Building Anti-Racist Foundations - Animated Explainer Video
Client: Barnardo’s SEEN and Liz Pemberton
Project: Animated Explainer Video
Industry: Non-profit Organizations
Barnardo’s SEEN reached out to SHENNY because they needed help creating an accessible and engaging way to communicate the importance of building anti-racist foundations in early childhood education.
With the launch of a new educational resource on the horizon, they were looking for a visual storytelling partner to help bring their vision to life.
We collaborated closely to develop this animated explainer video that would support professionals working with children and young people of African, Asian, and Caribbean heritage.
The video premiered at an exclusive launch event at the Everyman Cinema in Birmingham’s Mailbox, marking a significant moment in the ongoing push for equity and inclusion in early years practice.
Project Objectives
The animated explainer video aimed to:
Introduce Liz Pemberton’s framework, The 4 E’s of Anti-Racist Practice.
Serve as a standalone educational resource for early years educators.
Complement Barnardo’s SEEN’s broader initiative of systemic change.
Ensure accessibility and engagement, while maintaining a professional and on brand presentation.
Liz Pemberton Video Review
Here's what Liz Pemberton had to say about her experience working with SHENNY and about the project.
The Animation Production Process: How SHENNY Created the video
When Barnardo’s SEEN and Liz Pemberton came to SHENNY, they were looking for full end to end production support to bring their animated explainer video to life. From scripting to sound design, here’s how the video came to life.
Script Development
SEEN and Liz came to SHENNY with a draft script already in hand. Our role was to help refine it, tightening the structure, sharpening the messaging, and shaping it to suit animation.
Together, we cut down the content to fit the intended video length while ensuring every key message remained clear and impactful.
We also highlighted opportunities to shift some information into on screen text, helping to keep the voiceover concise and the visuals dynamic.
Voiceover Recording
To bring authenticity and a personal connection to the video, Liz Pemberton stepped in as the voice of the script.
SHENNY supported her through the process, with Creative Director Seni Soetan joining Liz in the recording studio to help guide tone, pacing, and delivery.
Storyboard Sketch
We began the visual process with a storyboard sketch - a rough, hand-drawn version of the animation.
This early stage allowed SEEN and Liz to review the structure, flow, and visual concepts quickly and cost-effectively.
It was a vital step in aligning on the creative direction before moving into detailed design, saving both time and resources down the line.
Here’s the storyboard sketch:
styleframes
Before developing the full visual storyboard, we presented two styleframe options to establish the visual tone and aesthetic. The main difference was in the style of the characters.
Once SEEN and Liz selected their preferred style, it became the foundation for the full storyboard and ultimately guided the look and feel of the final animation.
Full Visual Storyboard
Once the sketch and styleframes were signed off, SHENNY moved into producing the full visual storyboard.
This version applied colour, layout, and branding elements to each frame, providing a more accurate preview of the final animation.
It locked in the visual tone, ensured consistency with SEEN’s brand, and acted as a blueprint for the animators.
Animation Production
With all elements in place, the animation process began.
SHENNY’s team brought the visuals to life with clean, purposeful motion, ensuring the transitions, expressions, and pacing all aligned with the tone of the narration.
The animation stayed true to SEEN’s brand guidelines while remaining engaging, accessible, and emotionally resonant.
Here’s a behind the scenes photo from the animators Adobe After Effects project:
Music & Sound Design
To round everything out, SHENNY selected three music tracks that could complement the mood of the video without overpowering the message.
Once a final track was chosen by SEEN and Liz, we layered in subtle sound design - enhancing the key moments and supporting the flow of the story to create a cohesive, immersive viewing experience.
Launch Event Day
The final animated video was proudly premiered at an exclusive launch event at Everyman Cinema in Birmingham’s Mailbox.
The day brought together educators, professionals, and advocates dedicated to anti-racist practice in early childhood education.
The event featured inspiring speakers and a panel of experts who shared insights, best practices, and strategies for creating inclusive environments in early years settings.
Here are some highlights from the day:
About Liz Pemberton
Liz Pemberton, founder of The Black Nursery Manager Training & Consultancy Ltd, is an award-winning anti-racist trainer and consultant specializing in early years education.
Her expertise helps local authorities, early years organisations, and primary schools implement effective anti-racist practices, creating equitable and inclusive environments for young children.
Liz’s framework, The 4 E’s of Anti-Racist Practice, is a cornerstone of her training programs. It was a pleasure working with her.
About Barnardo’s SEEN
SEEN is a Barnardo’s initiative with a mission to identify, understand, and address the structural inequalities that limit opportunities for children and young people of African, Asian, and Caribbean heritage.
By building a foundation of knowledge, a strong network, and authentic advocacy, SEEN aims to achieve systemic change in service provision and tackle disproportionate outcomes.
Here are some frames from the animated explainer video:
