Life, Animated

[projekktor id=’24816′]

Life, Animated is a documentary directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year where it won the Directing Award – Documentary.

LIFE, ANIMATED is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. This emotional coming-of-age story follows Owen as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps toward independence. The subject of his father Ron Suskind’s New York Times bestseller, Owen was a thriving three year old who suddenly and inexplicably went silent – and for years after remained unable to connect with other people or to convey his thoughts, feelings or desires. Over time, through repeated viewings of Disney classics like THE LITTLE MERMAID and THE LION KING, Owen found useful tools to help him to understand complex social cues and to re-connect with the world around him.

In an interview with RogerEbert.com, Williams spoke about what went in to the animation used in the film. “I looked at lots of different types of animation. Since this is Owen’s world, I didn’t want the imagery to be Disney-like. We wanted it to have a different feel. Mac Guff is a company in Paris, and the French have been doing great work in 2-D animation. I went to Paris and met the guy who runs the company, Philippe Sonrier. When I pitched him the idea, he just fell in love with the story and he said that when people finish watching this film, they will ‘pray to be autistic.’ That’s when I was like, ‘He really gets it.'”

Life, Animated is rated PG.