Thirty seconds of your time!
Cartoons for Children's RightsA simple idea has blossomed into an extra ordinary partnership between UNICEF and animation studio around the world - the Cartoons for Children's Rights initiative has produced a series of non-verbal public servce announcements which cover most of the provisions set out in the Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
The partnership has grown to include over 70 animation companies as well as independent animators from 32 countries. Each company has agreed to produce and donate at least one 30 second spot dealing with a single provision, such as child's rights to protection from armed conflict, to health care, to freedom from abuse, to a name and nationality. The spots are being offered free of charge to broadcasters around the world through National Committees for UNICEF and UNICEF field offices. Already over 2,000 broadcasters in 160 countries are showing the 66 spots from the first two tapes to an estimated viewing audience of over 1 billion people. Credit to each animator is given at the end of each spot.
UNICEF is currently looking for contributors to Tape three. For more information please see details on the UNICEF home page; www.unicef.org under Cartoons for Children's Rights and contact George Mcbean Head of the Design Unit, UNICEF NYHQ; gmcbean@unicef.org
Background
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is a major driving force behind UNICEF action for children. We believe that popularizing children's needs and rights will make society more conscious of its duties and obligations. The more basic rights include:
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An alliance with the animation industry will use not only the power of animation, but also the influence of the broadcast media, to raise worldwide awareness of these important children's rights.
Through the International Animation Consortium for Child Rights, a global group made up of top animation studios, animators and distributors has produced 30-second features created by animators from industrialized and developing countries to raise awareness of children's rights. They are non-verbal or have voice-over narration. The Animation Consortium was conceived by C.J. Kettler, President and COO of Sunbow Entertainment, and is open to as many people in the industry who can contribute as possible.
Child Soldiers, by Fil-Cartoons
Studios that join the Consortium donate staff and services for production. Participating studios choose a Child Rights issue to further develop, consulting with UNICEF on content-related issues, and producing the feature.
The goal of the Consortium is to coordinate all aspects of production to ensure close collaboration leading to a unique and effective campaign. The vision of the individual producers is extremely important to the project. By using animation talent throughout the world, diversity of style and content is ensured. The signature of the animator and the name of the studio appears in on-screen credits.
The completed animated features are distributed through the UNICEF field offices and National Committees, which have established extensive contacts with television stations and networks in nearly 150 countries through the International Children's Day of Broadcasting. UNICEF works with consortium members to develop a well-planned publicity and distribution campaign that makes use of both UNICEF and the animation community's resources and partners. A press kit and publicity materials are avalable for promoting and placing the spots.
UNICEF CARTOONS FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
A collection of 30-second non verbal animated PSA's illstrating the Convention on the Rights of the Child[home]
Photos & Contents © UNICEF - Concept & Production Animation World Network
