From Struggle to Strength: How 47 Was Made For and With the Down Syndrome Community [Video]

In the history of animated film, there are only a few projects that center on characters with Down syndrome. 

Among them are Eduardo Rivero’s feature A Costume for Nicholas, Chelo Loureiro’s Valentina and Michael McDonald’s 2021 short film Freebird, created and directed by actor and LGBTQ activist Nicholas Herd, who also has Down syndrome. This year, the stop-motion and music-driven short 47, from creators Amy Fortunato and Andrea Bistany of the wellness marketing group Klick Health, joins the tiny but mighty gambit of Down syndrome stories produced not only by allies of those with the disorder, but those who are themselves part of the Trisomy 21 community. 

47’s music, “Carry On” by Fun, was re-recorded by Sujeet Desai with sound design from Jose Omar Davila. Both men have Down syndrome and worked with Canja Audio Culture to give the film an emotional voice. And the film’s character designer, Bruno Jacob from Zombie Studio, has a daughter with Down syndrome, …