Written by Omar Rivera
Link to Video: NAFTA, explained with a toy car
Vox is a news and opinion website owned by Vox Media and was founded in 2014 by journalist Ezra Klein. “We live in a world of too much information and too little context,” explains the news organization. What Vox aims to accomplish is to provide context and insight to stories involving politics, policy, business, pop culture, food science, and “everything else that matters.” The outlet primarily accomplishes this through the use of visual aids, motion graphics, and narration. Vox is well known for their explanatory stories, going into detail and describing complex topics, issues, and processes. In the Vox video titled “NAFTA, explained with a toy car” they use their commonly used motion-graphics methods to explain the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and answers the question: Why would the price from the 1993 and 2018 models of the same car be the same while the cost of almost everything else in the country is going up?
The video begins some multiple layers of motion graphics, including an animated and textured white background with a subtle “old film” effect. A simple effect of around 3 to 5 looped solid images. Next, we see a 1993 and 2018 Chevy Suburban key-framed into focus, increasing in scale—alongside a layer of a blue circle behind the car that the narrator is talking about. The narrator explains that even after inflation, the 1993 model is still about the same amount of the 2018 model, even with modern technologies are equipped like rearview cameras, airbags, and a remote engine start feature. We are left asking why that is and informed on why and how NAFTA does it.
Because this project is a journalistic report on NAFTA, the sources are cited directly on screen when referencing data visually or are referenced orally by the narrator.
We are then shown another graphic, an animated line graph with the prices of cars throughout the years of NAFTA demonstrating how prices have been steady while the price of other items has gone up. The layers and keyframe effects layered here include the lines that reference measurement, the units of measurements, and the title of the graph have an “accordion” effect from the bottom of the screen to the top. The line of data referencing the prices of cars compared to other goods in the US swipe from the left to the right side of the screen. All that data is then given some kind of a camera blur or transparency effect so that a layer that includes the abbreviation NAFTA to swipe up over a solid yellow layer shaped like a rectangle. These effects engage the viewer with visual cues on what to focus on and emphasize important facts and details.
The following segment actually uses match on action through the use of narration. Three clips of three different Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton complete a sentence while giving the viewer the impression that they are all reading off the same sentence, “The nations of North America are ready, strengthen by the explosion of growth and trade to recognize that there is no turning back from the world of today and tomorrow.” Really, the three Presidents are all referencing NAFTA, but are not saying the same thing. Essentially, what this does is create a uniform narrative between US Presidents who are addressing the same issues without referencing all of them individually, saving time and keeping the narrative from straying off or running too long. Also, the video clips are being cited with a credit to the original source on the top left corner of the video.
NAFTA is briefly being summarized in this animation and the countries involved are outlined out of a solid layer beside text over a solid layer, key-framed together. The outline of the US is masked and layered over footage of President Clinton signing a bill into law as the top layered mask’s transparency is lowered to show the archived footage of NAFTA being signed.
The story here uses a credible and knowledgeable voice on tariffs and cars. Rebecca Lindland is an Executive analyst with Kelley Blue Book. Her interview, which looks like was recorded during a Skype call is minimized to an appropriate size and layered over some thematic motion graphics to keep the viewer engaged.
The video now cuts to a shot of a model 2014 Ford Mustang. We are seeing this model being built from an overhead view. It appears as if the camera was mounted along a horizontal tripod overlooking the top of a table with enough room for a set of hands to build the model car. The narrator builds the toy car by explaining where most of the parts were likely built and assembled on the full-sized model. This POV sequence makes it feel like the viewer is the one building the model car.
The narrative now features an opposing voice on why NAFTA isn’t entirely a good idea for keeping jobs within the US and North America. We hear clips of voices from President Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders explaining why it isn’t an entirely well-crafted policy. The remainder of the video then implements the same techniques used previously to carry on the narrative through the end, explaining where North America is heading right now with the current USMCA (United States Mexico Canada Agreement), the replacement to NAFTA.
In summary, the reason why stories told by Vox are so inspirational to me is because they almost entirely use a combination of creative stylized shots, motion graphic techniques, and multiple media sources to really engage and educate a viewer. They source information, voices for, and voices against the topic at hand to give a balanced and informed narrative. They take elements from single-use media mundane and create a multimedia masterpiece.
The title alone, “NAFTA, Explained with a Toy Car,” piqued my curiosity and compelled me to delve into the article. It’s refreshing to see complex economic concepts like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) broken down into relatable terms. One aspect that particularly stood out to me was the connection made between the toy car and the topic of car valuation in Melbourne. The author skillfully managed to intertwine these seemingly disparate elements, demonstrating the interplay between macroeconomic policies and real-world examples.
The article offers a succinct portrayal of Vox’s journalistic approach, emphasizing its dedication to providing insightful context across diverse subjects, facilitated by innovative techniques such as visual aids and motion graphics. Through its explanatory storytelling, exemplified by the video “NAFTA, explained with a toy car,” Vox elucidates complex topics like the North American Free Trade Agreement, fostering greater comprehension among its audience. By integrating the concept of car wreckers into the broader discussion, Vox indirectly contributes to the public’s understanding of relevant economic and consumer trends, ultimately enriching discourse and decision-making processes.