Research Background: A collaboration between community group YFS’sR4Respectinitiative and Griffith Film School, Don’t be a Bad Appletargets young people in an effort to promote healthy and respectful relationships. Framed within the national campaign addressingdomestic violence, and building on Peter Moyes’ long-term project of investigation into the use of animation for education andcommunity awareness, the project exploresthe ways in which animation can engage a youth audience incommunity issues and contribute towards personal development.

Research Contribution: The project utilises humour, pithy messaging and accessible inclusive charactersas best means of leveraging social media platforms for increased exposure and peer-to-peer sharing. A unique design aesthetic, distilled messaging viamicro-narrativesand an original series concept meet the demands of a competitive online media environment.Thefilms support the strengths-based approach of the Australian Curriculum HPE providingstudents an opportunity for thoughtful reflectionand development of theirrelationship skills.

Research Significance: The series waslaunched in May at The Griffith Film School by The Director ofthe Office for Women, KylieStephens with attendance and strong endorsements by Takeshi Takada co-founder and Executive Producer of Altvfx, Dr Heather Nancarrow CEOAustralia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) and OurWatch’sLetitia York and Cara Gleeson. All praised the creative and witty messaging, best utilisation of the online environment,and informed approachin ‘transferring evidence to action’—see support material. YFS is releasing the sixvideos episodically until September 9.