Marcel the Shell, the Internet’s favourite mollusk had a voice before having a body.
Actor Jenny Slate was in a hotel room with her friends when she heard a voice. It was a childlike, high-pitched voice that would become the key to the identity and creation of the animated character.
Slate stated that she felt “very squished” in the room and began to talk in a small voice. Dean Fleischer Camp, her future husband, and ex-boyfriend, found the voice to be amusing.
Camp interviewed Slate during the voiceover and then assembled items he found in his house — a shell and a googly eyes, as well as shoes stolen from a Polly Pocket doll — to make a body.
Marcel, a 1-inch tall shell, was thus born. Soon after, a stop motion short film was made by Camp and Slate that they uploaded on YouTube.
This was back in 2010. That was in 2010.
Marcel quickly rose to fame on YouTube as one of the first viral stars. His original short film was viewed more than 32,000,000 times. His sincere candor and small frame made him an instant internet sensation. Many people saw this as a refreshing departure from other social media influencers who often lack authenticity.
Slate stated that she “doesn’t know” what Marcel did to create the internet. She said that she believes his authenticity could be the reason for his popularity.
She said that Marcel is an example for a good person trying to live a fulfilling life.
Marcel is one of the few internet stars who has made the transition to traditional media.
He was a beloved character who first made it to the publishing industry with two books about Marcel published by Camp and Slate in 2011 and 2014.
Slate and Camp had announced in 2014 that they would make a feature movie with Marcel as its director. But fans had to wait eight more years to finally see the tiny seashell on the big screen.
Slate, Camp and co-writer Nick Paley worked slowly on the project. They locked down the audio, rewrote the script, recorded the live-action shots, and stopped-motion animation while also working on other TV series and films.
Slate stated that they tried to incorporate detail, richness, and thoughtful consideration into the storyline as well as Marcel’s look and his world. “It wasn’t like we were just sitting around thinking, ‘What should the movie be about?’”
Camp directed the film. It follows Marcel (Slate), a one-inch tall shell, and Nana Connie (Isabella Rossellini), as they try to rebuild their lives together after the mysterious disappearances of their family.
After being released in limited release, the film made $170,000 last weekend.
Slate stated that the film would always be about Marcel and his quest to find his loved ones.
The team created a movie that was “sweet and kind enough to engage children, but complex enough to be enjoyed by adults.”
Marcel’s “magical” qualities are what Slate described. “There is something that shows us the many ways we can feel our emotions and have our experiences. It is extremely precious and is available to you right now.”
Slate, an alumnus of “Saturday Night Live”, doesn’t forget that Marcel’s isolated home was almost identical to the rest of the world during the pandemic.
According to Slate, the Covid-19 pandemic caused millions to flee their homes and lead to “feeling alone for experiencing loss and feeling like you have no control over what has happened,” Slate stated.
These themes of loss, isolation and overwhelming grief were present in Camp’s and Slates movies when they began recording in 2016.
Slate stated that the timing of the film’s release and the pandemic were “rather spooky”. She hopes that a small object and his search for community in a time of uncertainty will provide a “useful” solution for others who are looking for the same.
