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From Academy Award® winning director Roger Ross Williams, 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.
LIFE, ANIMATED evocatively interweaves classic Disney sequences with verite scenes from Owen's life in order to explore how his identification and empathy for characters like Simba, Jafar, and Ariel gave him a means to understand his feelings and allowed him to interpret reality. Beautiful, original animations offer rich insights into Owen's fruitful dialogue with the Disney oeuvre as he imagines himself heroically facing adversity as a member in a tribe of sidekicks.
Original Release
07/01/2016
US Release
07/01/2016
Links
Cast
Name | Character |
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Cornelia Suskind | Self |
Walter Suskind | Self - Owen Suskind's big brother |
Alan Rosenblatt | Self |
Emily Jathas | Self - Owen Suskind's girlfriend |
Michelle Garcia Winner | Self - speech language pathologist |
Jonathan Freeman | Himself / Self |
Gilbert Gottfried | Himself / Self |
Jeffrey Ortiz | Self |
Owen Suskind | Himself / Self |
Ron Suskind | Himself / Self |
Directors
Writers
Owen Suskind, Ron Suskind, Emily Hubley, Kate Rose, Joyzel Acevedo, Florence Goupil
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Cornelia Suskind | Self |
Walter Suskind | Self - Owen Suskind's big brother |
Alan Rosenblatt | Self |
Emily Jathas | Self - Owen Suskind's girlfriend |
Michelle Garcia Winner | Self - speech language pathologist |
Jonathan Freeman | Himself / Self |
Gilbert Gottfried | Himself / Self |
Jeffrey Ortiz | Self |
Owen Suskind | Himself / Self |
Ron Suskind | Himself / Self |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Ron Suskind | Executive Producer |
Robert DeBitetto | Executive Producer |
Rob Sharenow | Executive Producer |
Molly Thompson | Executive Producer |
Robert Sharenow | Executive Producer |
Roger Ross Williams | Producer |
Shanti Avirgan | Producer |
Christopher Clements | Producer |
Julie Goldman | Producer |
Carolyn Hepburn | Producer |
Sean Lyness | Producer |
Lindsay Richardson | Producer |
Editors
Trailers
Year | Type | Category | Won |
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2017 | Oscar | Best Documentary Feature | Nominated |