About the film:
Directed by Academy Award-winning documentarian Roger Ross Williams, Life, Animated is the story of Owen Suskind, the son of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and his wife, Cornelia. An autistic boy who couldn’t speak for years, Owen memorized dozens of Disney movies and turned them into a language to express love and loss, kinship, and brotherhood. In order to foster communication, the family creatively "became" animated characters, communicating with him in Disney dialogue and song; until they all emerge, together, revealing how, in darkness, we all literally need stories to survive.
- 89 m. Roger Ross Williams. Roco Films. USA/France.
English with subtitles.
Rated PG
"Blending interviews and verité footage with bountiful Disney clips and animated sequences produced by the independent studio Mac Guff, Life, Animated dips in and out of real life and Owen’s fantasies, representing its subject’s delicate world in much the same way that he experiences it." Eric Kohn, IndieWire
"It’s [a] combination of despair and joy, victories and defeats that make Life, Animated such a compelling rendering of life with autism. Owen has to cope with the same life challenges as anyone else: moving out of home, breaking up with a girlfriend, having a job interview. And Williams doesn’t patronize or sentimentalize his world." Lanre Bakare, The Guardian
Panel:
Cory Levine
Director of Licensing and Partnerships at IMG Licensing, where he supports leading sports and entertainment brands. He holds a Master of Science in Sports Business from New York University and a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University. He is a dedicated, team-oriented professional who is passionate about giving back to the community, inspired by his two siblings with autism. He and his cousins founded, Tailgate for Autism which benefits The Nicholas Center.
Robert Valli
Robert Valli is a longtime participant at
The Nicholas Center and moderator of its
Agents of Humanity Podcast. A graduate of Nassau Community College, he works as a Production Assistant at Spectrum Designs, and volunteers at The Nicholas Center's Community Program with The Nicholas Center Pantry Program and Twin Pines Thrift Store. When he’s not giving back to the community, Robert is the lead singer and keyboardist for the StarGators Band. He’s also a die-hard fan of heavy metal, anime, and movies across all genres.
Sandra Alvarez
Trustee, Port Washington School District Board of Education, lifelong Port Washington resident, and dedicated parent advocate. Prior to the School Board, Sandra was involved with several Port Washington school based organizations including; PTA, Parent’s Council (district-wide PTA), and SEPTA (Special Education PTA). While with SEPTA, Sandra worked with amazing parent advocates who helped her in her own advocacy efforts.
Moderated by:
Brooke Mellett - Regional Program Director at The Nicholas Center
The Nicholas Center creates innovative programs and services that allow Autistic individuals to learn, live and work in the community.
