This video from Guardian Global Development is a great example of a very well made animated infographic, that cleverly and entertainingly conveys a few simple yet powerful facts: more people around the world have access to mobile phones than they do to toilets… 2.5 billion people don’t have access to sanitation facilities… women and girls living without access to toilets spend more time each year looking for somewhere to go than the entire world spends watching YouTube.

But the simplicity of animated infographics can be deceptive. They can take a great deal of work to make, and quite a number of people involved in the process. First the data needs to be sourced, then key messages to convey from that data need to be identified. After that a script can be generated. Then it’s time to generate artwork, which is either originated by designers or sourced from libraries, after which a designer can carry out the animation work, which can be a complex and time consuming process. Finally music and sound effects need to be added, voiceovers (when required) recorded, and an audio mix completed.

This Guardian video was made last year by a team of London based journalists, designers and audio specialists (Jon Henley, Alex Purcell, Mark Rice-Oxley, Pascal Wyse and Mustafa Khalili). Guardian Global Development is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation