Greenpeace’s shocking shark tale

Photoplay director and animator Dropbear, aka Jonathan Chong, has united with environmental organisation Greenpeace to create this affecting animated film about the threat of long line fishing on the ocean’s ecosystems.  

The touching animation uses a bold mixed-media style to educate viewers about the unseen brutality of industrial fishing practices occurring just off Australia’s coastline. Working closely with illustrator and character designer Andrea Innocent, the pair crafted a poignant narrative centred around a baby blue shark, a symbol of innocence caught in the crossfire of industrial exploitation. 

“I wanted the characters, especially our hero shark, to feel like part of the natural world,” said Dropbear. “Andrea’s designs – delicate, expressive, and influenced by Japanese kawaii culture – were perfect to convey that vulnerability. Against the harsh photo-collage boats and jagged ink-based environments, the story of innocence meeting destruction became even more powerful.”