Life, Animated
Life, Animated
PG | 01 July 2016 (USA)
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At three years old, a chatty, energetic little boy named Owen Suskind ceased to speak, disappearing into autism with apparently no way out. Almost four years passed and the only stimuli that engaged Owen were Disney films. Then one day, his father donned a puppet—Iago, the wisecracking parrot from Aladdin—and asked “what’s it like to be you?” And poof! Owen replied, with dialogue from the movie. Life, Animated tells the remarkable story of how Owen found in Disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of the world.

Reviews
Cathardincu

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

filippaberry84

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

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Billie Morin

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

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Frances Chung

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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svonsawilski

Thank you Owen for helping everyone understanding, 'it is just your voice' which prevented you from communicating. Enjoyed every minute of this ground breaking documentary. Ground breaking because it was about Owen's personal journey shared with the world through a medium that he loves,animated film which was a vehicle which gave him back his voice.

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eddie_baggins

If one were to seek evidence on the powerful impact films can have on people's lives, then Roger Ross Williams documentary Life, Animated would be the perfect start.A lovingly crafted look at the life of 23 year old Owen Suskind, who at a young age was diagnosed with autism and subsequently went on a quiet lonely path where he no longer communicated with his family or engaged in everyday life, only to have found solace and in many ways saving in the forms of animated Disney films, Life, Animated is an insightful look into not only those affected with Autism but the power that films can enact upon those that fall under their spell.Utilising a vast array of Disney footage alongside some beautifully drawn original imagery to express Owen's past, future and dreams as well as an abundance of heart-warming moments with Owen and his loving family, Ross Williams has a clear affection for the story his telling and it comes across in every aspect of this Oscar nominated documentary.It certainly helps Ross Williams cause that Owen is such a fascinating subject matter (Owen's candidness when talking about his life and condition is truly captivating) and it's a joy watching Owen's growth from a struggling adolescent, to a young adult looking to try and make the best with what his been given and the way in which these films that hold such a dear place in his heart express Owen's otherwise hidden feelings is eye-opening in many ways.Whether it's hearing Owen himself or his mother Cornelia, father Ron or loving older brother Walter talk about these films and their part in Owen's growth, Life, Animated remains constantly engaging throughout as we're allowed access into the inner sanctum of this once in a life time human being's journey to the next stage of his life.Not without the odd sprinkling of heartbreak, Life, Animated is a mostly joyous documentary that will be enjoyed by those of all ages and Ross Williams insightful examination of various touchy subject matters should be commended, while Disney will likely be thankful that this unofficial plug for their wondrous animations is such a champion for their years of outstanding work in telling important stories in a way that's at once magical and life like in equal doses.4 Disney fan clubs out of 5

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Sean Ramsdell

I'm an autistic Disney fan and I like this film.Finally a positive portrayal of autism and animation. I was also one of the lucky ones:awesome family (grew up with two older sisters), love of Disney and non-Disney cartoons, etc.Only problems are the sex talk (understand why he would struggle over this as I prefer to be single myself and no, don't suggest Disney porn!) and I feel that I'm more higher-functioning than Owen (no offense).As for sidekicks: Nick Wilde from Zootopia, Kronk from The Emporer's New Groove, Baymax from Big Hero 6 (new school Disney and deadpan minimalist extraordinaire), Vinny from Atlantis:The Lost Empire and BEN from Treasure Planet (Owen got Lucky Jack from Home on the Range) And my villain would be named Fuzzbutcher (grown up version of Fuzzbutch as I also suffered from OCD).Also, read the book too.

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jdesando

"Autism: If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." Albert Einstein Until I saw the remarkably-affecting Life, Animated, I had an unclear idea of what autism is; now I feel I have expunged my prejudices and embraced it as a fascinating world. Given the right circumstances, and that condition is crucial, an autistic child may grow up into a well-functioning adult who carries with him a rich treasure of Disney inspirations.Yes, I said Disney, for although this sometimes-animated documentary may feel like a Disney infomercial, there can be no doubt about the animations as essential to Owen's healthy response to the language of life. When as a very young boy he tells his parents his brother does not want to be Peter Pan or Mowgli, they realize he is seeing life through the Disney lens, opening up conversations that would never have happened if Owen had not memorized all the lines from the classic animations.While this revelation about the transforming nature of Disney's work is astonishing, more stunning is the realization that Owen's parents and his brother give him unconditional love that is really the bedrock of his mental health. Dad, as a successful writer for The Wall Street Journal, and exceptionally caring mom promise a healthy, intelligent autistic child/adult.For that very reason, Life, Animated and its director, Roger Ross Williams, together with original author Ron Suskind, offer an idyllic world cut to maximum lyrical effect. I suspect some other autistic kids may not have it so good. But, hey, I'm just beginning to understand autism, and it looks oh so promising under the aegis of the Suskind family and the mighty Disney."God created Autism to help offset the excessive number of boring people on earth." Unknown

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