Why animation works for sharing lived experience
- Emma Lazenby
- Feb 2
- 1 min read
Animation removes the visual bias of live action/talking heads, and offers a gentler, more respectful way to share difficult stories. Being interviewed anonymously allows feelings like fear, confusion, and pain to come through more clearly - so they can be represented, understood, and remembered more deeply.
Sharing lived experience and reality while protecting anonymity

‘It's very rare to find dads that are prepared to talk so openly about the negative side of becoming a father ... the film supports their honesty and courage in such a sensitive way’ Client
Softening difficult truths without diluting them

‘The blend of animation, women’s voices and music conveys insightful realities of four women’s experiences of fear, infant complications, and the psychological impact of birth trauma and loss.’ Healthcare Professional
Making the invisible visible

‘Some of the things shown are things that happen, that most wouldn't go through or even know would happen. Our stories have been heard, listened to and replayed then animated in such a powerful way’ Participant
Making lived experience accessible

‘Having this as a resource is a great thing that you can kind of keep in your pocket. People can access it on their phones and that kind of fluidity is really important. It communicates the message so clearly. It's great that it's not too long. It's really easily accessible.’ Healthcare Professional



This was a really thoughtful post, I like how it explains the value of animation in a way that goes beyond just visuals and actually focuses on how stories are experienced. The idea that animation can help share lived experiences more effectively makes a lot of sense, especially because not everything can be captured through traditional filming. Things like emotions, memories, or even complex medical situations can be difficult to show in real life, but animation gives a bit more freedom to represent those in a sensitive and understandable way. From what I’ve seen, animation is often used to simplify complex topics and make them more accessible, while also helping people connect emotionally with the story . I also liked…