Behind the Scenes: Creating Our School Avoidance Awareness Week Animation
Sometimes the best creative projects start in unexpected ways. Our animation for this year’s School Avoidance Awareness Week began just like that. During the interview process for our new 3D animator, Matt, he shared a piece of his work to showcase his skills. We were immediately impressed—not just by the quality of the animation, but by his curiosity and creativity. By September, Matt had joined the team and was ready to bring a new idea to life.
Finding the visual language
We started with a few concepts, some of which stayed, and some we quickly discarded. Finding the visual language that felt right didn’t happen instantly. After a few days of brainstorming, we honed in on the main story we wanted to tell. The next challenge was the framing device. We knew this had to feel natural and integral to the story, especially as the animation needed to be short and focused rather than a full-length film. After taking a step back, the solution became clear: the everyday act of going to school. This simple framing device tied the story together and gave it context.
With the story and structure in place, Matt turned to Blender to bring the visuals to life. The result is a thoughtful, engaging animation that perfectly sets the tone for School Avoidance Awareness Week. It’s a short piece, but one that captures the key message and introduces the week in a way that is both clear and compelling.
School Avoidance Awareness Week itself is a programme of nine live webinars, plus a Cuppa & Chat session, spread across a week. Each session dives into the topic of school avoidance, exploring practical strategies, insights, and advice for parents and educators alike. All webinars are available live on the Sunshine Academy, and included in the subscription cost, making this week a rich learning opportunity for anyone looking to better understand and support children who struggle with school attendance.
