Getting a behind-the-scenes look at the clay animated film Mary and Max is a joy in itself. After 5 years of conception, laying the foundation, 57 weeks of intensive filming, 212 Nendoroids, an old-fashioned typewriter that took 9 weeks to design, 808 Early Grey tea bags created collectively by the entire crew, and more. For a layman like me, I am amazed by listening to the data, and then watching the exquisite finished film, infinite reverence arises spontaneously.
It is said that making these kinds of stop-motion animations wears out one's patience. Like the well-received "Chicken Run", the British animated series "Shaun the Sheep" that I like, and even Tim's innovative new technology stop-motion animation "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Zombie Bride" are all in In the production, the creator's endurance has been experienced, and the creator's infinite energy and time have been spent. But fortunately their hard work has paid off!
As far as the current traditional clay animation is concerned, although it has been embellished by computer technology, it is much more lively and lively, but it still exudes its unique charm. With a retrospective nostalgic complex, it draws closer to the original emotion between people and the soil, and creates a childlike mood that isolates reality and noise. Perhaps the secret of success is here. Clay animation is not old yet, although 3D is now in the doldrums, but as long as you work hard and become unique, it does not seem to be a strange thing to win a piece of the sky.
Director and screenwriter Adam Elliott said that the autistic Marx in the film is based on a pen pal who has been with Elliott for more than 20 years. Although it has been artistically processed, many of the characteristics of human nature are derived from Life. And Adam Elliott also admitted that in reality, he is also like the various characters in the film, and there are physical and mental shortcomings. For example, his hands often tremble unconsciously. He himself hated words like "crippled" or "disabled." He said that all his characters are imperfect. He believes that there are no perfect people in this world, but some people hide their "deficiencies" because of shame. He hopes to use his films to win applause and encouragement for those who are not perfect. . Apparently, his wish came true. "Mary and Marx", which has been well received by the media and the audience, is not only better than Eliot's confident animation industry, but also better in the wonderful and meaningful storylines everywhere.
If it is not displayed in the animation mode, it is difficult to imagine what kind of effect such a story will have in the traditional world of character images. The 8-year-old Australian "Little Zhong Wuyan" and the 44-year-old New York virgin, even as a pen pal, pass on the book out of friendship and mutual assistance. Once handled improperly, it will definitely trigger a big discussion of ethics and human morality behind the theme of simplicity and innocence. From this point of view, Adam Elliott chooses animation to accommodate more cultural and social backgrounds, which is a vision, and also establishes a bold and stable image for himself.
From Mary's first question, "Where does the child come from", to her marriage, divorce, and childbirth, this is the primary stage in a person's growth process, and it is also an important stage in establishing various "views". I think this is also the director's insight. I think eight years old is not just a growth ring, it is a place to regain innocence. I was teased by my classmates because of the birthmark. Because of the lack of self-discipline of parents, children suffer spiritual insults. Because of the desire to be recognized by the world, he inadvertently hurt the good friends who love him around him. This kind of typical growth story does not worry about finding people who resonate. Little Mary's loneliness is not regional, but global.
Both her parents left, her husband left him for a pen pal on the farm, and she attempted suicide. No matter what changes she experienced, little Mary's life was worthwhile, at least she had always had a wise mentor in her life. Although Marx, who suffers from delusional disorder and anxiety disorder, is worthless in the eyes of others, or even has no value in existence, but his story was spread by Adam Elliott, and we all know one thing, people like Marx A lovely wise man among ordinary people.
Speaking of Marx, my heart is full of moving. Whether it is his character flaws, his loneliness in life, or his spiritual detachment revealed in the end, they are all like tragedy and the common destiny of all. Marx told Mary in the letter that although his face did not smile, his heart was smiling. At the end, the scene of Marx lying on a chair and leaving, brought tears to my eyes, and I was so moved. The book "faces" about recognizing facial expressions dangled from his hand, the "tears for Max" tear bottle from across the ocean, and the letterheads on the ceiling, like fish scales in tears, sparkling.
Zheng Banqiao's inscription reads, "It's rare to be confused!" Knowledge is the weapon of revolutionary life. In this era, there are indeed no confused people. Instead, it is only those who are simple and mentally handicapped who can drag us back to a beautiful and sincere world. In this era, it seems that there are no truly happy people. Sitting on the sofa with her favorite pet lying next to her, watching her favorite cartoon, eating her favorite sweetened condensed milk, little Mary thinks the happiest thing, for us, it is also a happy thing . But when did this happen? Which era? Can we still feel the happiness at that time?
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