The World Bank's Latest Collaboration with BIEN Reflects on The State of Economic Inclusion

Feb. 02, 2021

The World Bank recently partnered with BIEN, an inclusive motion design studio, to create a short animated film describing the state of economic inclusion throughout the world.

For the first time in two decades, the number of people facing extreme poverty is rising. To combat this issue, the World Bank is working to boost incomes and promote economic equality in over 75 countries. After extensive research and analysis, The State of Economic Inclusion 2021 report confirms that these programs work and benefit nearly 92 million individuals.

Hung Le, Creative Director at BIEN, said:

“This has been an amazing opportunity for us to learn more about economic inclusion. As an inclusive motion design studio, we strive to do good through our work behind the scenes and on-screen. Growing up in post-war Vietnam, this brought back a lot of memories for me. I’m passionate about global initiatives like this that help improve the lives of so many people.”

 

Carlos Alegria, Art and Animation Director, said:

“We wanted a visual look that felt organic and human. Computer animation can feel a bit cold and digital sometimes, so we put extra effort into giving some roughness to it, using a combination of textures, vivid colors, and cel animation. As the film progresses, the characters and environment go through a positive evolution that gets reflected in the visuals, too. We learned a lot from the client, who helped us create accurate character illustrations and to build more relatable environments.”

 

Ricardo Roberts, Executive Producer, added:

“Some scenes in this project depict war-torn areas affected by years of conflict, and other scenes show how climate change is wreaking havoc on already fragile economies. Our inclusive design process ensured that we portrayed everyone in this film in a positive, empowering manner. Having a global team with diverse backgrounds and abilities was certainly a huge part of ensuring authentic representation and accessibility.”