Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

There is a soft touch within 'Harold', a tender, caring embrace that permeates the very being of each episode like a mother's kiss goodnight. What impresses me about what HBO did with this miniseries, more than anything, is that they created an innocent and gentle atmosphere that appeals to the child in everyone. Yet, it should also be emphasized that this show never panders to its parent audience. Each bedtime adventure alternates between long stretches of exploration, calming but engaging narration by Sharon Stone, and the aforementioned songs by Van Dyke Parks, each with plenty for children to see and interact with in their minds. What should be emphasized is that this series is meant for the youngest viewers. Admittedly, allowing every purple-lined object to be in full-color and have freedom of movement is a big departure from the books, but it all works beautifully, and helps to engage even the youngest viewers into the story.

His crayon dimension practically dances across the screen, with vibrant colors, highly imaginative scenery, and musical numbers by Van Dyke Parks that allow for semi-surrealist sequences that are truly a treat to the senses without ever becoming overwhelming or cluttered. In the 'Harold' miniseries created by HBO Family, Harold's world isn't limited to a single white plane with purple as its only color source (save Harold's blue pajamas). However, there is one adaptation of Harold that I believe took Crockett Johnson's book to the next level, and far surpasses the simplistic charm of Weston Woods' short. Most notably is the film's minimalist style of outlining Harold's purple drawings on a plain white background with Harold being the only moving element of the film. It's nothing particularly outstanding for its time, but being based off the timeless book by Crockett Johnson, it does have its merits. Many people have seen the classic 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' short from 1959, distributed by Weston Woods and narrated by Norman Rose.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson