Adult animation was a fairly niche media market before the last decade or so. TV series like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Drawn Together, Futurama and South Park started pushing the boundaries of what animated stories could be told—it is not all Disney or DreamWorks animated works geared specifically for children.
Now, animated series like Invincible and The Legend of Vox Machina are really thriving for adult animation. Over the years, the Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films became more recognized in mainstream culture. Memoir of a Snail is a cinematic triumph that illustrates the power of animation to convey deep, dark narratives without relying on excessive analogies to maintain a PG rating. It boldly addresses adult themes, embracing their complexity and richness.
The film is narrated by the lead character, Grace (Sarah Snook), whose story centres on her hardships growing up—a sad backstory infused with dark humour. From the moment they were born, Grace and her twin brother Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee) were soul mates. Born with a cleft lip, Grace was often bullied, with Gilbert always there to protect her.
“Memoir of a Snail is a cinematic triumph that illustrates the power of animation to convey deep, dark narratives without relying on excessive analogies to maintain a PG rating.”
After their mother died during childbirth and their father didn’t live long enough to raise them, the twins were split up. Grace moved in with a family of swingers in Canberra, while Gilbert ended up with a staunchly devout Christian family—likely a cult—in Perth, on the opposite side of Australia.
From beginning to end, Memoir of a Snail immerses you in a nonstop life journey. It hardly seems that Academy Award-winning director and writer Adam Elliot took a 15-year break from his claymation roots. Elliot has made a significant impact with his innovative works, which he calls “clayographies.” He noted that his characters are made of four basic materials: clay, wire, paper and paint. That is all.
Despite a story filled with twists, turns and abundant technical detail, its message remains clear. The film intricately explores familial struggles, highlighting the burdens of anxiety and depression, the lasting effects of trauma, and the profound journey from childhood to old age. It delves into the complexities of failed marriages, the emotional journey of being orphaned and the struggles of life within a cult, along with numerous other deep and thought-provoking themes.
“Memoir of a Snail boldly addresses adult themes, embracing their complexity and richness.”
Memoir of a Snail flirts with the dramatic levels of movies like Lion, Life of Pi and many more similar life stories. This could be my new favourite stop-motion movie, up there with the likes of Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Travis Knight’s Kubo and the Two Strings and Nick Park and Peter Lord’s Chicken Run.
The adult themes, irony and symbolism were well-suited to today’s troubled world, even though the film felt like it was from the ’80s or ’90s. The score of Memoir of a Snail started off somewhat like The White Lotus opening theme, with whimsical, operatic singing. The sounds complemented the dark humour and sombre atmosphere.
With a clear vision and messaging, the film benefits greatly. Snook’s remarkably dry narration aligns perfectly with Grace’s character. Each voice actor’s tone matched the character they portrayed. Despite the Australian setting, I found the story and characters relatable. Ultimately, good writing and storytelling are crucial in animation, and Memoir of a Snail nails it.
In a peculiar anomaly, the one-hour-and-34-minute runtime felt longer—but this was not a bad thing. The story seemed to tell a full life’s journey. The pacing raced through so much content that every minute delved deeper, with each moment feeling like bonus content, without actually being so. While this film is not for children, it’s a great slice-of-life story—and you’ll likely learn a thing or two about Australian culture as well!
