Mystery of the Secret Room takes viewers on a spellbinding voyage between the real and the imaginary. An inspiring portrait of family, adversity, and resilience, this richly hued animated short tells the tale of 10-year-old Grace, who uses her creative superpowers to navigate the emotional landscape of her mother’s depression.
Writer/filmmaker Wanda Nolan collaborated with animator Claire Blanchet to weave together a deeply moving story. Hand-drawn animations bring two distinct worlds to life: the muted, solid world of “reality” and the saturated palette of Grace’s imagination. Images of nature (forests, water, animals) abound, serving to allegorize the obstacles faced by people dealing with mental illness and the loved ones who stand by their side.
Through a mixture of techniques and media, including drawn backgrounds, landscape photography, and ink and pastel on paper, Mystery of the Secret Room offers a textured story-world full of surprises, challenges, and emotions, while celebrating the transformative powers of literature and the imagination.
Written and directed by
Wanda Nolan
Art director and animation supervisor
Claire Blanchet
Animation by
Hyun Jin Park
Claire Blanchet
Simon Cottee
Malcolm Sutherland
Compositing
Fred Casia
Original music by
Jeff Johnston
© SOCAN
Sound design by
Kyle Stanfield
Violin
Kate Bevan-Baker
Clarinet
Louise Campbell
Piano
Jeff Johnston
Foley
Lise Wedlock
Foley and music recording
Geoff Mitchell
Technical director
Eloi Champagne
Technical animation coordinator
Randall Finnerty
Still photography
Carol Kean
Victoria Wells
Titles
Mélanie Bouchard
Online editor
Serge Verreault
Re-recording
Jean Paul Vialard
Post-production supervisors
Jean-François Laprise
Roz Power
Post-production assistant
Mylène Augustin
Senior production coordinator
Kelly Davis
Studio administrator
Leslie Poyntz
Marketing manager
Melissa Wheeler
Thanks
Justin Simms
Kat Baulu
The Nolan Family
Grace, Tyler, Emma
The Blanchet Family
Lynne, Nicole, Paul
Bruce Alcock
Chris Bonnell
Jordan Canning
Laura Churchill
Chris Darlington
Michael Fukushima
Lauren Goldman
Patricia Granato
Michelle van Beusekom
Legal counsel
Dominique Aubry
Associate producer
Jon Montes
Producer and executive producer
Annette Clarke
