PROJECT
Future Kid Takara
Designed a logo inspired by the atomic structure of carbon, together with an original typeface, for FUTURE KID TAKARA, an animation about climate change.
WHY
Are we aware of
how severe climate change
has become?
Predictions warn that by the year 20XX, the Earth’s average temperature could rise by as much as X°C. Amid these projections, the issue of climate change is often seen simply as a matter of rising temperatures. Yet what endangers our lives is not the temperature increase itself, but the chain of extreme and unpredictable events brought about by the destabilization of the climate.
Trends in the number of reported events
As global temperatures rise, Japan faces more frequent torrential rains and powerful typhoons caused by linear precipitation bands, while the west coast of the United States and Australia continue to experience prolonged wildfires triggered by extreme heat and dryness. Across the Pacific, contrasting forms of abnormal weather now occur simultaneously—disasters once considered “once in a century” are becoming events that happen every five years, and soon, perhaps every year.
Despite these realities, such phenomena rarely feel immediate in our daily lives. No matter how much data or statistical evidence is presented, the gravity of the situation is seldom felt on a personal level. A major challenge in climate and disaster communication is that people often fail to recognize these crises as their own until after they occur; before that, it is almost impossible to imagine their real impact.
It is therefore the responsibility of our generation—the adults who have shaped the world as it is today—to enable the next generation to understand the reality of climate change. Only through such awareness can they carry forward the hope and determination to confront it.
HOW
An animation about
confronting climate change
with people from the future.
FUTURE KID TAKARA is an animated film created to help children understand the realities of extreme weather and the global climate crisis. The project was led by Kyoko Gentatsu of NHK Enterprises, who also produced the NHK television program on climate change featuring NOSIGNER’s Eisuke Tachikawa, with Dr. Seita Emori of the National Institute for Environmental Studies serving as scientific advisor. The film was produced by the world-renowned animation studio STUDIO 4℃, and NOSIGNER was commissioned to design its logo.
Because the film was conceived as a hybrid of animation and live-action footage—to depict not a fictional world but a plausible future—we sought a visual interface that could seamlessly connect the two. Our focus turned to the atomic structure of carbon, an element central to climate change. Drawing inspiration from carbon’s hexagonal configuration, we developed a design system based on a triangular grid, through which the logo took shape after multiple design studies.
The triangular grid not only symbolizes the structure of carbon but also functions as a mosaic-like layer that visually bridges animation and live-action sequences.
Based on this grid system, we also designed an original typeface, giving the entire film a unified visual language. Its most symbolic expression is the hexagonal emblem worn on the chest of the protagonist, Takara, formed by three overlapping “T” letters.
By designing a visual language inspired by carbon’s molecular geometry, we created a framework that animators can freely adapt and expand. This approach mediates between scientific realism and the imaginative freedom of animation, allowing the film to express both precision and possibility.
WILL
A future where it’s still not too late.
FUTURE KID TAKARA will premiere at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, followed by a nationwide broadcast on NHK. As one of the first full-scale animated films on climate change created for children, it has drawn significant attention for its approach. Few animations have ever tackled the theme of climate change head-on, produced under scientific supervision. Bringing together a diverse team of experts and creators, this project serves as a bridge between entertainment and science, pioneering a new form of science communication essential for the coming era.
When faced with the climate crisis, many people feel a sense of helplessness—believing it may already be too late. Yet every effort, no matter how small, contributes meaningfully to progress. That is why it is vital not only to communicate the seriousness of the issue, but also to inspire the belief that individual actions can make a difference and that our choices can change the future.
We hope this film will inspire children to discover the beauty of science—perhaps even to dream of becoming heroes in this field themselves. From those who gain accurate knowledge and curiosity through this work, we believe future scientists and leaders of society will emerge.
INFORMATION
- What
- Future Kid Takara
- When
- 2025
- Where
- Japan
- Client
- Scope
- Design strategy / VI / Font
- SDGs
CREDIT
- Logo Design
- NOSIGNER (Eisuke Tachikawa, Yuta Horimoto)
- Poster Design
- NOSIGNER (Eisuke Tachikawa, Tomoko Tezuka, Yuta Horimoto)
- Animation Production
- Director
- Yuta Sano
- Character Design (Original Concept)
- Shinji Kimura
- Script
- Shinji Obara
- Music
- Yasuhiro Maeda
- Animation Producer
- Shun Hasegawa
- Planning Producers
- Kyoko Gendatsu (NHK Enterprises)
Eiko Tanaka (Beyond C. / STUDIO4℃) - Science Supervision
- Seita Emori (Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo)
- Education Supervision
- Osamu Abe (Chairperson, Japan Environmental Education Forum)
