FQ+

Summary

Good Finance planned to create a series of videos to enhance the general public's financial quotient, so it partnered with JL DESIGN to develop ten episodes of "FQ+" animation. Together, we aimed popularise the idea that financial tools can truly be of use for everyone, but it takes us to understand the nature of money – depreciation and compound interest – to put such tools into good use, so that's what we introduced to the audience in the first episode.

Mission

FQ+ is an animated video series spanning 10 episodes: "The Nature of Money", "What is Investing?", "We are All Born Billionaires", "What is Asset Allocation?", "What are Stocks?", "The Unpredictability of Short-term Stock Prices", "Investment: A Tool for Productivity and Value Creation", "What are Cycles?", "What is Risk?", and "Finding Worthwhile Companies". The scripts and style had to be varied according to the content covered in each episode. Additionally, the complex financial concepts covered were conveyed using short animated videos.

Solution

" EPISODE 9 - What are Cycles? "

In the ninth episode of "FQ+", seasonal ingredients are used to explain the economic cycles that are observed in the market. The launch of weird, new flavours of pizza featuring coriander, pig's blood cake and mixed vegetables exemplifies the concept of product life cycle including tests, introduction and growth. Each time a company launches a new product, a new life cycle is created. Understanding such cycles can help investors make better investment decisions.

"EPISODE 8 - What is Risk?"

Investing is like going through a series of risk analyses. The eighth episode of "FQ+" shows how to tackle these challenges gracefully from the perspective of a spy. Large blocks of red and blue were combined with hard-edged lines to explain the three kinds of risk seen in the financial market and how to assess one's own risk tolerance. With these skills, anyone will be able to face these challenges with poise and grace, just like a spy!

"EPISODE 7 - Equity Investment: A Tool for Productivity and Value Creation"

The seventh episode of "FQ+" draws on how cats excel at climbing trees and dogs excel at swimming to exemplify how division of labour works. The screen is divided into several panels to visualise the total amount of production and make deciding who would be better suited for which task more intuitive. It also explains how companies can improve social productivity and create value for society as a whole through dividing up work. At the end of the episode, we turned several influential entrepreneurs into anthropomorphic animals – See if you can figure out who they are!

"EPISODE 6 - The Unpredictability of Short-term Stock Prices"

Short-term stock prices are as volatile as ocean waves, so the sixth episode of "FQ+" borrows the image of a duckling floating on water to depict the turbulence of stock price charts. An illustration style mimicking childlike art was chosen to explain why short-term stock prices cannot be predicted. The movements of the duckling representing the company were also exaggerated and its appearance made distinct to illustrate the tips for building a good investment portfolio.

"EPISODE 5 — What are Stocks?"

Using the grand voyages of the Age of Discovery as a theme to introduce the history of stocks, the fifth episode of "FQ+" utilizes paper cut-outs and mixed media to truly bring to life the creation of the first stock. The episode then animates these elements to show the spirit of adventure and explains to the audience step by step the origin of stock investment, as well as how stocks can be used to support the dreams of adventurers and entrepreneurs.

"EPISODE 4 — What is Asset Allocation?"

The fourth episode of "FQ+" explores the key concept of asset allocation through the experience of legendary investor Warren Buffett. Buffett bought a pinball machine and established a company when he was nine years old, so pinball machines and neon lights were selected as visual elements for this episode. Three asset types were portrayed as three pinball machines, allowing information on asset allocation to be presented to the audience in a more interesting way.

" EPISODE 3 — We are All Born Billionaires"

In order to explain the relationship between time and compound interest when investing, the third episode of "FQ+" visualises the concept of time. The episode is set within the space-time continuum and anthropomorphizes time and compound interest, turning them into cute gender-neutral characters that talk about their relationship, proving that everyone is indeed born a billionaire!

"EPISODE 2 — What is Investing?"

The second episode of "FQ +" begins with the story of Arkad, the richest man in Babylon. In order to bridge the gap between the layman and financial know-how, the director chose to base the art style on an exquisite ancient civilization, adding elements such as murals, magic and card games to bring it to life and lending it an air of mystery. This gave the video the feel of an ancient storybook that transports the audience into the world of investment.

"EPISODE 1 — The Nature of Money"

Good Finance planned the "FQ+" video series with the aim of presenting difficult financial concepts to the public using simple and interesting animated visuals. The first episode used storyline options commonly seen in adventure games presented in an 8-bit visual style to introduce the concept that money has two facets: depreciation and compound interest. The first episode provided an introductory understanding of the financial world, helping viewers see that making different financial choices will bring about completely different results.