Humane World for Animals’ better nature

You can’t beat great craft, an impactful soundtrack and an animal story with a happy ending – this sweet new spot from animal welfare charity Humane World for Animals (formerly known as The Humane Society) has it all.  

In only thirty short seconds of stop-motion, (although it’s so lovely we wish it were longer!) Nexus Studios director Johnny Kelly impressively packs in the touching stories of five creatures; a whale at risk of being lampooned, an owl caught in a forest fire, a ferret being bred for its fur, a beagle in an animal testing laboratory, and a pig kept in inhumane farm conditions.  

Perfectly paired with a buoyant rendition of Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill, recorded by Grammy-nominated star Sia, the gorgeous animation demonstrates examples of the organisation’s important work put into action as the adorable protagonists are rescued from their perilous situations, painting a heartwarming picture of a better world for all creatures.   

The production team worked with handmade puppets, cruelty-free materials, and animal-friendly sets. To further reduce material use, they opted for an LED Volume Stage—more commonly seen in live-action production—to accommodate the many scene transitions. This also provided the added benefit of a more immersive environment for the stop-motion animators. 

Kelly said: “Summoned by the clarion call of animal welfare and adorable miniature stop-motion puppets, we were able to amass an incredibly talented crew and create a unique hybrid approach incorporating LED screens. It was an experiment — but Nexus have a knack for jamming traditional techniques and high-end technology together so you get the best of both worlds—and in this instance it allowed us to dream big with our ambitions and storytelling. To tell stories that hint at the incredible work Humane World for Animals carries out around the globe.”