Hannah McNally is an Emmy-nominated animation director who uses animation to shine a light on complex topics. She especially appreciates hand-drawn animation, as the careful translation of ideas directly from hand to screen gives each story a personal and unique touch. Recent recognition includes a nomination for Outstanding Visual Design at the Cinema Eye Honors Awards for her work on The Mission and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction for The Principles of Pleasure.
A Tale of Friendship, Feathers, and Finding Home
In the animated short film Henrietta Finds a Nest, a young chick named Henrietta embarks on a heartwarming journey from neglect at a factory farm to friendship with a little girl. With tender moments, gentle humor, and a timeless message of connection, this six-minute tale invites audiences of all ages to embrace the magic of friendship and the power of compassion.
Henrietta’s True Story
In 2022, Mercy For Animals partnered with The Dodo to share Henrietta’s inspiring story, amassing over one million views and sparking conversations about the respect that farmed animals deserve.
Celebrity Praise for Henrietta Finds a Nest
“As a mom, I want to teach my kids that love and kindness know no boundaries—they extend to all beings. Henrietta Finds a Nest beautifully captures that message. It’s a reminder that everyone, no matter how small, deserves compassion. Through this film, I hope we inspire families to create a kinder world for both animals and people.”
—Daniella Monet, Executive Producer
“A beautiful film that captures the magical bond between people and animals.”
—Joseph Morgan
“A gorgeous film that touches the heart and shows that love knows no boundaries.”
—Persia White
“I literally cried watching this video. The animation is beautiful, and I love that it’s based on a true story. I think the thing that made me cry the most is knowing how many innocent creatures are mistreated, tortured, and killed every day, many of them never seeing daylight. Most don’t get a Henrietta happy ending. I wish I could save them all, I wish enough people cared.”
—Tara Strong
“Our connection to farmed animals is truly profound when we open our hearts or homes to them. Henrietta Finds a Nest is a really inspiring and touching short film. I hope many people will see it!”
—Marco Antonio Regil
Press
Will you make a gift today to help create a better, brighter future for all animals?
Henrietta Finds a Nest is more than a short film—it’s a call to change how we treat farmed animals and a reminder of what compassion can achieve.
Mercy For Animals envisions a kinder, fairer world and works to bring that vision to life through undercover investigations, policy reform, and increased access to plant-based food. Your support makes this work possible.
Embrace Henrietta in Your World
Dive into our exclusive Henrietta collection, and celebrate an inspiring character that embodies compassion and hope.
This limited-edition merchandise doesn’t just bring joy—every purchase helps fuel Mercy For Animals’ vital work.
Mercy For Animals is a leading international nonprofit working to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just and sustainable food system. Active in Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the United States, the organization has conducted more than 100 investigations, influenced over 500 corporate policies, and helped pass historic legislation to ban cages for farmed animals.
From factory farms to corporate boardrooms, courts of justice to courts of public opinion, Mercy For Animals is there to speak up against cruelty and for compassion, guided by a vision of a world where animals are respected, protected, and free.
Mighty Oak is an Emmy-nominated, Clio Award-winning, woman- and queer-owned creative studio based in NYC.
Founded in 2015, the studio specializes in stop-motion, 2D, and mixed-media animation and has created award-winning branded, nonfiction, and episodic content for Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Adult Swim, Nick Jr., and TruTV. Mighty Oak’s first original short film, Under Covers, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and landed an IndieWire feature as one of Sundance’s “must-see gems.” In addition to TV and film projects, Mighty Oak’s commercial work has garnered billions of views across digital platforms for clients such as Conde Nast, the New York Times, Coca-Cola, Samsung, GE, Etsy, Airbnb, and TED Talks—earning the studio a spot on Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” list.
Credits
Designer and Director
Hannah McNally
Writers
Matthew Scheer, Diana McCorry
Executive Producers
Daniella Monet, Leah Garcés, Matthew Scheer, Michaela Olsen, Emily Collins, Daniel Shepard
Producers
Megan Barbour, Chloe Devine, Kelsey Usher
Music
Cat Head Noise
Animators
Joumana Ismail, Flora Caulton, Martha Halliday, Eric Larson, Jessica Milazzo, Hannah McNally, Christine Le, Sabrina Chaney
Cleanup Artists
Ke Ren, Hannah O’Brien
Compositors
Hannah McNally, Sabrina Chaney, Alejandro De Hoyos-Lechuga
Storyboard Artists
Hannah McNally, Christine Le, Nivedita Sekar
Background Artists
Lili Jimenez, Laura Correal
Sound Designer
Chris Mastellone
Graphics
Liz Klein DiBello, Alejandro De Hoyos-Lechuga
Postproduction Assistant
Anthony Galante
Special Thanks
Caitlin McNichols, Christopher Watson, Cody Longshore, Hannah Shanks, Jonah Sachs, Mary Beth Scheer
Hannah McNally
Director
Daniella Monet
Executive Producer
Daniella Monet is best known for her starring role on the popular TV series Victorious and as a celebrated host, notably of the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, the competition show Paradise Run, and her podcast Adulting like a Mother Father. Daniella’s broad experience in the entertainment industry and as an inspiring entrepreneur and lifestyle expert has drawn a huge social media following of around 10 million people. A longtime Mercy For Animals supporter and collaborator, Daniella happily stepped in as an executive producer of Henrietta Finds a Nest.
Leah Garcés
Executive Producer
Leah Garcés is the former president and CEO of Mercy For Animals. Her family’s real-life rescue of Henrietta—and the special bond Henrietta formed with her daughter, Andrea—sparked the story that became this award-winning film. With more than 20 years of leadership in the animal protection movement and food system reform, Leah founded The Transfarmation Project® and launched Compassion in World Farming in the United States. She has authored two books, presented at global forums such as TEDx and the World Health Organization’s Global Forum for Health Research, and joined other visionaries recognized in Vox’s “Future Perfect 50” list.
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