Satrapi uses color to distinguish between the present and past. Scenes taking place in the present are depicted in color, while flashbacks to Marjane's childhood in Iran during the Islamic revolution are shown in black and white. This creates a visual timeline within the animation. She also employs simple yet expressive animation styles that match the tone and emotions of different scenes. The animation brings Satrapi's graphic memoir to life, transporting viewers to 1970s/80s Iran and allowing them to experience Marjane's coming-of-age journey through a historical period of upheaval.