Making dry and complex data into something compelling and relatable is tough. An audience’s emotional biases are often much stronger and more immediate than their responses to hearing cold, hard facts. I’m intrigued anytime I see a video that conveys numerical facts in a way that evokes emotion at the same time that it makes you think.

The Fallen of World War II, by Neil Halloran, is a great example of this idea. Despite being composed almost entirely of data-driven motion graphics, this video creates emotion by using a lot of the same visual language that more traditional and cinematic documentaries use, including motivated camera moves, thoughtful sound and picture juxtaposition, and of course, narrative.

0:05 A tracking shot follows this “number” as it flies backwards along the timeline of its own life. Immediately we see the number as we would see the subject in a tracking shot, and the point is made that all the numbers we are about to see represent real people, with real lives. This is emphasized even more at 0:20 when names are assigned to the numbers as the camera cranes up and out to reveal them.

0:35 The frame becomes almost empty as ominous, mysterious music is introduced for the first time. The juxtaposition has a chilling effect, and there is a moment of suspense as we wait 8 seconds for the narrator to begin speaking again. We can’t help but feel the emotional tug this music creates, and it also provides a smooth transition into the next part of the video.

1:44 The subtle sound effects make the motion graphics seem more real, almost tactile, and much more interesting to watch.

2:35 The positive camera movement creates a smooth transition as it dissolves into the still image of D-Day. This shot again emphasizes that this data represents real people, by attaching it to a historical reference that most of us have heard of. It also provides a brief visual break from the graph.

For more interesting sound and picture juxtapositioning, check out the goose-stepping sound design for the Nazis at 4:00, and the haunting winds of Russian starvation at 6:00 during the mind-blowing tracking crane shot reveal of the total Russian casualties. What are some other cinematic moments you noticed?

(It’s also worth checking out the website, just to see the “experimental” interactive version and the optional payment system they are trying out.)