Harold and the Purple Crayon Movie Premiere

July 28, 2024

Crayon designer Nicole Lewis of Art 2 the Extreme wears a color-wheel skirt, purple shirt, and purple crayon bow tie. She walks a purple carpet for the premiere of Harold and the Purple Crayon movie. Harold finds

This August, step into a world where anything you draw comes to life! I went to the Sony Pictures Harold and The Purple Crayon premiere in California, a bucket list dream of mine almost 2 years in the making!! I have been "screaming my dream" and working hard behind the scenes for an invite to this colorful and creative movie premiere and it paid off. A huge thanks to my friends at Sony Pictures, my non-profit friends and partners at Crayon Collection, and my friend, Meg, for making this dream a reality.

Yes, the Crayon Queen dressed in purple pizzaz put on her favorite purple bow and rainbow color-wheel skirt, and quickly hopped on a plane from Indianapolis to LAX for 48 hours last weekend. I have spent all week editing photos, reliving my purple carpet experience, and hyping up my Mini Crayon Crew because the movie is SO GOOD (more to come on Wednesday when I can speak about the movie specifically).

Crayon Designer, Nicole Lewis, poses for the Getty Images camera at premiere of Harold and the Purple crayon. with friends creativity, she wears a rainbow colorwheel skirt and purple shirt.

Crayon designer, Nicole Lewis of Art 2 the Extreme®, walks the purple carpet in her purple pizzazz at the Culver City, CA premiere of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Image provided by Getty Images, Frazer Harrison.

My plus one was my friend, Laura Plouzek of Xoelle, who conveniently lives only about an hour and a half from Culver City. She makes the fabulous crayon bow ties that I wear in my hair for almost all photos and headshots I take

Two women dressed in purple wearing a crayon themed bow tie, one is worn as a bow tie hair bow and the other is wearing the purple crayon tie as a traditional bow tie.

Not only did I attend this intimate event, but I also interviewed the cast on the purple carpet! Stars in attendance were Zooey Deschanel, Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, and director Carlos Saldanha. If you have ever wanted to see what a Hollywood movie premiere looks like behind the scenes, stick around!

Cast of Harold and the Purple Crayon Movie from Sony Pictures: Zooey Deschanel , Zachary Levi, and Lil Rel Howery being interviewed on the purple carpet.

Behind the scenes footage of the movie premier. Lots of lights and technical equipment. There is a lot to learn !

The cast of the purple crayon movie on the purple carpet with a Crayola HUGE purple crayon. Zooey Deschanel, Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, and director Carlos Saldanha

The Magic of the Purple Crayon

Custom Crayola crayons at the Crayon Collection table during the Sony Pictures premiere of Harold and the Purple Crayon.

For a premiere about purple crayons and as a crayon designer, you better believe I captured all the purple crayon fun! The purple crayon is at the heart of the new Harold and the Purple Crayon movie, featuring this iconic drawing tool as a central plot device that brings imagination to life. With his trusty purple crayon, Harold can make anything come to life simply by drawing it, setting off more hilarious hijinks than he ever thought possible. This magical crayon, a key part of the Crockett Johnson classic book, serves as the gateway to Harold's whimsical adventures and creative problem-solving. The film beautifully explores the idea of unlimited imagination and creativity, showing how Harold's doodles transform into vibrant realities, capturing the essence of boundless possibility and childhood wonder.

Woman's arm outstretched with a colorful Harold and the Purple Crayon tattoo airbrushed in rainbow colors and holding a purple custom crayon.

The Story Behind the Movie

The film is based on the beloved children’s classic that has captivated young readers for decades, following the adventurous Harold who can make anything come to life by drawing it. In this enchanting sequel, Harold grows up and draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world, embarking on a new journey. The movie brilliantly bridges the gap between the magical world of Harold’s crayon and the realities of growing up, where Harold learns about real life. This continuation of the original story brings to life the timeless themes of imagination and creativity in an exciting new way.

Exploring the Physical World

Women (Nicole Lewis from Art 2 the Extreme) stand in front of an interactive coloring poster display for the purple crayon movie. Friends creativity made this coloring activity for kids and guests fun!

The new Harold and the Purple Crayon journey explores the concept of the "physical world" and how it differs from the world of imagination. Harold must navigate the consequences of his unlimited imagination in the real world, facing challenges and adventures that push him to learn and grow. This new and challenging place for Harold to explore is filled with excitement and discovery, highlighting the importance of understanding real life and its differences from the world of imagination. As Harold's adventures unfold, the film beautifully illustrates the balance between creativity and reality, making his journey both thrilling and enlightening.

The best personalized crayon gift from Art 2 the Extreme. Child holding out the crayon name JAYLA in rainbow crayon letters.

Bringing the Story to Life

Crayon artist, Nicole Lewis of Art 2 the Extreme®, poses with Harold actor, Zachary Levi, in front of the Culver Theater.

Nicole Lewis poses with Harold Director Carlos Saldanha

Bringing the story of Harold and the Purple Crayon to life, the new film directed by the renowned Carlos Saldanha masterfully blends live-action and animation to create a unique fantasy comedy. The screenplay, written by David Guion & Michael Handelman, stays true to the beloved children’s classic, capturing the whimsical charm and boundless creativity of Harold's adventures. Starring Zachary Levi as Harold, the film boasts a talented supporting cast that brings depth and humor to the story. This live-action/animated hybrid invites audiences into a world where imagination knows no bounds, beautifully translating the magic of Harold’s purple crayon to the big screen.

Themes and Messages

Zooey Deschanel speaks with crayon artists Nicole Lewis of Art 2 the Extreme about how she stays creative. There is a lot to learn at the Culver Theater premiere!

The new movie Harold and the Purple Crayon beautifully highlights the importance of unlimited imagination and creativity in overcoming challenges. As Harold embarks on his whimsical adventures, the story explores the idea of growing up and learning about real life, showing that imagination can be a powerful tool for navigating life's obstacles. The film celebrates the power of creativity, promoting the idea of embracing it in everyday life. With themes that resonate with both children and adults, Harold and the Purple Crayon is a perfect family movie that encourages viewers to tap into their inner creativity. The film's message is clear: imagination is not just for children but a vital, lifelong asset.

Where Can I watch Harold and the Purple Crayon?

If you're wondering, "Where can I watch Harold and the Purple Crayon?", you're in for a treat! The beloved children's classic that has captivated young readers for decades is finally coming to life in its first film adaptation. Brought to you by Sony Pictures, this enchanting story leaps off Crockett Johnson's book's pages and into the real world with more hilarious hijinks than ever. Having attended the Hollywood premiere on July 21st in Culver City, I can confirm that the movie is a delightful blend of imagination and adventure. Don’t miss the chance to see Harold's magical crayon adventures on the big screen when the movie exclusively hits theaters on August 2nd, 2024.

Woman wearing a crayon themed bow tie in her hair. Art supplies and gifts for artists and teachers.

This highly anticipated release marks a significant milestone as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the children's classic, first published in 1955. Fans of Crockett Johnson's timeless tale can expect to see their favorite story come to life in a way that's never been done before. This first film adaptation masterfully combines live-action and animation, creating a visual feast that honors the original while introducing new elements and visuals that will captivate both young viewers and those who grew up with the book.

Harold movie poster graphics and visual effects. Nicole poses with stars of the Harold movie in Hollywood.

The movie is expected to be a hit in movie theaters, appealing to fans of the beloved children’s classic and new audiences alike. The film's release not only offers a nostalgic journey for older fans but also introduces Harold and his purple crayon to a new generation of dreamers and adventurers. As we approach the film's release date, anticipation builds for what promises to be a joyous celebration of creativity and storytelling, perfectly timed to honor the book's remarkable 70-year legacy in 2025.

View into the audience of a Hollywood premiere and Nicole Lewis's view of the cast of Harold and The Purple Crayon movie from the second row at the Culver Theater.

I had such an amazing day at my first movie premiere for Harold, and I am so grateful to Sony Pictures, my non-profit partners at Crayon Collection, and the Harold and the Purple Crayon crew for this incredible experience. Head over to the Art 2 the Extreme Instagram account for interviews with the cast and more purple crayon fun.

Don’t miss Harold and the Purple Crayon in theaters August 2, where unlimited imagination bridges both the real world and Harold's magical adventures on the big screen.