The City of San Antonio partnered with The IMG Studio to produce an engaging and educational 3D animated TV spot designed to teach the public how to recycle properly. Recycling is essential for maintaining a sustainable community, and the city wanted a creative and culturally relevant approach to convey this important message. To capture the attention of residents and make the learning experience enjoyable, we drew inspiration from the beloved Mexican bingo game, Lotería.

Our concept brought the characters from the traditional Lotería cards to life, using them as animated guides to explain the rules of recycling. The idea was to connect with the community through a familiar and playful medium, while also delivering a clear message about proper recycling practices. This blend of cultural relevance and fun animation made the TV spot both informative and highly entertaining for viewers of all ages.

The 3D animation was colorful and dynamic, featuring lively Lotería characters such as “La Botella” (the bottle), “El Cartón” (the cardboard), and “La Lata” (the can), each representing a recyclable item. These characters interacted with one another and with viewers, demonstrating what can and cannot be recycled in San Antonio’s recycling program. The animation helped break down common misconceptions about recycling and provided simple, actionable tips for residents to follow, ensuring they recycle correctly and efficiently.

The familiar Lotería theme resonated deeply with the city’s diverse population, particularly the Hispanic community, making the message more relatable and memorable. The playful nature of the animated characters, combined with the clear recycling guidelines, ensured that viewers were not only entertained but also educated on how to make a positive impact on the environment.

This 3D animated TV spot aired across various local networks, successfully raising awareness about proper recycling techniques while engaging the public in a fun and accessible way. The innovative use of Lotería characters made the complex topic of recycling easy to understand and brought a fresh approach to environmental education.

The IMG Studio is proud to have collaborated with the City of San Antonio on this unique and impactful project, helping to spread an important message about recycling through creative storytelling and animation.