DaVinci Resolve Studio was used to create unique palettes and emotions for this award-winning stop motion animated film.
DaVinci Resolve Studio announces today that Memoir of a Snail, a stop motion animated feature film rewarded for its unconventional creativity, was graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio by colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland, CSI.
Written and directed by Oscar winner Adam Elliot, renowned for his stop motion genius, the film tells the story of Grace, a lonely little girl who collects snails and searches for her place in the world. It gained worldwide acclaim, winning the Cristal for Best Feature Film at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival.
The narrative approach skilfully balances light-hearted humour with darker themes. “I had already worked with Adam on films, and it was an honour that he reached out to me once again to help bring this animated universe to life,” says McClelland.
McClelland worked with Elliot and cinematographer Gerald Thompson to agree on an aesthetic that best captured the original characters and their environments. “During a studio visit, I was able to see the characters and props, which helped me understand the film’s artistic direction and develop a complete storyboard, as well as a specific colour palette for each scene and location,” she says.
“Each location had its unique palette. For example, the grandmother’s house, warm and comforting, was rendered in toasted, amber tones, while the orphanage had colder, more institutional tones to reflect the isolation of the characters.”
McClelland used DaVinci Resolve Studio’s advanced colour management tools to maintain consistency between takes, during the back-and-forth with the VFX specialists. Thanks to constant updates and close coordination, deadlines were met despite last-minute changes.
“DaVinci Resolve Studio was indispensable throughout the project. As other departments sent us new elements, the software allowed me to continue working on the grade without interruption, which helped us stay on schedule,” she concludes. “Resolve made all our exports easy, from our final P3 DCP to the Dolby tone-mapped HDR and SDR versions.”
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About Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design creates high-quality products for professionals in film, television and post-production. The range includes DaVinci Resolve, URSA cameras, Fusion, HyperDeck and ATEM products.
