Children's stories feature imaginative places with fantastical characters. While these worlds of wonder can bring delight to young audiences, there are some stories never meant for children.

That’s the message in “Malak and the Boat,” which chronicles the true story of seven year old Malak's harrowing journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Malak is one of eight million children whose lives are in ruins because of the Syrian conflict.

The film is the first in the animated series “Unfairy Tales,” which chronicles real children’s journeys from Syria by juxtaposing stunning animation with terrifying narrations of events. The series highlights tragedies that are beyond what any human should experience, much less a child.

Now in its fifth year, the Syrian crisis has caused 2.4 million Syrian children to be displaced, and has left a total of eight million children in need of aid.

As the world’s leader in humanitarian aid for children, UNICEF has been working tirelessly to secure the protection and rights of these Syrian children.

This UNICEF film promoted its involvement in the Supporting Syria & The Region conference in London co-hosted by the world leaders of the UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nations. More than 70 countries, international organisations, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector attended.

The animated story starts sweetly with enchanting music and Malak’s own youthful narration. Yet quickly, the story is engulfed by dark and bluish tones blending the strangers on the boat, the night sky, and the sea into one massive nightmare. Malak is positioned now as the hero for the animation, standing as the only bright use of color even while narrating the grotesque and tragic things she sees.

The sea was made of one material, yet through a multi-layered visual technique, evokes memories of Jello or a toothpaste for kids. A custom animation algorithm gives the waves a fluid and stylistic behavior as if the sea has a mind of its own, personifying Malak’s fear and becoming another character in the story.

Even through the storm, Malak’s colors never fade because, besides facing many difficulties at an early age, she represents hope. As the storm settles, Malak stands to have