The Best United Nations Animated Videos of 2024

As 2024 winds down, the global stage has witnessed the United Nations’ relentless commitment to addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. This year, the UN has not only confronted ongoing humanitarian crises, such as the conflict in South Sudan and the war in Gaza but also spearheaded pivotal initiatives like COP29 and breakthroughs in global health with vaccination drives against diseases like polio. In light of these contributions, let’s explore the top ten UN animated videos of 2024 that beautifully illustrate some of these initiatives…

10. Protecting children from hidden explosives in South Sudan- Modern Line Animation

In a world where dangers lurk unseen, the United Nations’ animated video 'Protecting Children from Hidden Explosives in South Sudan' brings the peril of unexploded bombs into sharp relief through modern line art. This minimalist approach, with its simple line drawings and gentle watercolour fills, highlights the severe risks posed by forgotten remnants of war.

The rustic, organic feel of the visuals aligns with the serious subject matter, focusing viewers on the critical educational message about the dangers of unexploded explosives, especially in South Sudan where this problem is particularly urgent.

9. Exposing Poverty’s Global Impact Zoom-Out Animation

Step into the multi-dimensional world of poverty through this evocative United Nations Development Programme video, where poverty extends beyond empty pockets to touch every corner of life. This powerful portrayal is not just about the lack of money; it’s a glimpse into how poverty weaves through the fabric of education, health, and family life, with a call to action to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Using a dynamic zoom-out animation technique, the video transitions from intimate, personal vignettes to broader societal contexts. This style effectively captures the expansive scale of poverty's impact, drawing the viewer from a focused look at individual hardships to a wider perspective on its global implications. This UN animated video features a narrator whose mellow voice adds depth to the poignant script. It delivers lines that strike at the heart such as "poverty is stealing my future—and yours too."

This is a piece of art wonderfully crafted by the artist Vaskange which garnered 1,400,000 views (and counting!).

8. WEF: Water and Soil Productivity Character Animation 

Think of WEF (Water, Energy, and Food Security) nexus as the ultimate triple treat in the sustainability world: when these three heavy hitters team up, they keep our planet’s gears humming smoothly. If you want to see this synergy in action, look no further than the eighth entry on our best UN animation list, “WEF: Water and Soil Productivity” by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Through the experiences of Javier, a farm owner who demonstrates the real-world impact of integrating trees with traditional crops, viewers witness how this approach can cultivate a microclimate that protects against erosion, nurtures biodiversity, and conserves vital resources like water and soil. 

What truly distinguishes this short film is its delightful animation style, brimming with bright hues and lively character designs. Lush greens and vivid yellows dominate the agricultural scenes, while deep blues evoke the serenity of coastal environments, ensuring each backdrop is in harmony with the next. The animation is impressively detailed—leaf textures and rolling ocean waves add depth without overwhelming the viewer. Even without cracking jokes, lines like “a diversified farm is a climate-resilient farm” stand out in this mini-masterclass on sustainability—showing, in full colour, that the FAO’s mission to defeat hunger and achieve global food security isn’t just possible, it’s happening right now.

7. Preserving Mediterranean Coastal Aquifers Flat Design Animation

Have you ever considered what lies beneath the surface of our beautiful Mediterranean coastlines? UNESCO’s latest animated video, “Preserving Mediterranean Coastal Aquifers” dives into the pressing issue of saltwater intrusion and aquifer salinisation. With striking flat-design animation, it presents a serious topic in an accessible and digestible way. 

The smooth geometric visuals paired with the calm energy of the narrator, help emphasise one crucial truth: “preserving coastal aquifers is a shared responsibility.” This message resonates with the global action found in WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024  explainer video we featured in our October blog and they also have the same similar flat design style. The video transforms complex environmental concerns into a thought-provoking journey, inviting viewers to reflect on their role in safeguarding these essential ecosystems. 

6. Dalal’s Story: A Yazidi Refugee’s Journey Animation

“Dalal’s Story, Yazidi refugees – 2024 Migrants and Refugees Health film prize – 5th HAFF” is a powerful six-and-a-half-minute short film produced by the World Health Organization (WHO), illuminating the trials and triumphs of Dalal, a Yazidi woman from Northern Iraq who escapes genocide by Islamic State fighters. Created by Alexandra Cordukes and her team at Laundry Lane video agency, the film uses a poignant sketched animation style with subdued tones and expressive lines to depict the horrors faced by thousands of Yazidi women— 7,000 taken as sex slaves in Sinjar– and the strength of refugees like Dalal.

The calm yet serious female narration underscores the UN animated video’s compassionate and educational approach, offering a crucial reminder that “Refugees and asylum seekers have strength and resilience. Everything that they had had been vanished, and they restarted their life.”

Winning the Migrants and Refugees Health Prize at the 5th WHO #HealthForAll Film Festival—a significant accolade that was launched by Veronica Cornacchione (WHO communications specialist) in collaboration with Gilles Reboux (WHO Film Festival Leader) —this short film shines a spotlight on the urgent need for dedicated healthcare services for survivors of torture, both in transit and in host countries.  “Dalal’s Story” urges the global community to address the unique needs of those displaced by violence, advocating for every refugee’s right to safety and well-being.

5. It’s Climate Crunch Time…Pixel Art Animation 

Grab your game console for a high-stakes mission in “It’s Climate Crunch Time. It’s Time to Level Up.” Produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this pixel-powered animated video turns the climate crisis into a retro showdown complete with a “scoreboard” and branching paths for action vs. inaction. An energetic voiceover blasts us through three possible endings—keep warming to 1.5°C and save the day, hit 2°C and brace for a rough future, or crash and burn at 2.6°C plus. Featuring real stats like the need to cut global emissions by 42% by 2030, it ends with a rallying call: “No more hot air, please. 1.5°C is possible. The future is in our hands.”

With over 1,100,000 views and comments like, “Is humankind too dumb to figure out how to do this? Maybe…,” there’s no denying this animated extravaganza has people talking. The nostalgic 8-bit aesthetic, bright colour palette and symbolic road signs crank up the fun factor without sugarcoating the real message. UNEP shows that even the most pressing global emergency can be delivered with creativity and flair.

4. A Deadly Disease is Making a Comeback Animated Video

Polio is rearing its ugly head again. UNICEF’s “A Deadly Disease is Making a Comeback” has already racked up 800,000 views, shining a spotlight on a menacing voiced polio virus character ready to target children in a post-pandemic world of missed vaccinations. But the villain himself, set the record straight: “Science holds the key to defeating me and vaccine heroes can stop me in my tracks.” The animation style, with its playful, hand-drawn germs sporting big expressions and bright colours, makes the message accessible without downplaying the disease’s threat.

In true infomercial-meets-narrative style, polio is cast as the villain, while vaccines—and the communities rallying to administer them—emerge as the real heroes. The tone is urgent and persuasive, reminding us that after months of COVID disruptions, it’s crucial we don’t let polio slip through our defences again. This short, punchy animated video from UNICEF proves that child-focused content can be hard-hitting, leaving viewers with a single directive: vaccinate now, so polio’s grand re-entrance goes bust.

3.Saving Migrants’ Lives Character Animation 

Hope you don’t mind if we slip in one of our own–yes, this one’s from Leon! Animations, an explainer video company specialised in making animated videos for nonprofits, including the UN. The “Secretary–General’s 2024 GCM Implementation Report – Saving Lives Recommendations,” created for the United Nations Network on Migration, dives into the grim reality that nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing since 2014—and that’s likely an undercount.

Our character animation features detailed figures and settings that convey urgency and humanity, with the script urging, “The clock is ticking, we must save lives now.” It begins with intense music and a dull backdrop showing migrants' struggles, then transitions to brighter music and colorful scenes as the script moves from outlining the problem to presenting solutions.

This sobering content is delivered by the resonant, West African–accented voice of Josef Israel, a Ghanaian-born British voiceover artist we’ve worked with on numerous videos for the United Nations in recent years. One viewer even said, “It is a fitting share. The stats are concerning. Great job with the video! The awesome voice of Josef Israel carries the message of these efforts home perfectly.” We can’t help but agree—although we wish these dire stats were less concerning.

This video is also reminiscent of our Migrant Mental Health video (also voiced by Josef) featured in our inspiring stories and campaigns nonprofit blog. Ultimately, it’s a powerful call to action, reminding all of us that behind every statistic is a human story–and every lost life is one too many. 

2. Cancer - Mom & Me, and that… - Stop Motion Animation

Here’s another standout entry from the World Health Organization’s Health for All Film Festival–this video takes the Student Film Prize! “Cancer – Mom & Me, and that…” is a deeply moving student film directed by Elisa Tiozzo during her time at École Emile Cohl in Lyon, an art school in France. Through a meticulously crafted stop-motion style, the short film spotlights the poignant journey of a mother preemptively shaving her head due to cancer and the emotional response of her daughter.  

The plasticine models and fabric details, from knitted sweaters to expressive clay faces, lend each frame a sense of warmth and authenticity, mirroring the close bond between mother and child. Voice acting by the characters themselves elevates the film’s emotional core, capturing moments like “I am afraid you won’t recognize yourself” and “You need me… So I’ll help you any way I can,” which resonate with anyone who has faced life-altering health challenges.

A heartfelt comment like, “This student film is so bittersweet... such a wonderful job you did! Congratulations on being featured here,” perfectly captures its blend of heartache and hope. Remarkably, this masterpiece was created by an individual art school student with limited resources, showcasing incredible talent and creativity. This stop motion film is a testament to how love, understanding, and open communication can guide families through the darkest chapters of illness. 

1.Meet the Super Pollutants Character Animation 

Snagging the top spot on our 2024 UN animated videos list, “Meet the Super Pollutants” from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) wins over hearts (and the planet) with a cheeky lineup of cartoonish baddies—black carbon, HFCs, and methane—all portrayed as mischievous villains wreaking havoc on Earth. There’s no formal narration here, only a few seconds of voice acting and just menacing giggles!  The entire production banks on a lively visual narrative: vibrant colours, exaggerated facial expressions, and playful scenes that practically shout, “We’re trouble, and we know it!”. These cartoonish villains grab centre stage—and they’re as unforgettable as they are destructive.

Despite tackling a serious subject, the animation keeps things light. By personifying these pollutants as outrageous troublemakers, the video delivers a friendly kick in the conscience—reminding us that small, day-to-day shifts can take these ‘super villains’ down a notch. The incorporation of lively festival folk music further enhances the video's spirited and imaginative vibe. This is produced by the animation video company Jelly, the animation showcases their talent in bringing complex environmental issues to life with humour and charm. It’s no wonder UNEP’s “Meet the Super Pollutants” gets 1st place in this UN animations 2024 blog with such an imaginative animated video. 

Concluding the Best United Nations Animated Videos of 2024

The United Nations initiatives in 2024, as showcased through a diverse array of animated videos, have profoundly influenced global discourse on critical issues. From the vivid depictions of humanitarian efforts in South Sudan to engaging presentations on climate action and public health challenges, these animations successfully communicate the urgent and complex nature of the UN’s work.

Leon! Animations is a nonprofit video agency that helps charities, nonprofits, and NGOs—like the United Nations—transform complex messages into engaging 2D explainer videos that anyone can understand. If you’re looking for an animation studio to amplify your message, let’s talk—we’d love to help!