AnimationWorld Magazine — February 25, 2018
All in the Details: Bringing the Story World Sequences of ‘The Breadwinner’ to Life
The Breadwinner, a meticulously crafted story of self-empowerment and imagination in the face of oppression, showcases the breathtaking hand-drawn animation that has made Cartoon Saloon one of the world’s most beloved and respected animation studios. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Ireland-Canada-Luxembourg co-production follows Parvana (voiced by Sarah Chowdry), a young girl living under the Taliban regime who disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family after her father is imprisoned.
Led by Nora Twomey in her first solo directorial outing, Cartoon Saloon brings Parvana’s story to the screen with gorgeous imagery that pays homage to the beauty of Afghanistan as it was in 2001, when the events of the story take place. The color palette is inspired by the “Honey Light” of the Middle East, employing delicate, muted pastel tones that contrast with the pop of red of Parvana’s headscarf.
Juxtaposed with Parvana’s real-world life in Kabul are the wildly fantastical cut-paper “Story World” sequences, depicting mythic tales in lush environments that are free of physics dominated by jewel-toned reds and greens and black. Comprising nearly 15 minutes of the finished film, including the title sequence, the Story World sequences appear to be animated using stop-motion paper cutouts, but in reality were achieved entirely using digital animation.