Watch: Behind-the-Scenes Videos for Adam Elliot’s ‘Memoir of a Snail’

by Alex Billington
September 11, 2024
Source: YouTube

“We have over 200 characters in the film and every single one of them has been handmade.” This is what sets stop-motion films apart. Everything is handmade by amazing craftspeople! Madman Films in Australia has revealed a series of 5 mini-featurettes for the acclaimed stop-motion animated film called Memoir of a Snail. It’s the latest creation from animation maestro Adam Elliot, and it just premiered to rave reviews at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, with a US release set for October (watch the main trailer). I’m a huge fan of this film! Set in 1970s Australia, it’s a bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel – a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea-pigs – and her brother after they’re separated. Featuring the voices of Sarah Snook as Grace, with Jacki Weaver, Eric Bana, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dominique Pinon, Magda Szubanski, with Nick Cave. This one is a winner – I wrote a glowing review and I’m glad it’s getting more & more attention. I want more videos! The stop-motion process is so mesmerizing because of how they have to build every little tiny bit of the entire film. Enjoy the behind-the-scenes glimpses below.

Here are 5 making of promos for Adam Elliot’s film Memoir of a Snail, direct from Madman’s YouTube:

You can enjoy the main official trailer for Adam Elliot’s Memoir of a Snail film right here for more footage.

Original intro from Annecy: “Grace Pudel is a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and an intense love for books. At a young age, when Grace is separated from her fire-breathing twin brother Gilbert, she falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst. Despite a continued series of hardships, inspiration and hope emerge when she strikes up an enduring friendship with an elderly eccentric woman named Pinky, who is full of grit and lust for life. From the Academy Award-winning animation writer and director Adam Elliot, Memoir of a Snail is a poignant, heartfelt, hilarious chronicle of the life of an outsider finding her confidence and silver linings amongst the clutter of everyday life.” Memoir of a Snail is written and directed by Australian animator / filmmaker Adam Elliot, director of the film Mary and Max previously, plus many other short films including Harvie Krumpet (which won the Oscar). Produced by Liz Kearney and Adam Elliot. This initially premiered at the 2024 Annecy Film Festival where it won the Best Feature top prize. It is also playing at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival before it arrives in theaters later this year. IFC Films will release Elliot’s fantastic Memoir of a Snail in select US theaters starting October 25th, 2024 this fall. 🐌