ABOUT

The legislative elections in India, a monumental event with 970 million eligible voters, or one human in eight, hold immense global significance. Agence France-Presse, a leading international press agency, covers this major event in text, video, photo, and videography. This format intends to demystify the general functioning of Indian elections and to be used by AFP’s various clients, including other regional and international newsrooms, to broadcast on their channels.

Though political and technical, the theme of this videography is presented in a way that is accessible to all, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. I aimed to bring an attractive dimension to this video to make it more engaging through animation and illustration. The production began with a thorough work of theoretical and graphic documentation. India is often associated with a vibrant atmosphere; when I researched the previous Indian parliamentary elections, I discovered they were marked with black ink. An electronic machine records votes, but each ballot is printed. In addition, assessors apply a dark ink mark to one of the fingers of each voter. To avoid falling into stereotypes or even into a form of orientalism, I decided to dismiss an artistic direction focused on color in favor of a minimalist graphic, with a light background and elements in black and shades of gray that remind these inks. The orange color punctually emphasizes some essential elements in the narration; several elements are textured to give the aesthetic a sensitive or tangible dimension. These graphic frames are delicate and meticulous, as realized with pencil: a discreet reminder of the complex engineering necessary for these elections of exceptional scale. The characters come to serve the dynamism of the animation. They are humanoid but unrealistic; they hop, wiggle, dance, and jump. Exaggeration is there to bring a form of humor and theatricality to the movement.

The video was not just a standalone piece but versatile content adapted in four languages on AFP Forum and AFP News, AFP’s two download platforms. The illustrations were also used for a still infographic in several languages, showcasing the multi-faceted nature of the content.

Project credits:
Art director, animator, and illustrator: Julie Pereira
Writers: Emmanuelle Michel, Jonathan Walter
Voice-over: Jonathan Walter
Music: Audionetwork
Sources: AFP