The Death of Critical Thinking Will Kill Us Long Before AI.
Objective
My goal was to communicate a topic effectively through an explainer video animation at an appropriate length that will make people think.
Script
In the age of viral media, many are losing patience for complex texts.
Sensationalism overwhelms us, fragments our focus, and makes reading feel like an intimidating chore rather than a tool to educate and empower.
Algorithms manipulate the truth and fuel clickbait, distorting genuine conversation.
No system can replace human insight—but we risk abandoning a millennium of valuable comprehension.
Will we let our critical thinking slip away, or choose to protect it?
Direction 01: Traveling Information
Focus on how important it is how information travels and gets retained. Abstract and literal imagery
Direction 02: AI Generation
A journey through using an AI generator to demonstrate the overwhelming simplification of thought that’s happening all around us.
Direction 03: Critical Thinking Transforms Us
Abstract design and story telling that communicates how a lack of reading and critical think can transform us and how we think.
Styleframes
Animatic
Combined with general motion tests, the goal was to lock down any dynamic movements within the animation. This also allowed us to highlight our After Effects skills since the original style frame was handdrawn.
After discussing this pass with our Art Director, we aimed to have most of the animation done by the next pass.
All of the animation was completed by this time, so we were now able to put our focus on design, timing, and animation.
Second Pass
In this pass, we refined and removed animation/frames that became unnecessary. The animation was improving, and so we began to push even further with the movement.
After speaking with our Art Director, we all agreed that changes need to be made to certain shots for a better understanding of the story visually.
Visual Development
First Pass
Third Pass
Revisions
This pass included more implementation of fluid movement, to match the original style frame. We also changed the animation in two different scenes, the tower and the final scene.
With the changes made based on the notes from our previous pass, the animation was almost complete. All that was left were minor fixes. The finalized animation provided the opportunity to include FX cel animation. This would make the design more cohesive, and overall tie the whole animation together.
Final Animation
Website Album Mockup
Credits
Lead Designer, Animator – Elisabeth Augustine
Designer, Animator, Script Writer, Editor – Isabella Smith
Designer, Animator, Voice-over – Sofia Tea
Research
Based on the article “The Death of Critical Thinking Will Kill Us Long Before AI.”, by Joan Westenberg, our reliance on technology and addiction to short-form media is hurting our reading comprehension abilities. The article describes this decline in analysis as detrimental to the foundation of our society. (Westenberg, 2024)
Read more about the topic: Medium Article