Aardman addresses the psychological well being of younger individuals with animated movies
What's Up With Everyone features a range of animations for young people aged 17 to 24, created in collaboration with the same audience. They revolve around a cast of five animal characters, all in typically charming Aardman style, though they cover more serious subjects than Wallace's undying love for cheese.
The studio created the campaign in collaboration with leading academics and research teams and mental health and wellbeing organizations. The studio has identified some of the most common issues young people face, many of which may have been exacerbated by the lockdown.
The films are designed to help young people's “mental health literacy”, as the studio describes them, by giving them narratives that are honest and understandable.
"We want the people who watch them to see a little of themselves in the characters and their stories. This is the start of thinking about how they feel or deal with it and how it could be better," says the animation director of the studio, Daniel Binns.
They are shared on YouTube and social media, and hosted on a What's Up With Everyone website, which covers social media, loneliness, perfectionism, independence and competitiveness in more detail.
whatsupwitheveryone.com; aardman.com