Plastic vs. whale: Animated short film tells tale of hope

It is even more challenging for children to digest these horrific events.

With this in mind, broadcasters and media companies around the world have come together to produce a series of short films that offer young children "stories of hope."

The initiative, called Hope Works, launched on World Children's Day on November 20 with 12 inspirational films aimed at children aged five and up.

One of the films created by Cartoon Network UK follows a whale as it journeys around the ocean catching plastic waste in a giant net.

The short film broaches the dangers of pollution in our oceans in a gentle, hopeful way. This subject matter is particularly pertinent given that a whale just washed up in Indonesia with over 13 pounds of plastic waste in its stomach.

'Children are innately hopeful'

The films aim to inspire the values of thoughtfulness, understanding and kindness while demonstrating how children can make a difference in the world.

Hope Works is led by Lucy Murphy from Sky UK and children's media consultant Alison Stewart, and features films produced by the likes of Disney and DreamWorks Animation, among others.

"With kids' anxiety levels rocketing in response to what they are seeing, hearing and witnessing, it's vital that we reassure them that there is kindness, tolerance and hope in the world," Murphy said in a statement.

Stewart added that the films are comforting for children at a time when "good news seems in short supply."

"Children are innately hopeful, and our project aims to inspire them to make a difference, no matter how small, to the world they will inherit," said Stewart.

Disclaimer: Cartoon Network and CNN are both owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a division of WarnerMedia.

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