Recycled Ocean Plastics

Recycled Ocean Plastic

animation illustration

A colourful animated explainer showing why one distillery's switch from glass to recycled ocean plastic bottles is better for both the planet and the bottom line.

Problem

Switching packaging materials is a hard sell unless customers understand both the environmental and practical case for it. The distillery needed a way to explain a fairly technical manufacturing change (where the plastic comes from, how it becomes a bottle) in a way that felt approachable rather than like a lecture.

Solution

I directed, illustrated and animated a short film that follows the material's journey from ocean plastic collection through to a finished bottle, grounding the story in local, recognisable scenes like the Brisbane skyline and a busy bar full of cocktails. Stylish animated characters and stat callouts sit alongside the illustrations to reinforce the environmental and cost benefits without slowing the story down.

Why it works

Rooting the explainer in familiar local scenery makes an abstract supply chain story feel close to home rather than corporate. Following the material's actual journey, rather than just stating facts about it, gives viewers a reason to keep watching and makes the environmental benefit easier to remember afterward.

Role

Direction, Design, Illustration & Animation

Credits

Direction, Animation & Illustration: Cameron Pyke & Tom Ward

Illustrated background environment from the ‘Recycled Ocean Plastics’ animated video of Brisbane city skyline, with lots of trees, rooftops and wildlife in the foreground.

A frame from the ‘Recycled Ocean Plastics’ animated video depicting a textured vector illustration of a glass gin bottle on the counter of a fancy dimly lit bar, surrounded by various brightly coloured cocktails.

A frame from the animated video of a table with simple representation of a gin distillery. On the table is a selection of Australian botanicals, leaves, fruits and spices drawn as a vector illustration.

Illustrated shot from the animated video of a pair of 2D animated characters in a boat collecting plastic from the ocean.

Textured vector illustration depicting a collection of ocean plastics underwater in the centre of the image, pulled from a shot within the ‘Recycled Ocean Plastics’ animated video.

Illustrated shot from the animated video of a glass gin bottle floating in the clouds, animated typography and iconography sit next to it showing stats about the bottles recyclability.

Illustrated frame from the ‘Recycled Ocean Plastics’ animated video of Brisbane city skyline at sunset, with lots of trees and rooftops in the foreground.