Knuckles Animation Studio worked closely with the eSafety Commissioner on Play Nice, Stay Safe, a digital campaign developed for the LGBTIQ+ Learning Lounge. The campaign supports LGBTIQ+ communities navigating online spaces by providing accessible, practical, and affirming resources focused on online safety and wellbeing.

Designed as part of eSafety’s broader commitment to keeping all Australians safe online, the Learning Lounge offers an easy entry point to information and support tailored specifically for LGBTIQ+ audiences.

The Approach

The project began with the development of thirteen original character illustrations, each based on real people and their testimonies of challenging experiences online. These stories informed both the visual design and the narrative direction of the campaign assets.

The characters were then developed into two short 2D animated videos addressing the topics:

• Using social media in positive ways

• Dealing with online hate

All resources were co-designed with LGBTIQ+ individuals and organisations across Australia and informed by community consultation, feedback from existing programs, and in-depth research. This process ensured the content was relevant, respectful, and grounded in lived experience.

Visual Style

The visual direction for the animated content was informed by an existing live-action video series created for the LGBTIQ+ Learning Lounge. Developed first as part of the campaign, the four live-action videos take the form of a playful talk show hosted by Nina Oyama, exploring how to play nice and stay safe online.

The tone, pacing, and camp sensibility of this series directly influenced the animation design. Drawing from the energy and humour of the live-action content helped ensure the animated pieces felt cohesive within the broader Learning Lounge, while remaining approachable and engaging for the intended audience.

Nina Oyama also contributed voice-over performance to the animated videos, strengthening the connection between the live-action and animated components of the campaign.

Illustrations and animations were integrated throughout the Learning Lounge website and accompanying campaign toolkit, creating a consistent visual and tonal language across all campaign materials.

The Result

These videos contribute The LGBTIQ+ Learning Lounge brings together resources across three key topic areas: meeting online, dealing with online abuse, and building resilience, with each topic broken into clear, accessible sections to help individuals quickly find the support they need.

The campaign delivers a welcoming, community-informed digital space that supports safer online engagement for LGBTIQ+ people across Australia. The resources are freely available and can be explored at esafety.gov.au/learning-lounge.