SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH

Sky & Kai

AI-Assisted Animated Awareness Series

Role: Creative Director
Format: Short-Form Animated Video Series
Focus: Mental Health, Suicide Awareness, Youth Engagement
Platforms: Digital, Social, Public Awareness, Streaming-Adaptable
Tools: After Effects, 3D Pipeline, AI-Assisted Ideation & Iteration

The Challenge

Mental health awareness content frequently fails to connect with young audiences because it:

Feels instructional or clinical
Relies on direct messaging rather than emotional engagement
Lacks cultural specificity and authenticity

For communities that already experience marginalization, this disconnect can reinforce silence rather than encourage conversation.

Sky's journey

Knowing A.I. isn't going anywhere, this is my first attempt embracing A.I.

Kai's Solution

embracing A.I. Production makes giant strides in an afternoon.

The Insight

Stories create safety where instructions create distance.

Audiences—especially youth—are more receptive to messages of healing and help when they see themselves reflected in narrative form, rather than being told what to feel or do.

Creative Strategy

Instead of producing traditional PSAs, the project was structured as a storytelling series:

Each episode follows two symbolic characters:
- Kai, a resilient young squirrel representing courage and curiosity
- Sky, a reflective dragonfly embodying empathy and perspective
Episodes mirror real emotional experiences faced by youth:
- Grief
- Identity struggles
- Isolation
- Mental health challenges
Dialogue is minimal; emotion is carried through:
- Visual metaphor
- Lighting and color
- Sound design and pacing

This approach allowed the content to remain non-diagnostic, compassionate, and accessible across age groups.

AI-Enabled Production Pipeline

AI was integrated as a creative acceleration tool, not a narrative voice.

Where AI Was Used

Visual exploration and style iteration
Rapid testing of mood, lighting, and symbolic imagery
Accelerated concept development for multiple episode variations

Human Oversight

All narrative direction, tone, and messaging were human-led
Cultural authenticity and emotional responsibility guided every decision
AI outputs were curated, refined, and approved through a trauma-aware lens

This hybrid workflow enabled faster iteration while preserving trust and integrity—critical for sensitive subject matter.

Tone & Visual Style

Stylized animation with 3D depth and painterly textures
Emotional, cinematic lighting to guide viewer response
Rooted in Native symbolism and values, expressed in a modern visual language
Minimal dialogue, relying on atmosphere and visual storytelling

The result is content that feels immersive, human, and reflective rather than instructional.

Deliverables

Short-form animated awareness episodes
Modular story framework adaptable to multiple themes
Visual system designed for:
- Social cutdowns
- Awareness campaigns
- Platform-based distribution
- Future episode expansion

Purpose & Impact

The series was designed to:

Spark conversation around mental health and suicide prevention
Reduce stigma through identification and empathy
Encourage help-seeking behavior by framing vulnerability as strength
Bridge modern awareness efforts with cultural values and storytelling traditions

Each episode concludes with a message of hope—reinforcing that healing begins with voice, connection, and community.