Montreal-based studio See Creature, led by animators and directors Dale Hayward and Sylvie Trouvé, has once again showcased the power of stop motion in their latest production for CNESST (Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail). The short film, titled CNESST – Hanging by a thread, is a poetic and visually striking piece created to promote workplace safety awareness in Quebec.
The commercial opens with a tactile world built entirely from wool, felt, and handcrafted textures. The central character—assembled from strands of yarn—navigates a workplace environment that is both familiar and surreal. When work place problems occur, the fragility of the character’s form drives home the message of vulnerability and the importance of proper safety practices.
Behind the scenes, CNESST – Hanging by a thread demanded precision and innovation from the See Creature team. Using traditional stop motion combined with inventive material exploration, the filmmakers leaned into the metaphorical power of wool to emphasize both warmth and fragility. The wool medium was chosen to represent how easily lives can unravel if safety measures are ignored.
Hayward and Trouvé, known for their award-winning short Bone Mother and numerous commercial projects, continue to push the boundaries of how stop motion can communicate complex ideas with emotional depth. The production of CNESST – Hanging by a thread required custom-built puppets, intricate set designs, and a controlled lighting setup to highlight the fibers and textures of the wool characters.
The result is a campaign piece that resonates far beyond its brief runtime. It is a reminder of the versatility of stop motion animation—not only as an art form but also as a compelling medium for social messaging.
With CNESST – Hanging by a thread, See Creature demonstrates that workplace safety can be communicated not only with statistics and slogans, but with artistry and empathy. The handcrafted textures and human touch of stop motion make the message unforgettable.
