Piece by Piece: Pharrell Williams Documentary Review - LEGO Animation, Music, and Inspiration

Ever wonder about the story behind one of music's biggest stars, Pharrell Williams? Well, get ready, because Piece by Piece, a brand new documentary, tells his inspiring and truly moving story!

Piece by Piece: A LEGO Adventure

This isn't your typical music documentary. Piece by Piece uses awesome LEGO animation, similar to The LEGO Movie, to bring Pharrell William's incredible life to life. The film follows Williams' journey, showing both his ups and downs, while showing the struggles, the failures, and successes and more! At 51 years old when this was released, Pharrell looks back at it all. And he is full of great emotion about his entire career. It brings viewers along on his entire adventure, starting from a young boy with hopes and dreams and moves to become one of music's biggest stars and beyond! There is even this inspirational message.

The Final Party

The movie ends with a huge party and concert! What makes this special, is the amount of talent featured in Piece by Piece is truly outstanding, showing everyone together. The movie was less about his rise as a mega-musician but a larger point of how much collaboration and creating alongside friends and other artists is what he does!

The party is actually a symbol, though. What's particularly memorable is his comeback to this awesome energy. The movie follows Pharrell's career that had a tough point and ended up coming back to produce some of his greatest works. It all happens after his grandmother passes away, and he ends up facing many big struggles before releasing "Happy." It brings some truly special energy as he puts it all together.

This joyous ending brings Pharrell together with those he made along the way.

People he knew from his hometown.
Close collaborators.

The movie gives us a powerful statement of how cool collaboration really is! The villainous executives from his more troublesome career were thrown back into the ocean (as part of the awesome animation!). There's even the special element of seeing Pharrell playing "Piece by Piece," an appropriate title for an amazing story that tells all the aspects of one life. A fun way to showcase this film.

Atlantis as a Metaphor

There is some truly amazing creative elements used in the show, one of which is water imagery! This serves a symbolic moment!

For example, when Pharrell explains his child-like dreams that's represented through Atlantis. It looks like that's actually a great visual idea.
Atlantis represents what happens when he gets that great inspiration! He's lost when he struggles, with his music being swept away with a "tidal wave" metaphorically destroying his recording studio. Then we see Pharrell trying to find a way back and this eventually gets brought together.

It truly does highlight that inspiration for Pharrell has been always important. He never forgot his inspiration and finds that creative spark as he listens to the ocean as an inspiring and meaningful metaphor. And, of course, helps him come to the end!

Family in Piece by Piece

You will learn some major elements of the story by watching this Pharrell doc. One is the important impact of family! What's most apparent is that his journey has touched several members of Williams' family, giving this an aspect that no other documentary might share with viewers!

Pharrell's mom, Carolyn.
His father Pharoah.
Even Pharrell's grandmother was featured as well, providing great detail! And the emotions he displayed talking about his beloved grandmother after she passes really hit home! And what a testament to the value of his grandmother
We can even learn that Timbaland is his cousin!

It’s worth pointing out though that while some are featured others were less noticeable.

The name of Pharrell's grandmother wasn't really given
Pharrell also likes to keep his children out of the public's view, so his other kids didn't have as much of a cameo!
The special bond with his wife Helen Lasichanh and son Rocket is well represented!

The whole project brings a more powerful look about how Williams' career was able to become the focus but in reality what matters was how family and personal experiences gave it life! What really brings the piece home for Pharrell are those initial inspirations!

The Real Story

It seems, though. That not every aspect is spot on. It would be impossible to do it with accuracy given the magnitude of Williams' music career! However, viewers will love the fact that this is largely accurate!

While the doc shares important elements it's still quite true. We get to know his family and close associates. It goes far enough that fans learn what happened to this remarkable performer!

Early parts of the journey in learning to play his instruments.
His teacher wasn't represented
But, you still see that the Neptunes band forming with the amazing and long standing relationship between Pharrell and Chad Hugo. That alone makes this such a special moment for this creative dynamic, one fans will appreciate. This was left unsaid. However, both Pharrell and Hugo were involved in legal disputes!
It was glossed over!
It's almost as if they created some added tension! Pharrell working on Despicable Me music but what a unique moment, where this made some really fun details with how that moment in the career ended up playing out.
The last part not featured is P. Diddy. He is a famous name, that produced early tracks!

The True Meaning

The message behind Piece by Piece is positive. And inspirational. Even when Pharrell's journey shows big disappointments he kept trying again. Pharrell is an artist full of faith!

His journey really emphasizes his belief!

It's truly heartwarming. He keeps pushing and striving and sharing his personal belief with everyone, offering the viewer some motivation as Williams went back to where he grew up to share more with fans.

Piece by Piece is an inspiring film, a special look into one musician's life and should bring a feel-good moment that’s hard to resist!