How We Created a Series of 3D Animations for UNIZA (and Generation Z)

The University of Žilina (UNIZA) is one of Slovakia’s leading universities, with over 70 years of tradition and nearly 90 000 graduates. Nowadays, it educates approximately 8 000 students across seven faculties, and more than 400 students go abroad each year through the Erasmus+ programme.

Despite its strong legacy, UNIZA recognized that traditional advertising simply doesn’t resonate with Generation Z. That’s why they chose a modern approach and invested in 3D animation for university recruitment campaign with a distinctive visual style. Their target audience (high school students aged 17 to 19) grew up on TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. They swipe faster than they walk, and their attention span is measured in frames per second.

The brief was clear – create a 3D animation that captures attention from the very first second and leaves a lasting impression. The result? Three 20-second animated videos that became a core part of UNIZA’s national recruitment campaign.

Capturing the Attention of a “Half-Second Swiper” Isn’t Easy

The client had a simple goal: to present the university not just as a place of opportunity, but as a place that’s genuinely fun. When they approached us, they already had a clear message. Three key themes, three perspectives: career and ambition, international experience through Erasmus, and student life on campus.

How we delivered that message was entirely up to us. We were given full creative freedom in both communication and visual execution. We took their key ideas and built everything from the ground up.

This is where the real challenge began.

This wasn’t our first collaboration. A year earlier, we worked with UNIZA on 2D animated videos. This time, they came back with a more ambitious brief – 3D animation that would elevate the campaign to a completely new level. We knew we could deliver. We just had to prove it to them.

Initial sketches of the 3D animation concept for UNIZA:

3D Animation for University: How We Made It Stand Out

This 3D animation for university was brought to life by a six-member team of mynd specialists, covering art direction, storyboarding, character design, animation, and sound design.

The first question was obvious: how do you engage a generation that’s tired of ads? We pushed for something bold and relatable. No compromises. No boredom. Neon visuals, high contrast, and a heartbeat-like rhythm, where scenes change so quickly that they instantly pull you in.

The videos introduced three characters, each representing a different type of student:

• Mia: An energetic skateboarder dreaming of becoming a pilot.
• Samo: An IT geek with ginger curls and glasses, determined to change the world from his garage.
• And the third character: A bored and unmotivated teenager scrolling through his phone, watching reels.

All three characters are different in their own way. We made them intentionally diverse so that every viewer can find someone to relate to. We even created a chicken character that literally shoves a UNIZA application form in its buddy’s face. The message is clear: stop being a loser, change your life, and step into a world, where you can truly be yourself.

Each video has its own distinct voice:

• Video 1 opens with: “Is your head in the clouds, or are you in the garage soldering circuits that don’t quite work yet?”
• Video 2 starts with: “Traveling the world on a map? Great.”
• Video 3 busts the myth that you need to be a superstar to play sports: “You don’t need the skills of Michael Jordan here.”

But one of the strongest lines in the campaign was: “Student life you won’t forget.“

To top it off, we reworked the classic Slovak saying “East or West, home is best” into “East or West, UNIZA is best.” A saying that almost every Slovak knows. A simple change, but with a completely new meaning.

A Campus That Feels Real

When it came to recreating the campus, we didn’t rely on stock photos. We photographed every building from multiple angles – from the canteen and dorms to the main campus structures. Combined with satellite imagery, our 3D team used this material to rebuild the campus from scratch.

The result is a highly realistic environment that mirrors the actual campus. The goal was to help the viewers imagine themselves there and feel the atmosphere through the videos.

At the beginning, it was a bit of a challenge as we searched for the right level of boldness. We discussed everything: what the characters should wear, how they should behave, and what the voiceover should sound like. The goal was to create something funny, punchy, and memorable without crossing the line. Once we and the client aligned on the tone, everything fell into place. In the end, this was one of the most enjoyable projects our team has ever worked on.

The entire production took just under three months, with animation being the most time-consuming part of the process. From day one, the project was at the top of our priorities. We used a range of tools including Cinema 4D with Redshift, Adobe After Effects, and Premiere Pro. Every stage was reviewed with the client via Filestage, allowing us to gather and implement feedback in real time. Communication with UNIZA was smooth from start to finish. We made sure to stay one step ahead to ensure seamless collaboration and on-time delivery.

The Result

Three videos. Three stories. One campaign that became a key part of the recruitment strategy for one of Slovakia’s top universities.

First video focuses on Samo building circuits and Mia dreaming of flying. The message: UNIZA is for those who aren’t afraid to aim higher.

Second video takes viewers on a journey through Erasmus. The twist? East or West, UNIZA is best.

Third video highlights student life in Žilina, from world-class sports facilities to modern dorms.

For us, this 3D animation was something to remember. The fun and energy our team put into it outweighed any deadline pressure. The result was exactly what we wanted. It was funny, punchy, and memorable. Something that makes Generation Z stop scrolling.

But UNIZA summed it up the best:

“We continue to be extremely satisfied with mynd. Professional communication, a willingness to meet all our requirements, precise adherence to the timeline, and a result we are proud to showcase in our campaign. I evaluate the experience very positively and highly recommend them to others.”

Want a 3D animation that captures attention from the very first second? Get in touch.