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| Fig 1 |
Adam Elliots film “Mary
and Max” (2009) is an Australian stop motion story that depicts many
problems the character’s face, but in a light and comedic style.
Producer and director Adam Elliot has created a few successful
short films before the feature length of “Mary
and Max”. Notable works include “Uncle”
(1996), “Cousin” (1998), “Brother” (1999), “Harvie Krumpet” (2003) and “Ernie
Biscuit” (2015). The reoccurring theme with these films are that they use
either Elliot’s own experiences, human emotions, phycological struggles, life struggles
and things which are not often shown in cute animations. However, the problems
are shown in an educational and light-hearted way. All his films are meticulously
made with stop motion and the distinctive character style. Paul Byrnes states: “Elliot based the film partly on his own
life. For 20 years, he has corresponded with a New York man who has Asperger's
syndrome. “(Byrnes, 2009). At the
beginning of the film, it states it’s ‘based on a true story’, which implies
like Byrnes said, that it is indeed based on Elliot’s own experience, which
makes the film more personal and feel more real. The imagery that conveys on
screen is therefore successful because Elliot knows exactly how to show the
feelings.
 |
| Fig 2 |
The set-up of the film slowly introduces each character and
a part of their background, and their personalities are quickly established
with their posture, faces, voice and attitude, much like a real person; and
Mary’s innocent childish nature is reflected in the animation in the form of
her warm toned surroundings, people and pets around her, whilst Max is the
complete opposite: sad, isolated, living alone in a tall apartment block in a
fairly dangerous America. The contrast of the countries are well shown. Andrew
Pulver describes the film as: “A very odd, very unlikely animated film from
Australia that manages to be sickly-cute, alarmingly grotesque, and right-on at
the same time – often in the very same scene.” (Pulver, 2010). Agreeing
with this, the film, although in a cute style, is also very relatable as it approaches
very real problems.
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| Fig 3 |
The Australian traits are very subtle, but are still shown,
such as during one scene in the film, when Max writes to Mary that a Frisbee is
like a boomerang, but it doesn’t come back. Mary also tells him about how
babies come about: “in Australia, they are found in beer glasses”. She also
sends him a selection of Australian sweets and Lamington cake which is a famous
Australian dessert.
The warmth of Mary’s environment shows the hot country of Australia,
while Max’s environment is all in black and white, as if set in a typical
film-noir New York scene. Pulver comments on the animation: “All of this is rendered in almost completely
monochromatic claymation – only occasional colours stand out, such as the red
pompom Mary sends to Max at one point” (Pulver, 2010). Mary indeed adds
colour to Max’s black and white and hopeless life.
 |
| Fig 4 |
“Mary and Max” also
shows an array of human emotions and situations, and Dan Parkinson picks up on
this: “Tackling such un-animation topics
as loneliness, body image, alcoholism, suicide and Asperger’s syndrome, it’s
quirky, compassionate and slightly seedily sweet.” (Parkinson, 2010). It also
picks up on anxiety, panic, worry, anger, obesity, death, bullying and
isolation, but these are shown in such a clever and quirky way that the viewer subconsciously
relates. The film itself could have very well been a live action film with real
people, but the unique animation definitely adds to the impact.
The goals of the film are indeed achieved: showing real
human struggles, but made into a cute animation. It does very well tackling the
problems, and the viewer finds themselves attached to the characters, and the
climax when Mary and Max finally meet is bittersweet – as Max died smiling up
at the many letters she sent, and she sits next to him, smiling. Sandie Chen
comments: “The letters sent back and
forth are so beautifully simple and honest that it's no wonder why Max feels
compelled to lovingly iron, laminate, and save each one.” (Chen, S.D)
Bibliography
Illustration List
