Groundbreaking Animated Documentary Short 'Living with A Visionary' Explores Memory and Parkinson's Experience

Garden Shed Productions has announced the addition of animator Janelle Feng to its upcoming animated documentary short 'Living with A Visionary', a project that promises to push the boundaries of storytelling through intricate animation techniques.

The film, adapted from John Matthias' memoir published in The New Yorker, chronicles the complex journey of caring for a spouse experiencing Parkinson's-related hallucinations. Director Stephen Neary will lead the production, which will utilize a distinctive hand-animation approach using watercolor crayons and frame-by-frame scanning.

Feng's role as Lead Animator is critical to the project's vision. She will be responsible for translating the director's narrative through fluid, expressive animation, working meticulously to capture the emotional nuances of Matthias' personal story. The film's unique visual approach aims to represent the blurred lines between reality and imagination experienced by individuals with neurological conditions.

The two-year production timeline, running from September 2023 to September 2025, reflects the project's commitment to artistic excellence and emotional depth. By employing labor-intensive traditional animation techniques, the team seeks to create a visceral, tactile representation of memory and perception.

This documentary short represents a significant contribution to both the animation and documentary genres, offering an intimate, artistic exploration of a challenging human experience. By transforming a personal memoir into a visually innovative animated narrative, 'Living with A Visionary' promises to provide audiences with a profound and empathetic understanding of living with Parkinson's.