The brief
How International Charities Use Video Storytelling to Celebrate Milestones
In 2024, The Leprosy Mission International (TLM) marked its 150th Anniversary, demonstrating how global charities use animation and video storytelling to reflect on their legacy while inspiring future impact., celebrating a century and a half of impact, progress, and dedication. To commemorate this milestone, TLM wanted to create two films: an animated history of the organisation and a series of interviews with long-standing members who have witnessed its evolution.
These films were designed to do more than just reflect on the past. TLM wanted them to energise supporters, communicate their vision for the future, and inspire people to continue their support as they push towards ending leprosy transmission by 2035. While recognising key achievements, the films needed to remain humble, human-centred, and forward-looking, ensuring they felt authentic rather than self-congratulatory.
For the Animated History of TLM, the challenge was to tell 150 years of history in a concise, engaging way—balancing historical depth with clarity while seamlessly transitioning into their future vision. TLM’s core message revolved around “taking the baton on the final leg of the race to eliminate leprosy”, emphasising that continued support remains crucial, even after the 2035 goal is reached.
What we did
Bringing History and Future Together Through Animation
We began by defining a distinct animation style that would allow us to tell a clear yet emotional story. We developed stylesheets that laid out the visual approach, ensuring alignment with TLM’s brand identity and messaging. Every decision—colours, textures, and animation techniques—was made to enhance both storytelling and emotional resonance.
One of our key considerations was how to integrate text seamlessly without disrupting the flow or tone of the film. Given the amount of historical context involved, it was essential that any on-screen text complemented rather than overwhelmed the animation.
Once the style was set, we moved into storyboarding, translating the key milestones of TLM’s history into a visually engaging sequence. We blended recreated historical moments with more abstract, interpretive scenes, creating a film that felt both reflective and forward-thinking.
During animation, we aimed for a textured, handcrafted aesthetic reminiscent of stop motion. Rather than opting for ultra-smooth motion, we intentionally embraced a slightly rough, organic feel, making it look almost like moving paper cutouts—a nod to historical storytelling methods.
Another key element was voiceover localisation. We sourced and recorded voiceovers in four different languages, ensuring that the film was accessible to TLM’s diverse global audience. Adapting the animation to fit each language was an interesting challenge—some languages required additional timing adjustments due to longer phrasing.
The technical
Concept development
Story development
Scripting
Schedules and timelines
Style sheets
Illustration
Animation
Voiceover in multiple languages
Music licensing
Stills
The result
How a Charity Anniversary Video Engages Supporters Worldwide
This film was a true passion project for us. It captures 150 years of resilience, progress, and hope, while also looking ahead to the future of TLM’s mission. Seeing it showcased at the 150th Anniversary celebrations and received so warmly was a fantastic moment.
We’re proud to have played a role in telling this important story, and we hope this film continues to inspire supporters, partners, and communities to be part of the journey towards a world free from leprosy.
Want to create a compelling anniversary film for your international charity? Let’s collaborate to bring your mission to life! Let’s talk.
