Media > Media: Sectors

IMAGINARY FRIEND SOCIETY- CAMPAIGN

RPA, Santa Monica / PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION / 2018

Awards:

Shortlisted Cannes Lions
CampaignCampaign(opens in a new tab)
Case Film
Presentation Image

Overview

Credits

Overview

CampaignDescription

Our creative solution was to take a difficult subject matter and make it accessible for kids. To develop a resource that would both educate and entertain. So, we created a group of fun, fictional characters called The Imaginary Friend Society. Their job? To help deliver cancer-care information in a way kids can relate to. The idea itself was born from real cancer survivors who told us they had imaginary friends who helped them cope with long hospital stays.

Execution

Through a series of 22 animated short films, The Imaginary Friend Society characters explain every facet of cancer these kids face. Everything from "What is an MRI?" to "Returning to School" to more emotionally complicated topics like "Feeling Sad." Ultimately providing kids with a knowledge base to help them find a little bit of control and understanding in their fight against cancer.

Outcome

Once launched, a survey was conducted to quantifiably confirm that the films had the desired impact for those directly affected by pediatric cancers.

Upon seeing the videos, 96% felt that the videos help parents and caregivers talk with kids about difficult issues. 85% agreed that the videos helped kids feel less anxious and scared. 80% said the videos meet a real need and are something they would recommend to others.

Without a single media dollar spent, the campaign spread and received significant pro-bono media support. TV messaging covered 83% of the U.S., and National TV began March 2018 on Hulu.

Most importantly, leading hospitals around the country, like Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, have permanently adopted the Imaginary Friend Society film series into their in-patient entertainment network. The films have been translated into over 20 different languages and are being distributed across 4 continents.

Relevancy

Kids facing cancer need all the help they can get. But instead of creating another awareness campaign targeting adults, we decided to create content specifically for the kids themselves. A series of animated films helped turn education into entertainment for sick kids confined to hospitals. The films are now accessible on the in-patient networks at hospitals around the country.

Strategy

Already leading the way in finding a cure for childhood brain tumors, The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation needed to build on the "Care" aspect of their "Care. Cure. Thrive." mission. Our objective was to create resources that would help the kids, their parents and their caregivers by arming them with easy-to-understand information so they could better navigate the overwhelming experience of fighting cancer.

Synopsis

A cancer diagnosis is scary for anyone, but for a child it's even scarier. They're bombarded with complex terminology and procedures that are intimidating, unfamiliar and often downright terrifying. Medical research has shown that when pediatric-cancer patients understand what's happening to them and what to expect, they feel less scared, experience less anxiety, and do much better overall. Unfortunately, there are no resources that explain cancer care in a way kids can understand.

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