Story

We are very proud to share with you such an important message.

The Feelings is a short film designed and directed by Niceshit in partnership with The Laura Hyde Foundation (via McCann Health), aiming to highlight the detrimental impact COVID-19 has had on the mental health of first responders.

This musical piece brings to life a set of emotional characters that represent what frontline workers feel during their day-to-day jobs — the invisible weight they carry, made visible. Through this project, we wanted to raise awareness about the emotional toll experienced by those on the frontline during the pandemic, give visibility to the feelings that often go unseen or unspoken, and create a powerful emotional connection so that first responders feel recognized and understood. Above all, we wanted to use creativity not only as a form of expression, but as a tool for empathy, support, and healing.
As communicators, we truly treasure projects where we not only get to explore creative storytelling and push our visual language, but also actually help people. We are very happy to bring you The Feelings.

The process of developing these characters was delicate and deeply emotional. Each one was based on several emotional states identified during our research phase. We interviewed first responders to understand their experiences and inner worlds — a process that came with great responsibility.
From early sketches and brainstorming to refinement and final animation, every stage was driven by empathy. These are not just fictional designs, but visual reflections of real psychological states experienced by many.

Combining 3D environments with 2D characters is something we love to explore, as it brings together the best of both worlds. By mixing these two techniques, we captured the beauty of lighting, textures, and dynamic camera movements from 3D — while maintaining full control and expression through frame-by-frame 2D animation.

The bold design and playful proportions of the 3D environments contrasted beautifully with the hand-painted textures of the characters. Working with brushes and hand-painted surfaces added the human and sensitive touch needed to approach such an emotional subject. This interplay between polished CGI and raw, textured characters amplified the emotional impact in a visually powerful way.

Storyboarding played a key role in shaping the narrative flow and mapping out emotional transitions. Each character had its own texture and brushwork guidelines to ensure a consistent and cohesive visual style throughout the film.
Original music and lyrics were composed specifically for this piece, directly inspired by stories shared by real frontline workers. This made the entire project feel deeply personal, heartfelt, and grounded in lived experience.

IMPACT

The Feelings is one of those projects that remind us why we do what we do. It’s a piece that goes beyond visuals—it’s about making people feel seen. By giving form to emotions that often go unspoken, especially in the context of frontline work during a global crisis, we wanted to create something that could offer comfort, raise awareness, and start conversations. For us, creativity is a powerful tool not just to express, but to support and connect. This film is our small way of saying: you're not alone, and it’s OK to feel the feelings you feel.