Tellable’s animated explainer video tells the story of PSA Office’s One Health Mission!

As India’s highest advisory body for scientific research and policy-making, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) tackles problems that don’t come with easy solutions. It’s the nation’s guiding light in science and technology policy and has been instrumental in tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing India, from space research to public health, regularly bridging the gap between knowledge and impact.

Among their most urgent initiatives is the One Health Mission: a bold effort to address how human, animal, and environmental health are intrinsically linked. And given how zoonotic diseases are on the rise and antibiotics are wavering in their effectiveness, this mission is timely and significant.

Their solution is a framework that will take care of threats at the intersection: zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental degradation. It’s a vision so transformative that it aligns with global sustainable development goals and still addresses the pressing vulnerabilities that are unique to India.

The usual problem in communicating scientific research and public policy

An all too familiar problem! However, as visionary as the mission is, and after spending months gathering data, collaborating with experts, and crafting policies, they faced a problem that was all too familiar (for us!): How do you make people care about something this complex? How do you distill a concept so layered and critical into a form that resonates universally?

Scientists, policy-makers, and citizens alike needed to understand and support the mission. With so much at stake, such as India’s public health systems, its biodiversity, and its preparedness for future crises, there was no room for ambiguity. Miscommunication here could mean the difference between proactively stopping a pandemic or reacting to it.

It was this urgent need for clarity and impact that brought the PSA Office to Tellable. Having heard of our work in transforming complex scientific ideas into engaging, narrative-driven experiences, they saw in us the possibility to create an explainer video that would educate and inspire. They knew that it's not white papers or technical jargon that would rally support from decision-makers, educators, and the public. In order to be received by and resonate with fellow humans, it itself needed to be something human. It needed to be a story.

Tellable's approach to science storytelling videos

We understood immediately the magnitude of the task. A video of this significance can't have checking off boxes of a routine workflow. It had to be thoughtful, factually precise, and relatable every step of the way. We needed to create understanding! And the PSA Office was clear: this explainer would serve as the face of the One Health Mission. Our portfolio of tackling challenges across formats and platforms gave them the confidence to green light the project in the introductory meeting itself, and therefore, there we were, about to start playing our creative hand in the National One Health Mission!

We sat down with the script outline provided by the PSA Office, and got to storifying it in a way that felt human and approachable. Our writers worked closely with their team of scientists and reimagined the narrative to convey urgency without fear and complexity without confusion. Some sections of the video presented unique challenges, particularly when flowcharts were needed to explain the stakeholders involved and their pandemic preparedness module, and so we proposed converting them into dynamic infographics.

What it takes to tell a good story

After several rounds of feedback, adjustments, and refinements, incorporating feedback from a highly discerning team, we arrived at a visual style that satisfied everyone involved. The voice-over for the video was another critical element. While most explainer videos rely on neutral, often foreign accents for global appeal, we felt it was essential to retain an Indian voice. After all, this was a mission deeply rooted in India’s specific needs. But this voice had to be warm, clear, and universally resonant, striking a balance that would appeal to local and international audiences alike.

It demanded careful browsing and fine-tuning, but the result was worth it: our voice carried both authority and empathy. When it came to animation, we chose a paper-collage aesthetic interwoven with photographs and infographics. This style created a sense of tangibility, as if the visuals were handcrafted: a deliberate choice to reflect the mission’s humane vision. Each frame was meticulously designed to flow seamlessly into the next and create an experience that would carry the audience through.

The future looks healthy

When the final video was delivered, it was launched on the PSA Office’s website and social accounts to wide acclaim.

The PSA himself was thrilled, not just with the video’s aesthetic and narrative quality but with how it achieved the mission’s most critical goal: making a deeply technical initiative accessible and engaging for everyone. The video was successfully starting conversations, connecting dots, and inspiring action.

By ensuring the message resonated across diverse audiences, the PSA Office is now better positioned to inspire collaborations, drive policy change, and mobilise action towards a healthier and more sustainable future.

The Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India chairing a meeting for the National One Health Mission, with the video we prepared playing in the background.

Tellable proved once again that science storytelling is about connecting people to ideas in ways that move them. By being a passionate team of storytellers, we’re showing the country and the world that our understanding of protecting health needs to transcend the sector of medicine and become about protecting everything that makes and connects us.

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