and suggests solutions such as strong systems, leadership, and government collaboration for effective monitoring and regulation.
The animation uses clear and simple visuals with a blend of symbolic and direct illustrations to convey the gravity of the water crisis and the comprehensive approach needed to solve it.
The use of global maps and symbolic icons helps in understanding the widespread nature of the problem and the coordinated efforts required to address it.
9. The Man Who Tried To Eat Every Animal on Earth
The Royal Society, the oldest continuously existing scientific academy in the world, tells the fascinating story of William Buckland, a man with an extraordinary gastronomic mission from their "The Man Who Tried to Eat Every Animal on Earth," animated video.
William Buckland, born in 1784, was a pioneering geologist and zoophage, passionate about eating various animals. His story includes identifying hyena dung in a Yorkshire cave, challenging the Great Flood timeline, and discovering the Megalosaurus, the first described dinosaur.
The art style blends 2D and 3D detailed realism and whimsical illustration, using textured, lifelike character designs and settings with a slightly surreal and playful tone. It combines historical accuracy with imaginative elements.
Despite his best efforts, Buckland failed to eat every animal on Earth and died in 1856.
One YouTube commenter, @markosullivan4095, captures Buckland's upbringing perfectly: "The Buckland house must have been an amazing house to grow up in, notwithstanding the diet!"
8. Is The Death Penalty on the Rise?
Amnesty International, a global nonprofit with over seven million members, is dedicated to promoting and defending human rights. Their nonprofit animated video, “Is The Death Penalty on the Rise” reports 1,153 known executions in the last year, marking a 31% increase from 2022 and the highest number since 2015.
The animation style is stark and minimalist, primarily utilising a monochromatic colour (grey) palette with strategic pops of yellow to draw attention to critical data points. The design includes infographics, bar charts, and maps, conveying the statistical information and geographic distribution of executions.
A user comment on the video reads, "Everywhere everybody has fundamental rights in life,"
The video calls for collective action to demand an end to the use of the death penalty worldwide, highlighting the ongoing progress with 144 countries now being abolitionist in law or practice.
7. Holy Week Wednesday Reflection
Many registered nonprofits are religious organisations, so it's fitting to include the Church of England's animated reflections for Holy Week. These animations offer spiritual guidance and meditative content, enriching the faith experience during this important time.
The "Holy Week Wednesday Reflection" video invites viewers to reflect on their emotions, especially tears, and to pray for the strength to express them healthily. The animation includes a contemplative prayer for divine comfort and strength through personal sorrows and sufferings.
The animation employs a soft, watercolour-like style with warm, earthy tones, creating a serene and reflective atmosphere.
The scenes transition smoothly, featuring symbolic imagery such as a lonely desert road, a handshake signifying reconciliation, a solitary boat on calm waters, and a concluding scene with the word "Amen" amidst a warm glow.
This video combines visual artistry with spiritual reflection, providing a calming experience for viewers seeking solace and strength during Holy Week.
6. Love It Or Lose IT
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a leading organisation in wildlife conservation and endangered species, working globally to preserve the world's most vulnerable species and ecosystems.
Using stunning animation and lyrical narration by a young female voice artist, WWF’s newest public service announcement in their "Love It or Lose It" nonprofit animated video takes us on a journey across the world’s spectacular natural ‘biomes’ (a geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life) to show how everything in nature is connected, the enormity of the threats facing nature, and the power we all have inside us to prevent it from being lost.
The animation is vivid and richly detailed, incorporating a painterly style that brings the beauty of nature alive. The visuals are colourful and dynamic, depicting diverse ecosystems such as coral reefs, forests, and rivers. The animation transitions smoothly between different natural scenes, emphasising the interconnectedness of life on Earth.
For example, the line "If love were a threshold, we could cross every ocean to understand whale song and coral, crab, and plankton…” is beautifully illustrated with a vibrant underwater scene teeming with colourful fish and coral reefs, highlighting the interconnectedness of marine life.
In the YouTube comments, @johnphipps3287 shares his remorse over environmental destruction: "It's a disgrace on us, that we are destroying a vast world of life, mystery and beauty... our oceans."
5. How To Be Happier
TED-Ed, with over 20 million subscribers, is known for its engaging and educational content. One of their recent videos, "How to Increase Your Happiness," has garnered over half a million views and 18k likes.
The video is an animated adaptation of Brother David Steindl-Rast's popular TED Talk, exploring the profound connection between happiness and gratefulness. It suggests that happiness doesn't stem from getting what we want but from appreciating what we have. The key takeaway is to practise gratefulness by following a simple method: Stop, Look, and Go.
The animation style is minimalist, using simple line drawings to convey its message. The visuals are calming and complement the talk's theme, emphasising that happiness is more about our perspective than our circumstances.
In the comments, @TomSmith-vi1yw highlights the resonating line: "Nothing makes us more happy than when all of us are happy."
4. Trust for London 2030 Funding Strategy
I hope you do not mind that we include one of Leon! Animations’ very own nonprofit animated video.
Trust for London is a charitable organisation that works towards tackling poverty and inequality in London. Their “Trust for London: 2030 Funding Strategy” video outlines their commitment to tackling poverty and inequality in London, aiming for a fairer city where everyone can thrive.
It highlights deep inequalities, emphasises economic and social justice, and details efforts to raise incomes, reduce living costs, ensure fair pay, amplify workers' voices, strengthen social security, and address the housing crisis for affordable living.
The animation is vibrant and engaging, using bold colours and simple, clean illustrations to convey complex issues. We illustrated Trust for London's distinctive style that combines textures with simple hand-drawn characters, featuring exaggerated big arms to enhance expressiveness. The scenes are populated with diverse characters interacting in everyday activities, symbolising the inclusive nature of their mission.
Leon! Animations team paid special attention to the soundtrack, featuring upbeat music that complements the voiceover by Raphaela Obeng.
Trust for London smartly recycles the illustrations created for the video on LinkedIn and Instagram–maximising their investment.
3. Refugee testimonies from Samos, Greece
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF), with around YouTube 65,000 subscribers, is an international medical humanitarian organisation providing aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.
Their 2024 nonprofit animated video "Refugee Testimonies from Samos, Greece" shares the stories of Hamida from Afghanistan and Al Shikh from Sudan.
Hamida recounts fleeing the Taliban, facing harassment and arrest for her women's rights advocacy, and enduring a perilous journey through South Sudan and Turkey to Greece.
Despite reaching Greece, she finds no peace in a controlled camp, questioning borders and longing for a united world.
The animation is done in a stark, minimalist style, using black and white with splashes of red to highlight the gravity of the refugees' experiences.
The visuals employ a combination of silhouetted figures and textured effects, creating a sense of urgency and distress that mirrors the emotional weight of the testimonies.
2. WHALE Tales Animation
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organisation that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education in the United States. Their nonprofit animated video from their WHALE Tales series, “Lesson 1: Do Your Part, Be Water Smart," stands out for its character animation, coupled with a catchy and educational song about water safety.
The animation features a colourful cast of characters, including anthropomorphic animals, like the whale acting as the lifeguard, and children, rendered in a classic 2D cartoon style. The animation employs smooth transitions and expressive movements that capture the attention of young viewers.
The video combines upbeat music with clear and repetitive lyrics to reinforce safety rules, such as swimming with a buddy, following lifeguard instructions, and knowing water safety regulations by heart.
The energetic animation sequences, including surfing on waves and playful interactions with a lifeguard whale, help to visually represent the fun and excitement of water activities while emphasising the importance of being water-smart.
1. How to Handle a Difficult Conversation
At number 1 on our Best Nonprofit Animations of 2024 (so far) list, is the NSPCC’s minimalist yet beautiful character animation with its thoughtful approach to addressing difficult conversations.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a UK-based nonprofit organisation dedicated to preventing child abuse and supporting children and families in need.
Their animated video, "How to Handle a Difficult Conversation," offers practical advice for parents, guardians, and caregivers on how to approach and navigate sensitive discussions, especially those concerning a child's welfare.
The animation is crafted using a minimalist cut-out technique, which features the character and elements made from textured paper cut-outs. It cleverly uses the character’s body, which stretches and twists into various shapes, to visually represent the complexities and emotional challenges of difficult conversations.
As each piece of advice, such as responding to their needs, is given, the tangled body parts go back to normal, reflecting the process of resolving emotional difficulties and achieving clarity.
A Bright Future Ahead for Nonprofit Animations
As we navigate through the second half of 2024, it’s clear that nonprofit animated videos remain a powerful tool for nonprofits to convey their messages and engage audiences.
The countdown of these top nonprofit animated videos showcases the creativity and dedication of organisations like the NSPCC, Amnesty International, and the World Wildlife Fund.
Each video not only tells a unique story but also invites viewers to reflect, act, and contribute to causes that matter.
What stories and causes have resonated with you this year? What issues do you hope to see highlighted in the future?
Share your thoughts and suggestions with us through our email as we continue to explore the transformative power of animated videos in advocating for change.
