Objective: To promote open, healthy communication between parents and teenagers about love, sex, and relationships by fostering a culture of dialogue through a compelling and inclusive animated video.
Deliverables: A short animated video on SOGIE, adapted from Roots of Health’s educational module on gender and identity.
Outcome: Improved family openness around love, sexuality, and relationships, with inclusive, culturally sensitive materials validated by stakeholders.
When the pandemic disrupted in-person programs around the world, Roots of Health, a nonprofit focused on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in the Philippines, faced a daunting dilemma. How do they continue delivering life-changing information to young people and their families without gathering them in the same room?
The solution came through pixels and frames. Partnering with Evident, they transformed sensitive topics like SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) into a heartfelt animated video that opens a gentle space—where love is love, identity is valid, and difficult conversations can begin.
The Power of Storytelling
The animated video follows a young LGBTQIA+ person who nervously waits for their mother’s response after coming out via text. The message has been “seen,” but no reply comes.
Their “tita” offers gentle reassurance, “It isn’t a disease to be a tomboy. We love who we love.” They remind them that self-worth doesn’t depend on someone else’s approval and that support is nearby.
The narrative, storyboarded by Evident’s creative team, unfolds with emotional precision. Every scene was thoughtfully mapped out to follow a rhythm of tension and tenderness to reflect the vulnerability at the heart of the story.
Visually, the animation reinforces that emotional arc. With its muted pastels and rounded shapes, the design avoids sharp lines and stark contrasts. The visual language—deliberately soft and fluid—was crafted to reflect the idea of a safe space, one that feels welcoming rather than confrontational. For a topic that still meets resistance in many Filipino households, the tone matters just as much as the message.
The Creative Strategy Behind the Screen
Evident’s creative team distilled complex concepts from Roots of Health’s SOGIE module into something digestible, relatable, and most importantly, human.
The original module is a deep dive into the gender spectrum, featuring discussions on biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. It unpacks long-held biases—like whether short-haired women should be labeled lesbians, or if boys can play with dolls. Evident’s creative strategy took these nuances and translated them into a narrative that could be consumed in under a minute.
The team approached the challenge as an art of simplifying without diluting—crafting characters audiences could see themselves in, and striking a tone that encourages understanding and reflection.
This involved validating the material with stakeholders to ensure the campaign was inclusive and culturally sensitive, which is especially vital in a society still navigating acceptance of diverse identities.
Reaching the Family Table
The campaign’s objective is to foster open, healthy conversations between parents and teenagers about relationships, love, and identity. In a culture where such discussions are often avoided or shut down, the video creates a new entry point.
By situating the story in a recognizable digital space—a Facebook feed—and by using the universal language of emotion, the campaign gently nudges families to sit with discomfort and lean into empathy. It doesn’t preach or politicize. Instead, it asks: what if we just listened?
“We Love, Who We Love”
The Roots of Health animated video on SOGIE represents a thoughtful intersection of education, creativity, and cultural engagement. It takes a once-taboo subject and invites audiences in, with love, patience, and beautifully animated honesty.
What emerges is an understanding that safe spaces begin at home and stories told with care can help show the way.
“We love who we love.” It’s a simple truth, rendered in soft lines and pastel hues. But for many, it’s also the beginning of a conversation toward being seen, heard, and understood.
