Anecdotes

Although the film makes extensive use of CGI effects for many of the scenes, some of the shots where Harold appears to draw in mid air were actually done with Harold (Zachary Levi) drawing on a sheet of glass placed between him and the camera.

Despite the fact that the film is set in and around Providence, RI, including the fictional "Crockett Johnson House," in real life Crockett Johnson lived, worked and died in the same house in Rowayton, a neighborhood of Norwalk, CT.

Jemaine Clement based Gary's voice and performance on British comic actor (and close friend) Matt Berry.

Now spanning 8 full decades, this movie is a modern day remake of the short Harold and the Purple Crayon (1959), directed by David Piel and narrated by Norman Rose - which itself was a remake of the 1955 illustrated children's book 'Harold and the People Crayon'.

Originally intended as a fully CGI film by Sony Pictures Animation, but instead became a live action/animation hybrid film with the animation scenes not being done by any studio of Columbia's in particular, with 7 VFX companies from around the world with the visual effects.