Football Animation - Kick It Out!

The Brief

Kick It Out is a dynamic organization with a powerful mission: to kick racism and sectarianism out of football. They have long been at the forefront of fighting discrimination in sport, and this particular football animation project was focused on addressing sectarianism, with an emphasis on the religious divides between Protestantism and Catholicism. These divisions, historically rooted in football culture, still affect the sport today, and Kick It Out wanted to tackle this issue head-on. They needed a series of engaging, informative football animation videos that would reach a wide audience, providing educational insight into sectarianism’s origins and impact while also promoting a message of unity.

The brief required the creation of several 2D animated explainer videos that were visually appealing yet sensitive to the subject matter. These football animation videos needed to be easy to understand, given the wide demographic they would reach, while maintaining a professional, informative tone. Kick It Out wanted to address three key areas: the history of sectarianism, the role football plays in perpetuating and combating these divides, and the impact the sport can have in fostering inclusion. We were thrilled to be part of this important initiative and eager to deliver a creative solution that aligned with their vision.

Our Response

We embraced this challenge with passion, crafting two high-impact football animation videos that effectively delivered the message within a tight timeframe. The first video focused on the reporting process for sectarian incidents, helping viewers understand how to identify and address these issues in football. The second video explored the historical roots of religious divisions within the sport, providing essential context to the problem.

To make the videos visually appealing while keeping the tone serious, we chose a bright neon colour palette. This gave the animations a modern, energetic feel without diminishing the gravity of the content. The design style remained uniform across both videos, creating a cohesive visual identity for the campaign while making sure the message was clear and impactful.

We simplified complex historical and cultural information into easily digestible segments through concise narration and fluid animations. This approach allowed the videos to engage viewers of all backgrounds while ensuring the key messages remained the focus.

Despite limited time and resources, we delivered two high-quality football animation videos that exceeded expectations. The vibrant, modern design made the content accessible and engaging, while the clear and thoughtful messaging resonated with viewers. We’re proud to have played a role in helping Kick It Out continue their important work, using creative design to foster change in football.

Look Development

Storyboard Development

Final Video Snapshots

final Animations

What our client Said

“Producing our first ever animated video was a scary proposition and uncharted territory for us as an agency. Working with The Animation Guys they put us at ease, listened to our ideas and made the process come to life. They’re genuinely decent, honest and hard-working people that ultimately produce first-class animation videos. We couldn’t be happier with our final product and no doubt will return to them for a follow up video at some point! Fully recommend.”

Beth Hellowell

Managing Partner @ Signify Digital