The Three Amigos was a series of 20 public service announcements (PSAs) that utilized three animated characters in the shape of condoms. The goal of the series was to promote safe sexual practices to help prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Debuting at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in 2004, the series received a global launch in 2005 and was subsequently translated into six different languages. By 2012, it had reached audiences through broadcast and distribution by non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, hospitals, and various groups across 150 countries and in 45 languages.
The creation of the series was a collaborative effort between Chocolate Moose Media's Firdaus Kharas and South African writer Brent Quinn. They incorporated humor into the series, which featured episodes of varying lengths: 15, 30, and 60 seconds. A notable aspect of the production was the extensive use of hand-drawn animation, totaling 15,000 drawings, all completed by volunteers from four countries.
The campaign garnered recognition, winning a Peabody Award in 2006, among 29 other international accolades. The series has been the subject of numerous articles and academic discussions. The distribution of The Three Amigos PSAs was conducted free of charge.
According to UNAIDS statistics, there was a notable decline in new HIV/AIDS cases during the period of the campaign's activity. Supporters of the campaign included notable figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who expressed public support for the initiative.