case study

Educating with Sensitivity – HPV Self-Collection Awareness 2D Animation video.

Introduction:

Some projects come to us as just another assignment. Others come with a weight of responsibility that settles deep in your chest. This was one of the latter, the kind that keeps you awake at night, not from the stress, but from the deep realization that lives could truly be altered because of the work you are about to craft.

When this passionate NGO approached us to create an educational animation on cervical cancer self-collection testing,it was immediately clear that this was not just going to be a "video project."

It was about courageously breaking the silence on a deep taboo topic, and spreading lifesaving awareness to women across the cities, quiet rural villages, and remote tribal areas. And, doing it in a way that was scientifically accurate, culturally sensitive, and deeply respectful of every woman's dignity.

Many agencies had already turned the client away, intimidated by the sensitive subject matter they had presented and constrained by their tight budget. But for us, this became so much more than a project. It became an impassioned mission for our brand to push beyond normal boundaries and touch hearts in the strongest possible way.

As the Head, I had to guide one of the most delicate creative processes we have ever handled so far. Ensuring that each and every single stage from scripting, storyboarding, designing, and animation was approached with genuine empathy, meticulous precision, and an unwavering sense of responsibility toward the women we were serving.

The Challenge:

The client's requirements were refreshingly clear but beautifully demanding:

Create a 2D animated video that demonstrates the self-collection procedure for cervical cancer screening with crystal clarity.
Ensure an educational clarity without causing any embarrassment. And, this video should be genuinely educated and never alienated.
Represent the main character Geetha (30+) as authentically relatable across the urban areas, rural areas, and even the tribal communities.

Represent a doctor (50+) who radiates the trustworthiness and warmth for the audience.
To deliver the video in both English and Kannada language, adopting linguistic inclusivity.
Maintaining the backgrounds thoughtfully with minimal elements and completely distraction free visuals.

The challenge boiled down to one major question: How do we visually communicate a private medical procedure, to millions of women in a way that feels safe, dignified, and empowering?

The overall Process - Stage by Stage:

1. Internal Deliberation – Should we take this sensitive project?

When this project first came to us, our leadership and creative teams sat together for a long, brutally honest discussion filled with searching questions that cut to the heart of our values like,

Could we depict these sensitive visuals with the responsibility they deserve?
Would women feel awkward watching it, or would it genuinely empower them to take charge of their health?
Could we masterfully balance scientific accuracy with deep cultural sensitivity?

It was not an easy decision for us, the kind that tests your core beliefs about the work you going to do. But we realized, if we don’t take this project, then who will?

That was the turning point of our decision. We decided to commit fully aware of the responsibility.

2. Script Development - Finding the Right Voice:

The script was the foundation of this project. And it had to accomplish something beautiful:

The story should speak in a genuinely friendly and deeply empathetic voice that every woman could trust.
It had to clearly explain the procedure without sounding coldly clinical or intimidating.
We carried the responsibility to normalize the conversation around cervical cancer, while still respectfully honouring cultural sensitivities.

Our talented scriptwriter/ visualizer worked hand in hand with remarkable synergy. Every single line was tested for tone. Was it too medical? Too casual? Could a rural woman understand it as easily as a city dweller? Would it speak to the heart as much as the mind?

The result: a script that was genuinely educational, deeply empathetic and beautifully simple. And then we have shown the script to the client. After gone through the script, the client gave only minor changes before approval. But, before the showing the script, we knew with absolute certainty that we had struck the perfect balance.

3. Storyboarding - Managing the Fine Line:

The next stage is storyboarding. Storyboard was the critical stage where the real emotional tension of the project surfaced. This was the delicate stage where we had to take some heart wrenching decisions like.

How do we show the swab insertion with complete clarity while maintaining absolute dignity on the screen?
How do we illustrate the cervix anatomically without causing any slightest discomfort to anyone of the audience?

This stage demanded multiple iterations and countless client discussions that stretched our creative souls to go forward correctly. As the Head, I personally ensured our storyboard artist stuck closely to the scientific essence while carefully avoiding anything that could feel awkward or inappropriate on the screen.

Our breakthrough solution:

We used clean outline silhouettes and elegantly simplified anatomy diagrams like those found in trusted medical textbooks.
Kept the unwavering focus on function, not on form.
Maintained Geetha's dignity throughout every single frame.

After that, we presented the storyboards as our visual ideas with the client. When the client reviewed, they had few add-ons and then finally they have approved the storyboard. I felt like we had crossed the most challenging hurdle with grace and integrity.

4. Visual Design - Culture Meets the Communication:

The next creative battle was backgrounds. The client wanted something thoughtfully minimal, so that viewers could focus completely on the life-changing message. But they also wanted the video to resonate deeply with all the women from cities, villages and tribal areas, speaking their visual language.

At first, we tried moto designs, which blended with nature and felt relatable across these diverse audiences. But the client wanted something different. So we pushed further—and that’s when we had another breakthrough idea:

Our talented scriptwriter/ visualizer worked hand in hand with remarkable synergy. Every single line was tested for tone. Was it too medical? Too casual? Could a rural woman understand it as easily as a city dweller? Would it speak to the heart as much as the mind?

The result: a script that was genuinely educational, deeply empathetic and beautifully simple. And then we have shown the script to the client. After gone through the script, the client gave only minor changes before approval. But, before the showing the script, we knew with absolute certainty that we had struck the perfect balance.

The beautiful Gond Art.

Bringing Gond trees and birds art into the project, adds a perfect familiarity and warmth to the visuals.
These designs blended seamlessly without distracting the core message and act.
These designs made the video truly belong to the people it was lovingly meant for.

This choice was a genuine turning point. The client and they association members absolutely loved it, and so did our passionate illustrators, who poured their hearts and souls into weaving this traditional art form into the video's very DNA.

5. Character Creation – The Faces of Trust:

The creation of Geetha was one of the most emotionally effort-intensive stages we've ever undertaken.

We painstakingly went through countless versions:

Too urban, and rural women wouldn't see themselves reflected.
Too rural, and city women wouldn't connect with her story.

Only after several soul-searching revisions did we land on a character who could beautifully bridge all three worlds with authenticity and grace.

For the doctor character, we made the inspired choice to use the real doctor who’s a part of our client’s team as our model. This decision added genuine authenticity and deep trustworthiness, which making the video feel less like a distant animation and more like receiving real, caring guidance from a trusted friend.

6. Illustration of Sensitive Scenes – The Crucial Balance:

We knew that this stage is going to be a crucial test for our professional illustrators. Same how, it tested our creative spirits the most. The questions are raising again, that how we thoughtfully show a woman inserting a swab into her vagina, and without creating a single frame that could be perceived as awkward or vulgar?

Did you know how we approached carefully to craft the visuals?

We used the respectful diagrammatic visuals instead of realistic anatomy.

And we kept the gentle focus on the tool and the process.
Also, we have illustrated in the same scientific style, yet friendly style, which was used in trusted health awareness materials.

Every single line and curve was meticulously checked and rechecked by our illustrators, myself, and the client's compassionate doctors. This was painstaking work, but it was the beating heart of the project. And it was approved by the client though.

7. Animation & Voiceover – Stage that Bringing Life with Care:

Once the illustrations were finalized, our skilled animators brought the story to gentle motion. For this style of project, the animation had to feel like,

Smooth and re-assuring, and never rushed or in a clinical style.
The video should calmly guiding the viewer on step by step through the process like a trusted friend.
And the product should be friendly yet dignified, and always be like respecting the sensitivity with unwavering care.

We have recorded the voiceovers in both the languages - English and Kannada, by ensuring true inclusivity for every woman. The warm and neutral tone of our narrators, we made the content genuinely approachable and trustworthy.

The Final product:

The final video successfully achieved everything we set out for:
It educated women clearly on the HPV self-collection process with respect and clarity.
It tackled the sensitive visuals with absolute dignity and profound respect.
It beautifully blended with the scientific accuracy with cultural resonance.
It spoke meaningfully to women from all backgrounds like urban, rural, and tribal.

Our client and their total NGO was deeply impressed and moved.

The doctors praised the meticulous accuracy. Most importantly, they said with genuine emotion: "You made a video that women can watch without feeling embarrassed and yet learn exactly what they need to know to protect their health."

This project took six months to complete, and after all those efforts, it now reaches women in cities, rural areas, and even tribal communities. The vision of the Doctors, combined with the visuals of CAN, made this achievement possible.

Reflection as a Head:

Looking back with a full heart, this project was not only about the animation. It was about the sacred trust of our client towards us. The client trusted us with a subject no one else dared to touch. Women will now trust this video to guide them in taking the meaningful control of their health and future.

As the Head, I have learned that the true effort is not just about creativity, it's about, listening deeply and compassionately to both the client and the community, and knowing when to hold back as much as,

when to courageously push forward, and respecting the inherent dignity of the audience above all else. This was not the easiest project we have ever undertaken. But, it was undoubtedly one of the most profoundly important.

Conclusion:

At "Clip And Narrates" Digital Media Agency, we don't just create videos, we craft meaningful conversations, we spread vital awareness, and deliver genuinely impactful content that changes your life. This transformative project proved that even the most sensitive subjects can be transformed into powerful stories that inform, educate, and truly empower.

For us, this was not just a project we delivered recently. It was a story that we were deeply proud to tell wider, one that will ripple through communities and touch lives for years to come.