“You realize you haven’t crossed the street in 13 years.”

We partnered with the ACLU from the very start, supporting story sourcing and traveling across three states to record with the individuals featured in the series. Rather than a single cohesive visual style, we designed each film to reflect the unique experiences and perspectives of each person. The storytelling structure serves as the through line, ensuring all three films feel deeply personal while remaining interconnected.

The series debuted at a special Sundance Film Festival event in 2018, where Daveed Diggs led a conversation with all three participants. Since then, it has reached audiences around the world, earning a Tribeca X Award nomination and over a million views across online and festival platforms. The impact goes beyond the screen—the Smart Justice Campaign continues to spark critical conversations and drive real change in the fight against mass incarceration.

Credits

Director Elyse Kelly

Animation director Anna Bron
Producer Holly Stone
Executive producer Ron Diamond

Story finder/Field producer Kelly Ramundo
Editors Dan Fipphen, Elyse Kelly
Animators Anna Bron, Andrew Whyte

Original music Brooke Blair & Will Blair
Location sound mixer
Corey Pointdexter
Post production sound services Studio Unknown

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