Best Nonprofit Videos of 2025 (May)

May brought us some proper standouts in nonprofit animation—from minimalist collage styles to satirical villain characters that'll give you the chills. As we wrestled with whether it was ok to wear shorts yet, they were wrestling with the world’s biggest issues—through animation.

As an explainer video agency focused on charity work, we've spotted nine brilliant pieces this month. From World Vision's heart-wrenching water crisis charity animation to the WHO's deliciously dark tobacco exposé, May proved that smart visuals can turn dry statistics into something that lingers long after the screen fades.

Best Charity Animation

World Vision’s “Clean Water. Is that Too Much?”

World Vision's "Clean Water. Is That Too Much?" delivers a sharp visual reminder with this 50-second masterpiece that transforms one girl's daily water walk into an impossible-to-ignore plea for clean water access. With live-action cutouts and minimalist 2.5D animation, they evoke empathy without slipping into guilt-tripping.

The centrepiece is nine-year-old Mahana, animated to walk across a stylised landscape that resembles dry earth. As she moves, bold white kinetic typography—"Stomach pains," "Diarrhoea," "Skin rash"—bursts around her like invisible threats.

These aren't just decorative words; they move with her, echoing the burden she carries on her 4-mile daily trek.

The brilliance here lies in restraint: World Vision trades stats for storytelling, showing how one girl's walk for water echoes a global crisis.

Best Educational Animation

TED-Ed's "One of the Animal Kingdom's Strangest Relationships"

TED-Ed strikes again with this delightfully grotesque dive into tongue-eating parasites—yes, you read that correctly. This 6-minute explainer animation, brought to life by animation studio Flammorum, has racked up nearly 200,000 views by making viewers simultaneously squirm and learn, which is basically TED-Ed’s secret sauce.

Using a 2D hand-drawn style with textured illustrations and earthy tones, this nonprofit animated explainer cleverly anthropomorphises these creepy parasites to make the science digestible.

Even with all the creepy fish visuals, the message comes through loud and clear.

What sets this nonprofit explainer video apart is its brilliant use of dry humour. Lines like "Clearly, there are many delightful ways to be a cymothoid..." and the closing pun "What? Louse got your tongue?" add lightness to genuinely unsettling content.

Even parasites eating fish tongues become fascinating with the right visual approach—proof that animation can make literally anything watchable (well, almost anything).

Best NGO Animations (3-Way Tie)

We were spoilt for choice in the NGO animation category this month, so we picked three absolute crackers that each tackle different global challenges with their own visual flair.

Think of it as the United Nations of animated brilliance. Actually, two of them are literally from the UN. We weren't being clever there. Just accurate.

UNDRR's "How Can We Stop Misinformation During Disasters?"

The UN's disaster risk reduction agency tackles information pollution with a bold, collage-inspired NGO explainer animation that feels like a visual public service announcement designed by someone who actually understands design.

Using pop-art aesthetics, halftone textures, and kinetic typography, this 2-minute video transforms crisis communication into something you'd actually want to watch.

This NGO animation uses sharp movements and sudden zooms to reflect panic and confusion, while a limited palette of black, white, red, and yellow adds dramatic urgency.Key lines like "Misinformation is shared unknowingly.

Disinformation is spread to deceive" deliver practical guidance without sounding preachy—which is no mean feat when you're the UN.

UN Free & Equal's "The Power of Community"

UN Human Right's latest NGO animated video embraces playful collage charity animation video that blends photo cutouts with hand-drawn illustrations in vibrant colours. Flowers, lines, and textures come together to reflect the beauty of difference and the pain of rejection, reminding us that everyone deserves a love that can bloom freely.

The 90-second piece uses fluid, whimsical movements that evoke growth and self-expression.

Floating blossoms, rainbow-coloured petals, and organic textures reflect themes of love, identity, and belonging.

The script leans into poetic metaphors with lines like "Walls of silence, rejection, and indifference" contrasted with "Let's build bridges that connect us all." It's heartfelt without being saccharine.

UNESCO's "Where Is the Water?"

UNESCO delivers a comprehensive 7-minute deep dive into freshwater scarcity using clean, expertly crafted, playful vector animation by the acclaimed animator Steve Cutts.

With stylised characters with exaggerated proportions and bright colours, the nonprofit animation video makes a critical issue feel effortlessly watchable, delivering sharp insights with fluid visuals and playful charm–a charity explainer animation that’s easy to drink up. 

What’s clever here is how the visuals carry the message—turning the globe into a water tap, showing data as animated icebergs and droplets.

The animation team creates dynamic transitions that keep viewers glued throughout the longer runtime.

With powerful data points like "Only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh" and "A 300g steak = 5,000+ litres of water," this nonprofit explainer balances scientific accuracy with emotional appeal.

Best Policy Animation

Human Rights Watch's "Ugandan Mothers Stand by Their LGBT Children"

Human Rights Watch's recent nonprofit animation, animated by Win Edson, uses 2D hand-drawn illustration with clean outlines and muted palettes to tackle Uganda's 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act through the lens of Muslim mothers’ courage—a perfect tribute for Mother’s Day.

The documentary-style execution creates a visual atmosphere that feels sincere and rooted in lived reality—raw humanity with a backbone.

Characters are rendered with cultural specificity—from traditional clothing patterns to subtle body language—capturing real human experiences with dignity. The gentle pacing allows emotional beats to register.

What makes this nonprofit animated video powerful is its authentic narration by the Ugandan mothers themselves.

Raw lines like "No mother gives birth to a bad child in whatever form" create a hero story told through maternal courage.

This isn’t typical animation; it’s humanity refusing to be silenced. 

Best Healthcare Animation

We're chuffed to include our own work for King's Health Partners in this month's roundup. This 70-second NHS animation uses clean vector character animation to raise awareness about annual physical health checks for adults with serious mental illness.

Using clean vector illustration with subtle textures, our 2D animation studio created diverse characters that reflect real-world inclusivity. This style—clear and bold but with a homemade feel—is one we've perfected across numerous NHS animations over the past two years.

Josef Israel's brilliant South London voiceover brings authenticity that resonates with the target audience—no posh RP voices here, thank you very much.

In fact, Josef shared a touching LinkedIn post about the project, noting how his mum (a State Registered Nurse) would've been happy to see them both working for her beloved NHS.

No boring statistics, no fear tactics—just clear, actionable information that empowers viewers to take the next step. This collaboration shows how healthcare animation can bridge complex healthcare systems with patient understanding.

Best Live-Action Nonprofit Video

The World Health Organization delivers a sharp, satirical message in this 100-second live-action nonprofit video, brilliantly exposing tobacco industry manipulation. Featuring a charismatic, British-accented villain speaking directly to the camera, the nonprofit explainer cleverly uses reverse psychology—like a Bond villain who's accidentally telling the truth and enjoying every second of it. Why is the British accent the go-to accent for villains? Our British-born founder wonders🤔.

The direction is cinematic, blending commercial-style lighting with real-world settings like schoolyards.

Candy-coloured packaging contrasts sharply with sinister subtext, reinforcing the "bright products, dark intentions" theme perfectly. It's advertising that strips advertising down to its predatory core.

Lines like "All we want are people who are willing to give us everything" and "The first one is on us" reveal predatory marketing tactics while maintaining the industry rep persona.

It's unsettling by design, provoking critical thinking rather than cheap laughs—and frankly, it's about time someone had the guts to make health communication this honest.

May 2025's Standout Nonprofit Animations

This month's collection showcases the incredible range of nonprofit animation storytelling—from World Vision's restrained emotional impact to WHO's satirical villain reveal. Whether using minimalist collage, hand-drawn textures, or clean vector animation, these videos share one crucial element: they turn complex issues into stories that grab you by the collar and refuse to let go.

Minimalist collage? Check. Hand-drawn textures? Check. Clean vector animation? Double check.

We're particularly excited to see how charity animation continues to tackle sensitive topics like LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and crisis communication. These aren't just pretty pictures—they're tools for change that prove visual storytelling can bridge the gap between awareness and action faster than you can say "nonprofit explainer animation."

For more inspiration, check out our previous roundups from January, February, March, and April 2025.

Need Charity Animation That Actually Works?

Need your complex message to actually stick with audiences like glue on a toddler's fingers? Our animated explainer video agency specialises in creating nonprofit animated videos that cut through the noise without losing substance—or your sanity.

At Leon! Animations, we've spent years perfecting the art of simplification—whether you're explaining policy changes that make people's eyes glaze over, healthcare procedures that sound scary, or fundraising videos that need to tug heartstrings without yanking them out entirely. Our animation services transform complicated ideas into stories that connect with your audience and inspire action.

Yes, we're essentially doing market research publicly here—analysing what works in nonprofit video whilst subtly positioning our own approach. We're not particularly subtle about it, are we? 

We'd love to chat about how charity explainer animation could bring your message to life. For budget-conscious organisations (and let's face it, that's most of you), check out our guide on making great animated videos on a small budget. Get in touch with us today, and let's start creating something brilliant together.