Thesis, Undergraduate (BA Communication Arts) -- U. P. in Mindanao

The armed conflict in Mindanao led its people in crisis. As result of confrontations, millions are displaced and thousands of lives have been destroyed. Children are the ones most vulnerable in this situation. Their rights are being violated and their dreams of better lives have become very elusive. Media has the major responsibility on this issue. It has to portray its role as an educator and advocate of children's rights in areas of armed conflicts. As my own contribution to this communication need, I made a 3D animated advocacy film that integrated the children's rights of the internally-displaced persons or the IPDs. This medium, being both educational and entertaining, ensured the engagement of emotion of the main target audience which was the adults. Parents, teachers, NGOs and the government sectors were specifically chosen because they have the capability to get involved and to help solve the problem these IPD children are facing. They also have the obligation in providing these children their rights. Persuasion theory and observational learning were used in the creation of the story and the characters. In order for the story to be more persuasive and the characters to be more memorable, the intensification of emotion was applied both in the verbal and the visual aspect. As a result, this emotionally-evocative advocacy film led to a change of attitude and behavior of the audience which, as desired, could possibly lead to humanitarian actions for the benefit of the IPD children. Moreover, a prototype of this 3D animated advocacy film was produced; complete with script, storyboard and model designs in both 2D and 3D.