Each year, the FIA (Fundraising Institute of Australia) throws its ‘End of Year’ party. This get-together is a chance to recognise the winners and finalists of the FIA Awards. It also marks another year together in the wonderful, inspiring (and sometimes challenging) world of fundraising.

As Creative Sponsor, we’re privileged to work on the creative for the event invitation and video. As Design Director, Bo says, it’s a “passion project that gives us permission to stretch our creativity that little bit further”.

This year’s brief was the jungle, inspired by the greenery of the event’s venue, The Green Moustache in North Sydney. Once we saw the location images, we immediately knew we could do something special.

THE GREEN MOUSTACHE, NORTH SYDNEY – VENUE FOR THE FIA NSW AWARDS. © @GREENMOUSTACHEROOFTOP

Ideating our way into the jungle

With the jungle and a verdant venue as starting points, our concepting pulled together several threads. Combined, they wove a narrative that reflected both the people being celebrated at the awards and the party itself.

The humble fairy lights that decorate the Green Moustache led us to think of the fireflies often found in jungles.

“Part of our work is helping organisations shine a light on causes so that they don’t go unnoticed. Similarly, by illuminating the jungle, the fireflies represent hardworking fundraisers. Because every small light is bright, and every fundraiser deserves to be celebrated.”

– Mon, Senior Designer

We considered how we could make our creative more representative of the event’s locale and the people involved. This line of thinking led us to rainforest environments closer to home in Australia, and the flora and fauna found there. Creatures like the striking Corroboree frog, the distinctive Cassowary and the iconic Possum. And of course, our opening flower, the symbolic NSW Waratah.

From there, we explored stylistic approaches and patterns to help unite the theme’s elements.

We chose bold, graphic illustrations to capture the magic of the rainforest at night. Illuminated by fireflies, we see vivid pops of colour as we follow the fireflies deep into the enchanting forest. Meanwhile, a striking colour palette allows our chosen elements to stand out against the forest’s shadows.

AI as a tool, not a method

Once we chose our approach, we knew we needed to work smart to achieve our bold ambition in time for launch.

That’s where AI came in. We used it as a tool to lay the groundwork for our designs, rather than to create the final product. By incorporating AI into our workflow, we were able to jump forward and save significant time. This time hop gave us space to zero in on the creative details and produce designs of substantially higher quality.

“We didn’t go into this project wanting to use AI. We went in wanting to make an illustrated animation. Those are the skills we have, and we’re good at it.”

– Andrew, Senior Designer and animation specialist

Using Illustrator’s brand-new AI function, we generated the shapes of the foliage and animals. Once we had these vector layers, they were easy to manipulate and modify. Our work included ensuring all elements looked accurate and authentic, and avoiding the common pitfalls AI can create.

When we searched for images of a Corroboree frog, for example, the top results included an AI-generated image. Fortunately, we always dig deeper and think critically—in this case, checking the image source. Without applying this level of care and professionalism, it would be easy to assume the photo was the real deal.

Once we had our (authentic!) elements, it was time for our animation team to work their magic.

Crafting a rainforest-inspired animation

The video features a unique, bold visual style with dynamic lighting effects designed to spark curiosity and wonder. We take the viewer from silhouettes to partial reveals that delight and speak to a world teeming with life.

To achieve this, we began by creating our scenes and characters in Illustrator. Next, we rigged and animated the characters and secondary elements for our scenes in After Effects.

To achieve the lighting we wanted and a gritty, tangible texture, we added multiple effects. Applying subtle movements to our rainforest creatures helped them stand out against the faster motion of the fireflies. This choice also gave them brief glimpses of personality, inviting viewers to feel part of their world.

Once we were happy with the animation and timing, we brought our edit into Premiere Pro and Audition. Our focus here was on building the soundscape first, to bring the fireflies and sounds of the forest to life.

With the soundscape completed, we mixed the music, using multiple stems to time it perfectly– adding another layer of audio storytelling.

All our elements were brought seamlessly together, taking viewers on an immersive journey through the Australian rainforest. Starting with the Waratah, the video highlights the diverse flora and fauna of our unique landscape along the way.

“Our craft lies in what we do to find meaning out of something as broad as ‘jungle’. We always challenge ourselves to look beyond the obvious and create connection and meaning. That’s how we arrive at ideas big enough to carry an animated video.”

– Bo, Tone Studio’s Design Director

Fireflies serve as both a guide and a narrative device. As we move, they illuminate the surroundings, revealing the hidden wildlife and natural beauty of the environment.

Finally, the video swoops to a conclusion and the fireflies fly upwards into the night sky. They become, and are, the stars of the show.

The final view, framed by the silhouetted foliage of the forest canopy, reminds us of our journey here. And the night of celebration ahead!