Life, Animated

Life, Animated: The Owen Suskind Story

Life, Animated is an independently filmed documentary that shares the story of Owen Suskind, a narrative that was first brought to light by the 2014 book, “Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism.” Owen had been diagnosed with autism at the age of three and remained quiet and withdrawn for many years. This gave his parents the implication that he might be nonverbal. That was until his mother recognized an unrecognizable speech pattern  as he watched Disney classics like”The Little Mermaid”. Owen wasn’t babbling aimlessly, but reciting lines from the movie. That was when his parents realized that Disney movies were the key to Owens’s advancement.

With imagination, dedication, and some role playing, the Suskind family used Disney animated films as a medium to overcome great barriers with Owen. The Suskind family began to use dialog from Disney films to create a means of communication between them and Owen. This was their key to finding their son, the tool to unlocking a whole host of hidden feelings, emotions, and ultimately the beginning to understanding Owen. Throughout the film, we walk with Owen as he graduates from school, falls in love, and advances into adulthood. As his story unfolds, we dive deeper into Owen’s mind and witness how he creates his own story as a man living with autism.

This documentary not only follows the growth of Owen but also gives the audience his perspective on navigating life with autism. By providing an “inside-looking-out” perspective on what it means to live with autism, the audience is able to truly understand the effect it has on an individual and their family.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that not all children will be able to adapt the same techniques as Owen. This documentary portrays the roller coaster ride that we all call life. And despite our differences, our challenges, our struggles we are all striving to pave a pathway for a better future.

Life, Animated comes to selected theaters near you on Friday, July 1st, 2016.

To find where you can watch this award winning documentary click HERE.

To learn more about this film click HERE.

Here are some additional reading about Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism (book).

Life, Animated Official Site