"Piece by Piece" delights in an animated LEGO film about Pharrell Williams

When I heard that documentarian Morgan Neville’s animated film made entirely with LEGOs would chronicle the life and career of Pharrell Williams, I couldn’t believe or embrace the idea. Was this a joke? Well, one Telluride screening later, count me in as an enthusiastic fan of “Piece by Piece,” which interprets Williams’ inspired idea in surprising and informative ways.

Williams suggested the LEGO idea, one finally accepted by Neville whose LEGO director persona guides an imaginative, chronological story that comes alive with vibrant colors and shimmering objects, especially the water. In voiceover narration, Pharrell describes his early days in the Virginia Beach housing project, his always knowing he was different, and being told he was an odd child, a comment he reports crushing his spirit. But, happily, music mesmerized Pharrell as he visualized cascading light coming out of the speakers, something he thought everyone saw. Pharrell soon learned his unique gift for music and began producing for others, making a name for his expertise.

As he explains, it took some time for him to come into his own spotlight. Along those lines, Pharrell will explain the surprising story behind the award-winning, joyfully infectious song “Happy,” but first he’ll detail the multifaceted journey of his production for and support of diverse artists, including Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, and many others. Known as one half of the Neptunes hip-hop and R&B duo, Pharrell could do it all: sing, write, produce, contribute voice talent to animated films, and design fashion. Above all, what comes through in this colorful, visually dynamic LEGO film is his extensive creativity.

At this year’s Telluride Film Festival, where I first saw “Piece by Piece,” Pharrell sat a couple rows ahead of me. The rapturous applause and many congratulations after the screening clearly moved him very deeply. In the film he says, “I firmly believe that everybody has talent, beauty, and potential.” Others comment on Pharrell opening their eyes to a whole different perspective. Both his celebrating the diversity of individuals and his resourceful, inventive support of others comes through here. He is a talent—13 Grammy Awards, twice an Academy Award nominee, Oscar Best Picture producer nomination for "Hidden Figures," and more—but in addition to all that, Pharrell is clearly a remarkable, admirable individual. “Piece by Piece” is available now.