NSPCC - Pete's Story (Winner at D&AD Awards 2015)

NSPCC : Pete's Story from Daniel Bruson on Vimeo.


Stunning and poignant. Is just two words to describe this animation. This animation is hand-painted frame by frame, the paintings are beautiful and sketchy and have a colourless tint to them, apart from the green, this emphasises the green, a symbol for the NSPCC. The green is seen in the laptop and the phone as the boy could seek help with the NSPCC with these. However the green also symbolises the freedom the NSPCC could offer for Pete as it is present within the sky and behind the door.

The opening title sequence starts off with a child writing "Pete's story", this instantly makes it personal to the audience and informs you of the journey you are about to go on. Bruson employs beautiful transitions from scene to scene it offers a sense of fluidity like you are going on the journey with Pete.

Bruson moulds the paint in a beautiful way, showing intense lighting and shadows. The light pans through the house casting long shadows, which is most symbolic. A child's bike casts a shadow, representing how a child should be out having fun, not being abused. The shadows themselves are heavily metaphorical of the abusive, dark situation. Like Pete's life is in a shadow.

I love the starting scene where Pete is playing like a child, all happy then suddenly his violent mum approaches through the door and the atmosphere instantly changes as she slams the door where the outside turns green, symbolising the NSPCC helpline and freedom from the abuse however, contrastingly the green also sets an ominous atmosphere and instantly changes the animations demeanour for the darker.

In terms of advertising, I think the animation grabs your attention, you instantly realise the situation of Pete, you pick up on the repetition of the green a common symbol for the NSPCC and you recognise the adverts identity quick. (well I did anyway...) So I think that the advert is most effective.