Posted on 07 November 2022

WWF today launched a new film, "A Flammable Planet," to raise awareness about catastrophic wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency every year, wreaking havoc on people, nature and climate. The film is being launched on the sidelines of the 2022 UN climate change conference, COP27,  and calls for urgent action to stop the vicious cycle of wildfires and climate change.

The innovative stop-motion film, conceived and produced by London-based NOMINT, used real fire to tell the story of the devastating effects of wildfires on our increasingly flammable planet.

The film is the second in WWF’s series of films created by NOMINT to rally awareness and action around major climate-related issues. The first film, "We Can’t Negotiate the Melting Point of Ice," dealing with the devastating effects of climate change on the Arctic, was released at the 2021 UN climate change conference in Glasgow and recently won three prestigious Cannes Lions Award.

NOMINT used the naturally destructive properties of fire to create a direct visual metaphor between our increasingly flammable planet and the animated environment. In the film, as in real life, a menacing fire consumes everything "causing destruction to natural habitats and people's lives." The film acts as a stark reminder that world leaders must act now to tackle the drivers of unnatural wildfires, such as deforestation and climate change.

NOMINT used an innovative combination of a highly flammable set and props, and real fire, to create a shocking sense of visual jeopardy. The film was shot entirely in-camera and used traditional stop-motion techniques together with slow-motion, timelapse, and long-exposure to create the original visuals.  Directed by NOMINT co-founders Yannis Konstantinidis and Christos Lefakis in collaboration with animator Jua Braga, music by Ted Regklis, and colour grading by Tom Mangham at Black Kite Studios. 

Huma Khan, Head, Communications, Forests at WWF International said: "Fires are not just a critical climate issue, they are also a critical economic and livelihood issue. Fires burning in many parts of the world are bigger, more intense, and last longer than they used to. This cannot continue. WWF has long been calling for more action on fires prevention and tackling the root causes of fires, such as deforestation and climate change. So, when NOMINT told us about this new animation technique using real fire, we were intrigued. This heart-wrenching story dramatizes the very real and painful effects of wildfires on people, their livelihoods and the climate." 

Yannis Konstantinidis, founder at NOMINT said: "For our second film with WWF, we struggled for months to find a way to use the natural properties of real fire in a way that conveys the devastation of wildfires. Fire is destructive and remorseless, both in real life and on the stop-motion set, destroying everything that comes in its way. We ended up walking on a very thin line where the whole project was on the very edge of literally going up in flames, creating a level of jeopardy that is hopefully transmitted in the film."

About WWF:
WWF is an independent conservation organization with over 30 million followers and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit panda.org/news for the latest news and media resources; follow us on Twitter @WWF_media

Contact: 
WWF International media team, news@wwfint.org
Huma Khan, Head, Communications, Forests, WWF International, huma.khan@wwfint.com

About NOMINT:
NOMINT is an award-winning animation company based in London, UK. In an overly saturated visual world, NOMINT specializes in thought-provoking content that is built to stand out.  
www.nomint.com
www.instagram.com/n0m1nt
twitter.com/Nomint_Home
Contact: 
Marilena Vatseri, EP/MP NOMINT, london@nomint.com