Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES), the nation’s leading environmental campaigning charity, wanted to challenge misleading “green” technologies like Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) and Hydrogen Production.
They turned to Ping Creates to dream up two satirical animated films that could cut through online noise, simplify complex climate science and inspire public debate.
The Challenge
FoES knew that their audience was politically aware and environmentally engaged but already bombarded with competing information. To be effective, the films needed to:
- Expose the fossil fuel industry’s co-option of “green” solutions
- Deliver complex climate science in a simple, accessible way
- Engage viewers emotionally while prompting critical thinking
- Reflect FoES’s passionate, radical, solution-focused tone
Our Approach
Working from FoES’s campaign brief, we developed two scripts featuring Oli and Michelle, a pair of slick, TED Talk–style sales reps from the fictional company Carbon-B-Gone.
Our creative concept took inspiration from satirical classics like The Simpsons and South Park – specifically their town hall and talk show parodies, where self-serving ‘experts’ unravel under public scrutiny.
Each film followed the same comic arc: confident corporate spin meets awkward truth.
- Carbon Capture & Storage – Oli and Michelle pitch their “clean” carbon solution to a sceptical community audience. As questions pile up – Is it safe? Efficient? Regulated? – their demonstration literally backfires, ending in flames and farce.
- Blue Hydrogen – The duo reappear on a live TV talk show promoting hydrogen energy, only for the host and audience to expose the hidden reliance on fossil fuels. Once again, their tech malfunctions spectacularly, drenching them – and their credibility – in water.
Visually, we developed a snappy cut-out animation style inspired by South Park’s irreverence but with a polished, contemporary aesthetic. We used bold, deep colours to evoke comic energy without skewing too young, and expressive animation to heighten the chaos and humour.
Working with talented voice actors, we drew out sharp, characterful performances that brought the scripts to life, making each line memorable and shareable.
The Solution
The two films combined humour, accessible science communication and appealing visual design. Short, punchy and social-media friendly, they supported FoES’s wider online campaign against CCS and hydrogen greenwashing.
Through animation, we turned policy critique into public conversation – creating content that entertained, educated and motivated audiences.
Impact
Launched across FoES’s social platforms and website, the films reached thousands of viewers within days. By combining humour with clarity, they invited audiences to question ‘techno-fixes’ and redirect their support toward real climate solutions.
For Friends of the Earth Scotland, the campaign reaffirmed their position as bold communicators unafraid to challenge the status quo.
For Ping Creates, it was a perfect example of the power of story, design and digital creativity to turn complex issues into conversations that matter – inspired by dreams of truth, transparency and a sustainable planet.
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