Workplace training videos have a reputation: stiff, dated and easy to tune out. NewPoint Strategies and Pixeldust relaunched “Who Does That?!” as animated training that a younger workforce actually wants to watch.
NewPoint Strategies offers consulting and training on workplace issues such as diversity, equity, inclusion and sexual harassment. Its existing videos had the right message, but the partnership with Pixeldust was a chance to take them to the next level for a millennial audience.
Pixeldust wrote contemporary scripts with natural dialogue, designed a new cast of relatable characters, and animated every scenario and every coach, creating engaging, fun and relevant training that helps companies build a culture of respect and a safe place to work.
Animated workplace training, start to finish
NewPoint presented two initial concepts for pilot episodes of a new campaign: one focused on sexual harassment, the other on ethnic stereotyping. Pixeldust’s goal was a new style of animation that would appeal to a younger workforce.
The team wrote contemporary scripts with relevant lingo and natural dialogue, engaging but short enough to hold attention to the end. For the new characters, Pixeldust’s illustrators looked to popular animated TV shows for inspiration.
They designed numerous options for each character, with a range of ages, body types and clothing styles, so the cast looks relatable and reflects the wide variety of ethnicities found in the workplace. Once Pixeldust and NewPoint agreed on each look, the artists added color and prepared the characters for animation.
The initial plan was to show each situation with animated characters, then cut to live-action footage of a coach offering advice. The team felt footage was too limiting; animating both the scenario and the coach gave the series consistency from front to back.
It also widened the choice of voice talent, since actors no longer needed to live nearby and come to the studio to be filmed.
Because the series is driven by dialogue, the animators paid careful attention to facial expressions and body language when conveying sensitive topics, so every scene reads clearly and respectfully.
The promo for the series shows how the videos help a company or agency create a culture of respect and a safe place to work, regardless of an employee’s gender, racial group or ethnicity.