If you are not familiar with the works of British artist Hugo Guinness there is no greater cause for making his acquaintance than through the animated video he produced entitled “I Will Always Remember You”.

” I Will Always Remember You ” by Hugo Guinness : Animated Video to Help Save Elephants at DSWT

In his homage to the plight of African elephants, produced exclusively for The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the “simple line drawings” of the animation (and haunting accompaniment) expounds upon the message that “ivory poaching leaves innocent victims behind”.

It also tells the story of “survival and hope” made possible by the rescue of these baby elephants through DSWT’s “Elephant Orphan Project”. (“More than 190 orphaned baby elephants have been given a second chance through The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust” as explained in the epilogue to the video.)

Hugo Guinness Animated DSWT video to Help Save Elephants

But this is not the first time Hugo Guinness has partnered with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Just last year illustrators Allegra Pilkington and Luisa Crosbie, who produced the animation for this video, created drawings used in a line of clothing for J.Crew with their ‘For the love of elephants’ campaign. (That campaign helped to raise “vital funds” for the ongoing efforts of the DSWT to save African elephants. In an interview with Jessie Heyman of Vogue Guinness recalled that his collection of t shirts outsold any t shirt J.Crew ever had, raising about $1.5 million dollars ).

If the intent of the artists was to pull at our heartstrings, as Guinness has said all along, then this video is destined to be a huge success. For Guinness, the video “was a labor of love”. He shares: ‘DSWT do a remarkable job. They deserve our support. This film is dedicated to them.’

Hugo Guinness (center) appears at 87th Oscars for The Grand Budapest Hotel

Bravo Hugo Guinness for your kindness towards elephants.

May the donations made to help our elephants exceed expectations and may the voices of elephant conservation continue to foster a future for these majestic animals for years and years to come.

Artist Hugo Guinness by Damon Winter for The New York Times

photo illustration credit: Vogue from YouTube

photo credit of Hugo Guinness at the 87th Oscars: Creative Commons Flickr

Image: Artist Hugo Guinness by Damon Winter for The New York Times

photo illustration credit of DSWT baby elephants with blankets: dswtkenya Youtube

Please see: How to Help the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust save elephants

Resource: “Stunning Elephant Animation Created by Celebrated Artist Exclusively for DSWT“