Marcel The Shell with Shoes On: NZIFF Review

A delightfully sweet stop-animation tale about a 1 inch high shell and his relationship with his nan forms the backbone of the all-ages treat Marcel The Shell with Shoes On.

Based on a series of short films by director Dean Fleischer-Camp and comedian Jenny Slate, Marcel The Shell with Shoes On focuses on the trauma Marcel feels after having had his community of fellow shells ripped away.

After Dean crafts a doco about Marcel and posts it online, Marcel becomes an online sensation, but the fame causes him issues worrying about his home and his nan's future - and heightens his hopes that his fellow molluscs can be found.

There's a sweetness in Marcel The Shell with Shoes On that's hard to deny - a tenderness and innocence that prove light is important in the world.

With Marcel's various reflections on life and the animators' clever touches (Marcel walks across walks thanks to the use of honey, and navigates the home with an ingenious use of a tennis ball), Marcel The Shell with Shoes On is a film that has cleverness within, but never shouts about it.

There's a kind of lo-fi charm to the proceedings, which is contagious. But there are also moments that revel in the poignancy and bittersweet sadness Marcel feels. A scene where he lets loose a paper lantern from the roof as a tribute to his missing family is tear-jerking. Moments later, Marcel's decrying the fact every time he does that, a dog barks and is a lunatic - it's moments like this that run the gamut of emotions both cleverly and endearingly throughout.

At its heart, Marcel The Shell with Shoes On is a simple tale, simply told. However, that's not to diminish its effect or intentions - its simplicity is its strength, and its kindness is its own reward.