The CNN Motion crew illuminates the surprising and socially complex 5,000-year history of red-colored lips in this beautifully illustrated explainer with art direction by Ignacio Osorio and Alexander Sears.

From CNN Style: “Throughout the centuries red lipstick has signaled many things, from its early use by the elite in ancient Egypt and by prostitutes in ancient Greece, to its status in early Hollywood as a symbol of glamor.

“In its many hues, this color on lips has been a mighty cultural weapon, charged with thousands of centuries of meaning.”
 

Client: CNN Style

Production: CNN Motion
Art Direction: Ignacio Osorio, Alexander Sears
Design: Alexander Sears
Animation: Alexander Sears, Agne Jurkenaite, Daisy Mella, Michael Page, Ignacio Osorio
Writer: Ananda Pellerin & Angelica Pursley
Voice Over: Alex King
Sound Design: Carla Howe