Pharrell Williams’ biopic, “Piece by Piece,” uses LEGO animation to offer a fresh take on his life and artistry. Inspired by “The LEGO Movie,” it brings a unique twist to the music documentary genre.
Pharrell Williams has been a hit maker of the music industry for over ten years now, with a sound that can’t really be pinned down to a single style, achieving success in a variety of genres ranging from upbeat pop and funk tunes to R&B and hip hop. In recent years, Williams has begun to expand his artistic territory, having been named the new Men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton last year, and now with his upcoming foray into the film industry with the animated documentary, “Piece by Piece.”
“Piece by Piece” hits theaters this week, aiming to tell the story of Pharrell Williams and his rise to fame, though with a slightly unconventional approach to the biopic genre. Pharrell’s story will unfold as an animated documentary in the LEGO format, similar to movies like “The LEGO Movie” and “The LEGO Batman Movie,” and will include representations of many other famous musicians and artists like Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Gwen Stefani, Jay Z, and many more, all voiced by their real-life counterparts.
We’re in an era now where the music biopic has become slightly oversaturated – with artists from all walks of life and from various generations getting the documentary treatment. But Pharrell had this in mind when he began scheming up his own life story for the big screen – and he knew that he would have to make his unique, different, in order to stand out, and to truly express the unbounded creativity that he possesses as an artist. With that, the idea to convey his story through animated LEGO bricks came to be, and “Piece by Piece” was born.
In an interview with CBS, Pharrell opened up about his gratitude for being able to exhibit his life story on the big screen, and the significance of being able to tell it in LEGO animation, saying, “it’s universal…LEGO is the great equalizer.” Pharrell grew up building LEGOs, and still does to this day with his kids, which is another reason why he felt inspired to take the LEGO route for his documentary. Ultimately, he also knew that animation would give him the most freedom to tell his story his way, and as soon as he was approached with the opportunity to do a documentary about his life, he knew it had to be with LEGOs. The film will also of course include a soundtrack curated by Pharrell, with five new original songs.
“Piece by Piece” is set for a nationwide release this Friday, October 11th, where you’ll be able to get a glimpse into the creative mind and life story of one of the most prolific artists of this generation, through the unique and distinctive world of LEGO.
