Varian (a Siemens Healthineers company) — best known for its pioneering cancer technology solutions — sought to revolutionize the pediatric cancer care experience and improve the treatment journey for the industry’s youngest patients. By reducing the anxiety commonly experienced by children undergoing radiation therapy, the company would make substantial progress toward its mission of creating a world without fear of cancer.
To bring this vision to reality and provide an innovative, yet simple, solution that would positively influence the emotional well-being of kids, Varian partnered with BREAKIRON Animation&Design (“BREAKIRON”), an animation studio that specializes in producing engaging and impactful video content.
The Challenge: Making the Unknown, Understandable
Due to the gravity of their diagnosis, pediatric cancer patients are often quickly thrust into intimidating situations and overwhelming medical procedures they don’t understand. Unfamiliar environments, new people, complex machinery and invasive therapies can be scary and a lot to process for a young mind. These factors result in elevated stress levels necessitating frequent administration of anesthesia during the treatment period. Given the potential side effects of sedation, the Varian team identified the need to innovate and pursue a more compassionate approach.
The Solution: Cosmo and Emma
In response to a company-wide call for innovative patient care ideas, Jim Kumorek, a video editor and animator at Varian, proposed producing a series specifically for pediatric patients. He envisioned a collection of videos that would guide children through their treatment process, helping them understand what to expect and fostering a sense of calm and confidence. Kumorek believed that by preparing children emotionally, they could face each therapy session with less fear and better manage their emotions.
To bring this vision to life, Kumorek proposed pairing Cosmo, the beloved green character from Varian’s treatment planning software, with a new friend, Emma. Together, the two characters would help familiarize young patients with the equipment, people and overall experience of their oncology care, ultimately reducing any feelings of dread and anxiety.
Intended to be shared with young patients ahead of each phase of their cancer treatment, the Cosmo for Kids videos are age-appropriate, less than five minutes long and designed to inform and inspire kids who might otherwise be fearful.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Creativity
To tackle this ambitious project, the dedicated Varian team—Melanie Eckhardt, Keelin McGee, Aerielle Smith, Lisa Springett, and Roger Hobbs— recruited BREAKIRON, a company specializing in crafting meaningful stories through visual effects. This partnership leveraged Varian’s commitment to innovation and BREAKIRON’s expertise in character animation and 3D modeling to bring Cosmo to life.
Strategic collaboration between the two was essential to the production of Cosmo for Kids. Kumorek provided the scripts and storyboards, outlining the key messages and desired tone. This clear direction equipped BREAKIRON, making it possible for the team to produce a series of 13 engaging and informative videos.
“We made the right choice selecting BREAKIRON,” said Jim Kumorek, video editor and animator, Varian. “They truly understood the vision for Cosmo for Kids and their attention to detail and care for the children who will need these videos was evident with every choice they made and at every stage of the project.”
To bring the story to life, BREAKIRON focused on three key areas:
- Character Development: The artists breathed life into Cosmo, giving him a relatable and endearing personality, while thoughtfully developing Emma’s character into one with whom kids can connect and trust.
- Complex 3D Modeling: BREAKIRON meticulously modeled four Varian radiation therapy machines, simplifying complex CAD models (originally intended for manufacturing) to ensure accurate and realistic animations.
- Animation and Rendering: From creating wireframes and a 3D structure, to designing realistic lighting, shadowing and textures, the team brought Cosmo and Emma to life with expressive animations and capturing authentic emotions and reactions.
Charlie Breakiron, founder, BREAKIRON Animation&Design, expressed his team’s passion for the project, “We were honored to be part of such a meaningful initiative. By creating engaging and informative content, we hope to alleviate the fears of young cancer patients and make their journey a little easier.”
The Impact: A Brighter Future for Pediatric Cancer Patients
The multi-episode Cosmo for Kids video series is already being used by health systems in the U.S. The goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of young patients and their families. By providing an age-appropriate and gentle explanation of the radiation therapy treatment process, the videos may improve the pediatric patient experience and reduce treatment-related anxiety.
“Varian’s Cosmo for Kids initiative, powered by BREAKIRON’s animation expertise, shows the potential for technology and creativity to positively impact healthcare,” said Kumorek. “By addressing the emotional needs of young patients, we are supporting them – and their families – during a difficult time. We are empowering them to face their challenges.”
As Varian continues to expand the Cosmo for Kids series into 12 additional languages, BREAKIRON remains a committed partner. Together, they are adapting the animations, producing over 150 culturally-relevant versions of the videos, ensuring that children worldwide can benefit from the guidance given by Cosmo and Emma.
Through their collaborative efforts, they are bringing hope and comfort to pediatric cancer patients, one frame at a time.
Learn more about BREAKIRON and meet Cosmo and Emma.
