Garden Shed Productions is developing an innovative animated documentary short, 'Living with A Visionary', which promises to redefine storytelling in the animation genre. The film, adapted from John Matthias' New Yorker memoir, chronicles his experience caring for his wife Diana during her Parkinson's-related hallucinations.
The project distinguishes itself through a meticulous hand-animation process, with each frame individually colored using watercolor crayons and digitally scanned. Lead animator Janelle Feng will be instrumental in translating director Stephen Neary's vision, focusing on creating fluid, emotionally authentic animations that capture the nuanced experience of memory and perception.
Supported by a Filmmakers Fund Grant from Rooftop Films and financing from Cartuna, the documentary represents a significant artistic endeavor. The two-year production timeline from September 2023 to September 2025 underscores the project's commitment to visual and narrative depth.
Neary, known for his work on Cartoon Network and Sony Pictures Animation, was deeply moved by Matthias' original article, seeing it as an opportunity to explore the complex emotional landscape of caregiving and neurological disease through animation. By transforming a personal narrative into a visually innovative documentary, the film aims to offer viewers a profound, empathetic understanding of living with progressive neurological conditions.
