MicroToons
Hello! If you're interested in sharing the story "Pimple," our debut of MicroToons with your classroom or organisation, please let us know by emailing hello.microtoons@gmail.com. We would also love to know your thoughts and feedback!
MicroToons is more than just an animated story about microbiology. The collaboration between microbiologist Dr Rina Fu, animation studio Red Bird Creative and disabilities provider 4lifeskills represents what can achieved when emerging artists who live with disabilities are provided an opportunity.
A number of the artists on the creative team live with autism, the youngest being a Year 12 student who was already involved with Red Bird for work experience. As Red Bird has regularly hosted students as well as having experience with artists living with autism, Red Bird founder Aaron Welch saw the project as an opportunity to empower people with autism and engage theirs peers in STEM.
The MicroToons journey started in early 2020 when Aaron met Dr Rina at a networking event. In learning about each other's enthusiasm for storyetlling and providing opportunity, the idea quickly grew into a story idea and a grant application to National Science Week. Once MicroToons was announced as one of the four WA successful recipients Dr Rina and Aaron began working on story and bringing together the creative team.
After countless hours and an amazing effort by all, MicroToons made its debut at a public launch event on the 9th August to a capacity crowd at Kelmscott Bulldogs Football Club. The reception was fantastic and Dr Rina and Aaron could not have been prouder of what the team achieved with the animation, and immensely grateful to all the volunteers who made the night possible and engaged with the public on the night.
MicroToons became more than a just a short animation. By engaging people with all abilities, science can be accessible to all. While the story is about having fun and creativity, there is still scientific accuracy.
Who knows what may come next. But Dr Rina and Aaron certainly hope there will be more MicroToons stories to tell!
www.RinaFu.com
www.redirdcreative.com.au
www.4lifeskills.org.au
Look forward to your comments and feedback!
© 2021 Dr Rina. All rights reserved. A Red Bird Creative production in association with Dr Rina.
