Mary and Max - 5 out of 5
Claymation isn't a genre of animation often associated with bittersweet, depressing stories (Davey and Goliath
doesn't count because the fact it exists at all is depressing in
itself). However, Adam Elliot made a name for himself doing just that.
It began in the late 90s with his family saga that told nearly
auto-biographical short stories of family members that always leaned in
the direction of "onion cutting" levels of tear flowing. Take my
personal favorite in this short film trilogy Brother.
After winning an Academy for the Geoffrey Rush narrated Harvey Krumpet, Elliot went on to make his first feature length film...but keeping his unique style and themes of being bittersweet intact. Mary and Max
tells the story of a sad little Australian girl named Mary (voiced by
Toni Collette) who has emotionally distant parents and no real friends.
