Personal hygiene and mental health
This explainer animation sheds light on a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of well-being: how personal hygiene directly impacts our mental health. The video aims to demonstrate the reciprocal relationship between self-care routines (such as grooming, showering, and keeping tidy) and psychological states like self-esteem, mood, and social comfort.
The objective was to encourage healthier daily habits by illustrating their tangible benefits for mental well-being, presented in an accessible and engaging manner.
I used a cast of expressive 3D characters, placing them in various relatable settings – from personal grooming moments to social interactions and solitary reflection.
These characters were designed to convey a range of emotions and situations, helping to illustrate the positive and negative impacts of hygiene on an individual's mental state.
All 3D character renders and environmental assets were then meticulously animated and composited in After Effects to create a fluid and informative narrative.
Credits
Direction, Animation & Design: Sasan Shekarestan
Voiceover: Zohreh Tabakh
Client: Digipezeshk
Tools Used: Daz Studio, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, After Effects
Challenges & Creative Decisions
One of the primary challenges was to visualise an abstract connection – the link between physical cleanliness and mental state – without being preachy or judgmental.
I approached this by focusing on showing the before and after effects of hygiene practices through character expressions, body language, and subtle environmental shifts. For instance, showing characters looking dishevelled and isolated versus feeling confident and socially engaged effectively communicated the mental impact.
Another creative decision involved depicting everyday hygiene practices in an engaging and non-clinical way. Scenes illustrating brushing teeth, showering, or tidying a room needed to feel relatable and achievable.
The use of bright colours and friendly 3D character designs helped to maintain a positive and encouraging tone throughout the animation, ensuring the message about self-care for mental health was received openly by the audience. The consistent character design and environment styling helped to create a cohesive and easily digestible narrative.
