A game changer for documentaries and biographies alike.
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It’s only a matter of time someone with the career trajectory Pharrell Williams has had would get a biography of his own. Now, award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (best known for his documentaries) has made his animated directorial debut with Piece by Piece, an animated biographical documentary on the ageless musician. Alongside Williams and Neville, the film also features the voices of Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.
Told in a linear narrative, the animated feature starts of with Pharrell’s story in his hometown of Virginia Beach. Here is where we witness the multi-hyphenated talent discover his synesthesia – a sensory phenomenon that allows him to see colour in music and make the choice of telling his story in Lego form a no-brainer. If there’s anything that could bring justice and make this rare phenomenon make sense to the rest of us plebians, it would be the wonderful world of animation.
Pharrell befriends Chad Hugo, a prominent collaborative figure in his road to music stardom. The pair work and create music together, later forming The Neptunes and catching the attention of famed record producer Teddy Riley.
Sans notable timestamps popping up on screen, the course of Pharrell’s career is implicitly indicated through the many records he’s worked on – from 2000’s “Shake Ya Ass” by Mystikal and 2001’s “I’m A Slave 4 U” by Britney Spears to the McDonald’s jingle “I’m Lovin’ It” in 2003 to name a few. The documentary so carefreely name drops most of these radio hits as if it’s an ordinary feat, giving us just a glimpse of Pharrell’s prowess. Only when it’s put into perspective like that do we realise his encompassing presence in the industry.
One of the songs that was allowed more screentime was “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg in 2004 that showed Pharrell and Chad coming up with the catchy beat after getting high during a studio recording session. The other being his worldwide smash hit “Happy” for the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. The film shows how Pharrell came to be inspired to create the track while spending time with his family after being stuck in a creative rut. This leads to a cathartic moment with a spot on recreation of him tearing up at an interview with Oprah, discussing the song's success and its impact on the world.
Despite its fun and animated outlook, the more sombre moments are retained evidently through the truth and pain you can hear in Pharrell’s voice as he laments. It’s a true testament to Neville and co. successfully translating these instances that will bring fresh tears to your eyes as shiny circular pieces pop out his subject’s plastic facade.
Piece by Piece is a bright and inspirational documentary that touches on the important trajectory points in Pharrell’s career. It may not be necessarily insightful to fans who’ve followed him from day one but it is a welcomed treat to those of us who are all too familiar with the hit singles without knowing his backend involvement. It’s always nice to learn a thing or two about the man in question!
This animated feature has changed the game for documentaries and biographies alike with its innovative approach through brickfilm and the vibrancy and infinite possibilities of Lego. If future biographical documentaries on creative figures don’t come as exciting like that, we don’t want it.
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