Challenge

Merit Motion Pictures came to Tactica to conceptualize, develop and produce an ambitious interactive digital media component for their science documentary series One Ocean airing on CBC’s the Nature of Things. The digital media component had to:

  • make One Ocean Interactive Canada’s primary educational resource for ocean awareness;
  • inform, inspire and challenge people to spread the message of ocean conservation and take action to affect positive change; and
  • include a transmedia strategy to spread One Ocean’s message across multiple platforms including web, television, DVD, mobile, email, social media, and printed educational resources.

Solution

Tactica and Merit Motion Pictures created One Ocean Interactive, a website filled with award-winning Unity 3D games, interactive Google map tours, challenges and pledges, video, and audio, all integrated with social media sites including Facebook and Twitter. The site included:

The Biosphere

This 3D undersea world dramatically increases brand engagement by tapping into the popularity of fun and educational casual games that integrate with Facebook.

Ocean Explorer

These interactive guided tours harness Google Earth’s satellite and sonar image technology. The One Ocean Explorer is receiving worldwide exposure through inclusion in National Geographic, The BBC, and World Wildlife Federation ocean initiatives. Social media and contests were also integrated to help promote One Ocean.

The Time Machine

This educational tool takes users on an interactive journey through the history of the ocean and its exploration. Rich 3D renderings, video, and textual content helps users to discover and appreciate the complexity of the ocean and importance of protecting it.

The One Ocean Pledge

This tool encourages users to take action in their daily lives for ocean sustainability. Facebook integration, commenting functions, and partnerships with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, David Suzuki Foundation, and Living Ocean Society allow the One Ocean message to spread virally.

Additional Features

  • Full episode video streaming
  • Behind the scenes text and video content from directors and production staff
  • Web content developed and integrated with educational resources including DVDs and cross-curricular classroom-ready resources
  • Podcasts and webisodes
  • Animal biographies, video, photos, and migration routes
  • Meet the Experts – biographies, video, and photos of the One Ocean experts
  • A Blog managed by Sarika Suzuki
  • Free Downloads of One Ocean wallpaper and screensavers
  • E-Commerce / Online Store directing users to the CBC website to purchase video, DVD and educational resources

Result

One Ocean interactive was a huge success right out of the gate becoming one of the largest digital media projects of its kind in Canada. With the help of Tactica’s concept and proposal writing the project won financial support from the Canadian Television Fund, Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund and the Government of Manitoba through the Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit.

The project:

  • Dramatically increased brand engagement for One Ocean, The Nature of Things and CBC;
  • Opened up new licensing opportunities for the producers;
  • Promoted the television series;
  • Drove traffic to the broadcaster’s website;
  • Increased DVD sales through integration with a school curriculum guide;
  • Informed people of global issues facing the ocean; and
  • Challenged and empowered people to affect positive change on the environment.

The project went on to win a number of awards including a Canadian New Media Award for Best Web Game and a Gemini Award nomination for Best Cross-platform Project, Non Fiction.

Client Profile

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is Canada’s national public radio and television broadcaster.

Merit Motion Pictures

Founded 25 years ago by industry veteran Merit Jensen Carr, Merit Motion Pictures (MMP) leads the field in multi-platform, factual entertainment in Canada. A sought-after co-producer on the national and international scene, our productions have won critical acclaim abroad and achieved among the highest audience ratings in Canada.