Synopsis: In LEARNING 9/11, when the Global Game Changers, the coolest group of real-life kid superheroes around, are in search of a project to commemorate the 9/11 National Day of Remembrance and Service, Pia gives them a perfect idea with the sincerest of questions: “What happened on September 11, 2001?” Luckily for Pia, the rest of the gang is there to help.

Juror comments: I like the short animated film Global Game Changers Learning 9/11. It talks about the tragic event of 9/11 in a way that is understandable with simple vocabulary. They interview first responders who give personal perspectives, which make it much more real. I like that the young characters are so curious and I like that this takes a very positive approach to discussing the event.

The story talks about 9/11 and why it is an event to remember. It interviews people who helped or survivors of this ordeal.

The film answers a lot of broad questions that viewers might have if they do not know about the incident. They avoid showing graphic details such as actual wreckage, fires, or the Twin Towers going down, which could be too much for younger viewers. Each character has its own opinion and curiosity, which makes the film seem very authentic. It also features live interview with witnesses and rescue workers who lived through this nightmare, which makes it relatable to our own ordeals that we live through. The scenes that impressed me most are those when they interview people. Those interviews truly make it a lot easier to paint the picture of the tragedy. Most of them still have an emotion in their voice, as if this occurred yesterday. The thing that also impressed me is when the curious kid asks why we should we remember this event if it is so tragic. The screenwriter really thought of how audiences respond. The animated characters are voiced by actors that sound like children. I admire the work of the production designer and the director as the scenes are really appealing and very artsy. The key influencer here is the person that managed to get hold of the survivors of 9/11 and the screenwriter. The most standout group is the production designer as there are a lot of visuals that make it appealing to younger audiences. My favorite part is the interview with a survivor that actually went through the ordeal of having to deal with the sheer terror of a plane crashing into the Pentagon. That interview paints a detailed picture of how bad the situation was as he shows a diagram of where he was when the plane crashed into the Pentagon. He wraps up the interview with a reminder that kindness is always greater than evil or apathy.

The message of the film is that we need to learn how to recover from an incident such as 9/11, no matter how big or small it is.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 18, plus adults. It is an good way for younger audiences to learn about 9/11 and promotes taking a positive attitude towards recovering from a tragedy such as this. Reviewed by Tom W., KIDS FIRST!