Memoir of a Snail is Oscar® winner Adam Elliot’s seventh ‘clayography’ – a word he created to describe his films by mixing ‘clay’ and ‘biography’. It makes sense. The unique look in his films comes from the materials he uses (clay, wire, paper and paint), and are inspired by people he encounters and his own life. Elliot has a hereditary, physical shake in his hand that creates imperfections, which he incorporates into his aesthetic. Every bump and lump are celebrated. He even has a sign in his studio that reads ‘Chunky Wonky’, a reminder to animators that every character, set and prop must look flawed and asymmetrical, as if made in a hurry.
Memoir of a Snail opens in cinemas October 17, 2024.
Academy Award®-winning director Adam Elliot introduces us to the clay people and places that feature in his latest film.
Related works
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
On display until
1 November 2026
ACMI: Gallery 1
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
LN196849
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Worlds → MW-04. Stop Motion Animation
Object Types
Film Production Props
Materials
Original sets, puppets and props