Director Janice Nadeau talks about the creation of 'Harvey'

During its screening at the World Animation Summit in November, the Canadian film “Harvey”, directed by Janice Nadeau, won over audiences and will continue to be visible in Los Angeles thanks to the screening scheduled at the Los Angeles Animation Festival in December. This co-production of the National Film Board of Canada and Folimage has already achieved great success, being selected by more than 70 festivals and winning eight awards and recognitions along the way.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Hervé Bouchard, illustrated by Janice Nadeau, the film tells the story of a young boy who relives the day in which his life changed forever. The short film, through the eyes of a child with a vivid imagination, poetically examines the theme of mourning and the loss of a parent.

The film retains Nadeau's evocative style, which masterfully blended retro and modern aesthetics. Using fine line drawings enhanced by charcoal and soft colors, the artist has created a world in which the ordinary and the extraordinary blend in a surprising way.

Janice Nadeau, winner of three prestigious Governor General's Literary Awards in Canada, is also a professor at the UQAM School of Design in Montreal. The production of “Harvey” utilized both traditional 2D animation and paper-cut animation.

The film involved a long and meticulous research and preparation phase, as demonstrated by the images shared by the director herself. The choice of colours, the preparatory drawings, the animation techniques and the creation of the opening credits are just some of the many elements that contributed to giving life to "Harvey", a work that was able to conquer the public and critics.

The story of the film, as well as the creative process behind it, are a true example of talent and passion coming together in an artistic work of great impact. Janice Nadeau has proven herself to be a visionary in the world of animation, combining technical mastery, artistic sensitivity and creative courage.



Source: https://www.animationmagazine.net