Philip Seymour Hoffman is the latest Hollywood player to get involved in the world of independent animation. Daily Variety reports that the actor has agreed to voice the male lead in the Australian stopmotion feature Mary and Max from Icon Ent. Those expecting the typical animal odd-couple pairing are in for something entirely different from this feature debut from Oscar-winning animator/director Adam Elliot (Harvie Krumpet).
Produced by Melanie Coombs, Mary and Max revolves around a pen-pal friendship between a chubby and lonely eight-year-old girl in Melbourne, Australia, and an obese, 44-year-old Jewish man living with Asperger’s Syndrome in New York. Spanning 20 years and two continents, the unlikely friendship survives much more than the average diet of life’s ups and downs. Hoffman joins a voice cast that includes Toni Collette (as Mary) and Eric Bana. Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) will provide narration.
Financed by Screen Australia, Adirondack Pictures and Film Victoria, Mary and Max is currently in post-production. Icon Entertainment Int’l will handle international sales efforts. You can check out the project’s website at www.maryandmax.com.
