Creating a friendly animated character to support Dup15q families on their medical journey.

Dup15q Syndrome is a rare condition with limited treatment options, often leaving families feeling isolated and overwhelmed. To support parents and children enrolling in a medical study, the aim was to create materials that reassure, inform, and comfort – helping families understand the process while making it feel less intimidating.

We developed a friendly capybara character, brining on board illustrator Nuria Boj, who created a 15-page storybook and 4 minute animation that guide families through the study journey. The booklet follows the capybara on playful adventures through magical worlds, meeting creatures and discovering fun facts. The companion animation, brought to life by our in-house animators Plastic Horse with original music score by Lost Machines, is designed for parents and delivers clear, technical information in the same visual language to help them understand what to expect and feel supported throughout the process.

Nuria's concept centres around creativity as a way to help us navigate change. The storybook encourages children to engage with their condition through imagination and interaction, using a narrative journey led by the capybara to comfort and entertain young participants, whilst the animation adapts the same visual style to present practical study information for parents. Both pieces work together to hold families’ hands through an intimidating process – making them feel less alone and more hopeful. 

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