SEQ Water
About the
project
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”
Water is super easy to take for granted… until it isn’t available anymore. SEQ Water keeps the water resources of Queensland, Australia safe. They are always looking for ways to not only provide water to Queenslanders but also to educate them and inform them.
don’t go chasing waterfalls
We wanted the infrastructure and people behind it to take centre stage. Creating vistas and landscapes that were reflective of actual Queensland, not just “generic vista 1” and so on. It gave it a lived-in feel and allowed us to make the client feel like they could see themselves in the video.
So using photographs of real job sites we were able to create a look and feel that felt both stylised and realistic all at once.
please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
We make no secret of the fact that we like to let design take centre stage and that animation should be a support to that design and not the other way around.
But we didn’t want to just trot out the same old thing, rely on well-worn tropes or fall back on recycled rigs, walk cycles or lighting effects. So we went in with fresh eyes and tried to see things differently and ask, “what if?”
but i think you’re moving too fast
The video was a smash hit. Humblebrag but sometimes government agencies are often happy with the lowest common denominator. They just want to get the message across and don’t always realise that the medium is the message. But there’s a little vision and creative risk on their side or when they really dig in and decide to do something different, great things happen.
We were even lucky enough to do a follow-up – https://vimeo.com/498167429
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“Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.” It’s easy to take water for granted—until it’s gone. That’s where SEQ Water steps in, managing Queensland’s water resources to keep communities safe and informed.
When SEQ Water approached us, they wanted more than just an educational video—they wanted something that felt real, relatable, and engaging.
SEQ Water needed a video that:
💧 Showcased the real infrastructure and people behind Queensland’s water supply
🏞 Reflected authentic Queensland landscapes—not just generic stock visuals
🎓 Educated and informed viewers while keeping them engaged
The challenge? Bringing a sense of realism and connection to an animated piece while maintaining a strong visual style.
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To bring Queensland to life, we used photographs of real job sites as a foundation for our visuals. This approach:
- Added authenticity to the animation
- Created a lived-in feel that resonated with Queenslanders
- Allowed audiences to see themselves in the story
From the beginning, we committed to fresh, original design thinking—avoiding generic animation tropes, recycled rigs, or overused visual shortcuts. We asked ourselves, "What if?", ensuring every frame had intentionality and impact.
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Our approach let design take centre stage, with animation serving as a support to enhance the storytelling. We developed:
🎨 Stylised-yet-realistic environments, rooted in real-world references
🚜 Infrastructure details that reflected SEQ Water’s actual job sites
🌅 Landscapes that felt uniquely Queensland
This careful balance of style and realism made the video both visually striking and deeply relatable.
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To ensure the video was both accurate and engaging, we worked closely with SEQ Water to:
🔄 Fine-tune character movement and visual flow
🎭 Balance realism with artistic expression
📊 Ensure clarity and accessibility of the educational content
The final video was a smash hit. While government agencies often prioritise function over creativity, SEQ Water embraced the power of great design—and it paid off.
🚀 The video exceeded expectations, engaging and informing audiences
💡 SEQ Water recognised the value of creative risk-taking
🎬 We were even invited back for a follow-up project – Watch it here
With vision and bold creativity, SEQ Water didn’t just tell a story about water—they made people care about it.
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