About Us – Clinical Animated Productions

by Norman J. Calfin, President – Founder

CAP Animations LLC is a group of diverse professionals dedicated to reduce or eliminate the fear and anxiety of young children needing medical care through engaging, educational & entertaining animated programs that we proudly call our “VIDEO VACCINE”

Inspired by real-life medical challenges and decades of experience working with young patients in both clinic and hospital settings, we have created a unique series of animated video programs that address both the emotional and educational components of examinations, diagnostics, and treatment.

When creating and writing each animated story, we are able to use our diverse backgrounds as nurses, doctors, Child life Specialists, and Elementary school teachers, to make certain that each program utilize relevant yet easy to understand and engaging storylines. This unique method bridges the communication gap that often exists between the young patient, parents, and attending medical staff.

Most viewers learn & retain each program’s key concepts and feel less anxious after watching a CAP animated video only once. However, we found that our young audience wants to watch them over and over again!

by Norman J. Calfin, President – Founder

Inspired by real life medical challanges and decades of experience working with young patients in both a clinic and hospital settings, we have created a unique series of animated video programs that address both the educational and emotional aspects of examinations, diagnostics and treatment.

When creating and writing each animated story, I am able to use my background as an elementary school teacher, to make certain that our stories utilize only relevant yet easy to understand language. This in turn bridges the communication gap between the young child, parents and attending medical staff.

Most viewers learn & retain each programs key concepts and feel less anxious after watching a CAP animated video only once. However, we found that our young audience want to watch CAP programs over and over again!

These innovative programs were developed and created from a variety of sources and years of research, along with my own personal experiences of living with Crohn’s disease, an often debilitating, chronic gastrointestinal illness.

I clearly remember lying in a hospital bed on the evening prior to my second and far riskier small bowel surgery. I was nervous and couldn’t sleep. Silently asking myself repeatedly Why Me? Why Me?

Then in an instant, the answer was revealed to me with such clarity, that I quickly sat up. This epiphany changed my life’s direction and purpose!

I came to the realization since being diagnosed with Crohn’s as a young teen, that my major life and career choices were all part of a divine plan that would utilize my Elementary school teaching degree along with being a video producer, director and writer to educate and transform the lives of young Crohn’s disease or other chronically ill patients from one of fear to understanding and acceptance.

After recovering from surgery, I began producing educational and fund-raising video programs for the Michigan Chapter and national Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) I interviewed hundreds of newly diagnosed young children and parents documenting their outlook, struggles and triumphs.

The Result:
I formed Clinical Animated Productions or CAP. Our mission is straightforward and important: “To reduce or eliminate young children’s fear & anxiety from being examined, diagnosed and treated by healthcare professionals via a unique* animated programming that educates, entertains, and bridges the communication gap between patients. parents- and medical personnel.

This journey has become and will continue to be one of the most fulfilling and important contributions that I have made in my life. Hopefully, they will become my legacy.

These innovative programs were developed and created from a variety of sources and years of research, along with my own personal experience with a lifelong, often debilitating, chronic illness of Crohn’s disease. This painful and embarrassing digestive disorder (IBD) is difficult to cope with as an adult. As a child it is exponentially worse.

I clearly remember lying in a hospital bed on the evening just prior to my second and far riskier bowel surgery. I was nervous and couldn’t sleep. I found myself focused at the pulsating fluorescent light overhead for hours. Silently asking myself repeatedly Why Me? Why Me?

Then in an instant, the answer was revealed to me with such clarity, that I quickly sat up. This epiphany changed my life direction and purpose.

I came to the realization since being diagnosed, that all my major life and career choices made were all part of some divine plan that included my illness which has given me a PHD in coping along with other priceless life lessons.

Life Choices:
I graduated as a an Elementary education teacher and later chose to follow my creative passion of video production. I have been a professional videographer, writer, director and producer for the last 25 plus years. Looking back, my choices were made for one main purpose; to make a positive difference in the lives of other children who were diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or other Chronic Illnesses!

So, after recovering from surgery, I began producing educational and fund-raising video programs for the national Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) I interviewed hundreds of newly diagnosed young children and parents documenting their outlook, struggles and triumphs.

The Result:
I formed Clinical Animated Productions or CAP Our mission is straight forward and important: “To reduce or eliminate young children’s fear & anxiety from being examined, diagnosed and treated by healthcare professionals via unique animated programing that also educate, entertain and bridges the communication gap between patients-parents-medical personnel.

This journey has become and will continue to be one of the most fulfilling and important contributions to others that I have made and will continue to make in my life and hopefully my legacy.

Send us an email and we will send you a FREE short guide on easy things that parents can do prior to taking their child to a doctor's appointment to make it less stressful for both patient and parents!