Giving back to Callen-Lorde: Ollie Yao’s animation story
Callen-Lorde unveiled a new video animation and graphics in February that entice new patients to come to all three sites for safe and affirming care. Animator Ollie Yao is a former patient of Callen-Lorde; he gave the backstory on his experience with us and his work.
Ollie, a computer graphics artist based here in the city, always knew he wanted to work in animation. He attended the School of Visual Arts to begin that journey and immediately started working in 3D animation, creating high-quality FX simulations, models and textures to bring clients’ visions to life. He began working on our new animation this summer.
But before Ollie created art–called Your Health, Your Community–for Callen-Lorde, he was a patient here. He started coming after a friend recommended the clinic, he said, and was able to complete his gender transition for free through our Health Outreach to Teens program. His relationship with our clinics and providers made it easy to create artwork for Callen-Lorde that reflects our diverse patient population and our lifesaving mission, he added.
“I was happy to give back to the organization that has given me so much over the years,” he added.
This past July, Ollie reached out to EVP of Development and Communications Donnie Roberts to get a script for the animation he’d make for Callen-Lorde. After Donnie sent one back, Ollie storyboarded the piece to envision general concepts and character designs. He came up with Mabel the Mouse, Crystal the Cat, Rico the Raccoon and Drew the Duck—adorable figures you’ll see soon that are as diverse as the patients we serve.
From there Ollie pitched Donnie and the communications team on the story he’d tell in a short animation that would reflect our goals of raising awareness of each clinic and highlighting our safe spaces. He used real Callen-Lorde artwork in the waiting room and exam rooms, pulling in our real design elements to help viewers identify the spaces. After the team approved his storyboards he worked on the animation during nights and weekends for months. Our director of philanthropic partnerships April Griswold lent her voice to the script when the animation was complete!
According to Ollie, animation is akin to “making an entire world on the computer.” He accomplished that here. Although the piece is short, it reflects our spaces, our patients and the affirming care we strive to provide every day. Ollie’s appreciation and understanding of Callen-Lorde is clear—and also a reflection of how much Callen-Lorde means to patients.
We are so proud to create an environment where people feel supported in pursuit of living their best, most authentic lives, in and out of the clinic. Look for Your Health, Your Community next time you’re in a Callen-Lorde waiting room!