'Waltz with Bashir' Director Ari Folman Plans Animated Anne Frank Film

While we don't see it all that often here in America, animation has been an effective tool for powerful, hard-hitting dramas, especially those on tough periods throughout history. Grave of the Fireflies is probably the best example, but another who has used the medium in a similar way with tremendous results is Ari Folman. As the director of Waltz with Bashir he's explored the Lebanon War, and in this year's The Congress he took a look at the drawbacks of celebrity, and now he's going to use animation to retell the story of Anne Frank.

Frank's story continues to captivate whether it's through Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, museum exhibits, or any number of adaptations based on her life. This version, which Folman write and direct, is being described as a family-oriented approach, which is definitely a far cry from his previous films. He's secured complete access to the Anne Frank archives and plans to begin production next winter. His films tend to take awhile to complete, it was five year before we got The Congress, so don't expect to see this one for awhile.

Still, the opportunity to see a fresh take on Anne Frank's story told through Folman's imaginative lens is a fascinating one. [Deadline]