LO – My Inspiration

The Fallen of World War II is a historical data visualization documentary that analyzes the deaths that occurred during the war and the subsequent decline in battle deaths. Neil Halloran wrote, directed, coded, and narrated the piece (presumably) using commercial software. He conducted extensive research and organized interviews with volunteers to create the project. Andy Dollerson created the music and sound design. The timeline of the project is not specified. The data visualization can be viewed as a 15-minute video or paused to interact with the data.

I admire this project because it is visually captivating and highlights the war’s impact on different countries and details the lasting effects. Halloran uses cinematic storytelling techniques to show a unique perspective of a pivotal moment, allowing viewers to visualize the impact of the war. It integrates data and touches of personal stories that humanize the data.

Halloran was inspired by The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, which explored human nature through the lens of psychology and history that showed the world as inherently non-violent. Halloran intends for this project to spark interest in history and human nature which may inspire future episodes that explore “trends of war and peace.”

Source: The Fallen of World War 2
Neil Halloran