Dirty Work uses mixed-media animation to Beat Cancer Off — Graphics Design

Award-winning Brazilian animation studio Dirty Work has taken the global awards circuit by storm with a bold, humorous mixed-media film tackling prostate cancer awareness.

São Paulo-based creative studio Dirty Work is celebrating international festival success with Beat Cancer Off, an animated film created for Fuck Cancer and VML Health.

Directed by Gustavo Leal and Faga Melo, the film translates a specific medical insight into an engaging visual narrative: scientific research indicates that men who ejaculate 21 or more times per month can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by up to 22%. To convey this sensitive message, the studio developed 21 different international expressions for masturbation visualised in the film.

A 3x7 grid compilation of 21 vibrant, retro-styled cartoon posters from the "Beat Cancer Off" public health awareness campaign by the nonprofit organization Fuck Cancer (FCancer) and VML Health. Each individual panel illustrates a different global euphemism for male masturbation with playful, comic-book-style artwork. Examples include a monkey on a branch for "Spanking the Monkey," an alien on a rocket for "Polish the Rocket," and a rubber chicken for "Choking the Chicken." Every poster features a standardized footer that reads: "Men who ejaculate 21 times or more per month may enjoy a significantly reduced risk of prostate cancer," alongside the "Beat Cancer Off" and "Fu@k Cancer" organizational logos. — A collection of 21 distinct posters showcasing the various expressions developed by Dirty Work for the film.

The directors structured each segment to honour the cultural roots of the phrases used. Leal and Melo said, “The film explores the fascinating ways different cultures and languages talk about masturbation. Each animation technique was carefully chosen to reflect the humour, visual language and storytelling traditions behind a particular expression.”

The production blends traditional 2D, cut-out, and 3D animation with puppetry and live action, creating a modern yet tactile aesthetic. The distinct vignettes, ranging from textured puppet characters to graphic comic illustrations and retro 3D spaces, are unified by a retro-inspired soundtrack composed by audio agency Jamute.

Maintaining the correct comedic energy proved vital to the project’s educational objectives. Leal and Melo added, “Our biggest creative challenge was finding the right comic tone for each scene – humour was essential to making such a sensitive subject approachable, while ensuring every metaphor felt distinctive, culturally authentic and entertaining.”

The campaign’s unconventional approach has achieved significant recognition on the global awards circuit. At the New York Festivals Advertising Awards, the film won a Grand Prix and a Gold in the purpose categories, alongside a healthcare Bronze. This momentum continued at Cannes Lions, where the project picked up two Gold Lions for Entertainment Lions for Music and Health & Wellness, alongside three Silvers and two Bronzes.

Watch the full film here:

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