Two years ago, I had the great privilege of working with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on a project designed to help kids facing cancer. The goal was to give them tools to better understand the world of cancer care, which is important because–studies have shown–’understanding’ can reduce fear and ultimately lead to better outcomes.
The idea for The Imaginary Friend Society was born from actual cancer survivors who use imaginary friends as a coping mechanism during the treatment process. Long stays in the hospital, undergoing MRI scans, etc. They tend to be lonely stretches even with family and loved ones around. These are the times imaginary friends are most needed.
The project consisted of 22 animated short films where imaginary friend characters explain every facet of cancer these kids might face. From "What is Cancer?" and "What is an MRI?" to emotionally-charged topics like "Feeling Sad" and "Returning to School." Beyond the films, there was also a series of MRI-friendly dolls, coloring books, journals and posters for kids in hospitals, created from user-submitted drawings.
The first film explains the project. The ones that follow are just a snapshot of the series. The rest can be found here.
