A legacy of kindness that needed a modern voice
For over 135 years, Bristol Animal Rescue Centre has been caring for animals in need. But in a challenging fundraising climate, they needed a fresh way to tell their story, one that would celebrate their heritage, inspire donations, and rally the community behind their mission.
The challenge: turning history into action
Bristol ARC wanted to create an engaging piece of content that would bring their story to life and encourage people to support their work. The challenge was to make a 135-year-old legacy feel relevant, emotional, and shareable in today’s digital world.
Our strategy: a simple act that sparked a movement
We built the campaign around a powerful insight: one small act can start a chain of kindness. The story begins in 1885 with Edward T. Parker rescuing a freezing stray puppy, a moment that led to the founding of Bristol’s first dog shelter. From there, the narrative traces how this single act grew into today’s thriving rescue centre.
Creative that brings kindness to life
The 60-120 second online film uses bold, collage-style animation and playful sound design to bring history to life. Victorian portraits, quirky characters like Dave the dog and Mr. Tiddles the cat, and Bristol-inspired visuals create a distinctive, shareable piece of content. The tone is warm, humorous, and rooted in local pride, ending with a clear call to action: Join our chain of kindness today.
Smart Strategy.
Real Impact
The film became the centrepiece of Bristol ARC’s Christmas “Chain of Kindness” campaign, and the results exceeded expectations:
- Fundraising target smashed: £15,506 raised against a £10,000 goal (and still climbing).
- Campaign longevity: the film now lives on their website and will be used for years in presentations, community talks, and online campaigns.
“Thank you so much for everything you did making this Chain of Kindness animation for Bristol A.R.C. It means so much to everyone at the charity to have this story told… The campaign was really successful. We actually smashed our target… This will make a massive difference to the animals in our care.”
Gina Jones, Bristol ARC
From heritage to digital impact
By blending heritage storytelling with modern design, we turned a historic legacy into a vibrant, digital-first campaign that inspires people to act, and proves that one simple act of kindness can go a very long way.