A documentary by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams based on a book by Pulitzer Prize winning writer Ron Suskind.

Life, Animated tells the remarkable story of how Owen found in Disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of the world. By evocatively interweaving classic Disney sequences with verite scenes from Owen’s life, the film explores how identification and empathy with characters like Simba, Jafar, and Ariel forge a conduit for him to understand his feelings and interpret reality. Beautiful, original animations further give form to Owen’s fruitful dialogue with the Disney oeuvre as he imagines himself heroically facing adversity in a tribe of sidekicks. With an arsenal of narratives at his disposal, Owen rises to meet the challenges of adulthood in this moving coming-of-age tale.
Roger Ross Williams is the director of God Loves Uganda, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim, and Music by Prudence, which won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject). His latest film, Life, Animated, is based on a book by Pulitzer Prize‒winning journalist Ron Suskind. Williams was the first African American to win an Academy Award for directing or producing a film (short or feature).
Educational resource
To celebrate our upcoming release of The Mole Agent, we’ve put together a list of other heartwarming docs that will leave a smile on your face.
We've had a whopping four nominations for our films at this year's prestigious Grierson Awards in London.
The nominations for the Academy Awards were announced and we are ecstatic that Life, Animated is nominated for Best Documentary Feature!
Cameraperson and Life, Animated have been nominated for Best Documentary by London Critics' Circle
Take a look at some incredible original animations inspired by the heartwarming and unmissalbe Life, Animated
Cameraperson, Weiner and Life, Animated have been selected for the Academy's feature documentary shortlist
Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre, writes an essay on 'Affinity Therapy' as inspired by Life, Animated
In December there will be a series of Q&A screenings happening with the Suskind family and director Roger Ross Williams
Author: The JT Leroy Story, Life, Animated and Weiner all enjoyed their UK premieres as part of #SundanceLondon this past weekend.
Author, Weiner and Life, Animated will have their UK premieres as part of Sundance London in June
IF YOU LIKE LIFE, ANIMATED
