How do we get pregnant
This animated explainer video is the first episode in a multi-part series on pregnancy and contraception. Its primary goal was to explain the biological process of pregnancy in a way that’s both scientifically accurate and easy for a general audience to understand.
The client wanted an accessible tone that could speak to viewers of different ages and backgrounds, especially younger audiences seeking clear, stigma-free education.
Because this was the series opener, I was also responsible for establishing the visual identity and motion language that would unify all future episodes. I developed a clean, minimal design system with soft colors, friendly character design, and smooth transitions, balancing scientific credibility with an inviting aesthetic.
Credits
Direction, Animation & Design: Sasan Shekarestan
Voiceover: Zohreh Tabakh
Client: Digipezeshk
Tools Used: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, After Effects
Challenges & Creative Decisions
One of the key challenges in this project was building fluid transitions and continuous animations within the same 2D environment. Because many concepts had to be visually linked, like the journey of sperm to egg or changes in the reproductive system, the animation had to flow smoothly between scenes without hard cuts or jumps. I used consistent framing and strategically animated masks, zooms, and wipes to simulate movement and progression while staying entirely in a 2D space.
As a result, the After Effects layer panel became extremely complex, with dozens of pre-comps, looping elements, and transitions. Managing this required strict organization: color-coded layers, naming conventions, and a modular scene structure that I could reuse across episodes.
I also created a reusable asset library such as characters, icons and background systems, to streamline the production of future videos in the series.
To keep the tone light and digestible, I used friendly iconography and smooth, curved motion paths, which softened the complexity of the biological processes being shown. Every design decision aimed to make the viewer feel comfortable, curious, and informed, without sacrificing scientific integrity.
