The highly anticipated sequel to Disney Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ made a stunning return to cinemas last weekend, scoring a record-breaking debut at the global box office. After nearly a decade, fans of the Oscar-winning original have been invited back into Riley’s mind, this time, emotions like anxiety, jealousy, embarrassment and boredom have replaced happiness, sadness, fear, anger and disgust.The team that brought this ’emotional’ film to life included jhanvi shahThe Pune-based animator, who worked as the Character and GT Production Coordinator for the film, opened up in an exclusive interview with ETimes where she opened up about her journey, the emotions she stirred up and the challenges of recreating the critically-acclaimed franchise.
Janhvi, who has weaved her magic in several major blockbusters like ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, ‘His Dark Materials – Season 1’ and ‘No Time to Die’, gave us an insider tip about the future of ‘Dabangg 3’. Animation in the Indian film industry. While work may take her onwards and upwards, she remains a devoted fan of Indian cinema, vowing to watch every film Shahrukh Khan The film, which has recently had some additions such as ‘Pushpa‘ and ‘KGF’ are also included in his list. Excerpt:
Meeting with Jhanvi Shah
Thank you for making this film and congratulations to you and the team.inside out 2‘ has already been declared one of the best sequels ever made.
Jhanvi Shah: Thank you! I am so glad to hear that.
‘Inside Out 2’ is coming almost a decade after the original film was released in 2015. Was there any pressure going into this film, especially since the first film already had an Oscar nod to its name?
Jhanvi Shah: I wouldn’t say pressure, but we wanted to make sure we didn’t disappoint the audience, as is the case with every Pixar film. Our goal was to do our best, and with a brilliant director in Kelsey Mann and a brilliant producer in Mark Nielsen, we knew we were in good hands.
Animation Styles and Collaboration
Much of Riley’s mind was formed in the first part. What was the inspiration for creating the belief system?
Jhanvi Shah: In many films, we experiment with different settings and situations for our characters depending on the story. The belief system felt important for the film, as it explains a lot about our teenage years when we start to discover ourselves. It felt like the right direction for the story.
Can you tell us a bit about incorporating different animation styles into this film, combining 2D and video game characters together?
Jhanvi Shah: It was a lot of fun. As part of the character team, it was fascinating. We saw the transition from childhood to adolescence, where interests change from kids’ TV shows to video games and you’re exploring this whole new world of content. It was interesting to figure out what kind of styles we should approach, and what kind of characters we should create that were believable and fit into this world. We worked with animators who were excited to revisit 2D for some characters, and others who used their TV experience to create video game characters. It was a great collaboration.
Hollywood vs Bollywood
Jahnvi, what was the response from people in Pune and what do you think is the state of animation in India globally?
Jhanvi Shah: The response from back home has been incredibly supportive. I have great expectations from the current generation of Indian animators. The talent is incredible, and it is refreshing to see the work coming out of institutes like NID and MITID. Though we moved slowly in the beginning, we are getting there now. Seeing the work of the young students of my college, I have great expectations from the Indian animation scene.
When you watch a good film like ‘Inside Out 2’ on a Hollywood platform and then compare it with Bollywood’s animation and VFX, where do you think it falls short?
Jhanvi Shah: I wouldn’t call it backwards. Different audiences have different tastes, and it’s the film industry’s job to put its audience first. Both American and Bollywood animation styles have their merits. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of thinking big. If you’re targeting a global audience, you have to think big. However, if your primary audience is local, you have to keep them in mind. Both styles are beautiful, and I’m a fan of both.
Is there a favourite movie you can mention?
Jhanvi Shah: I am a huge Shah Rukh Khan fan, so whatever film he makes, I am there. I am really enjoying the ‘KGF’ series and films like ‘Pushpa’. In Hollywood, I like action films like ‘The Incredibles’, ‘Mission Impossible’ and ‘John Wick’. Any film with action is my go-to film.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, ‘Inside Out 2’ features an all-new voice cast with the likes of Mark Nielsen, Amy Poehler, among others. Phyllis SmithLewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adele Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter stepping behind the microphone. The film, released worldwide on June 14, is currently playing in theaters.
The film grossed a record-breaking $155 million at the North American box office, the second-biggest opening weekend in Pixar’s history, trailing only “Incredibles 2.” The film also had the biggest foreign opening of all time, surpassing “Frozen 2” and earning a global total of $295 million, a new benchmark for animated films.
Janhvi, who has weaved her magic in several major blockbusters like ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, ‘His Dark Materials – Season 1’ and ‘No Time to Die’, gave us an insider tip about the future of ‘Dabangg 3’. Animation in the Indian film industry. While work may take her onwards and upwards, she remains a devoted fan of Indian cinema, vowing to watch every film Shahrukh Khan The film, which has recently had some additions such as ‘Pushpa‘ and ‘KGF’ are also included in his list. Excerpt:
Meeting with Jhanvi Shah
Thank you for making this film and congratulations to you and the team.inside out 2‘ has already been declared one of the best sequels ever made.
Jhanvi Shah: Thank you! I am so glad to hear that.
‘Inside Out 2’ is coming almost a decade after the original film was released in 2015. Was there any pressure going into this film, especially since the first film already had an Oscar nod to its name?
Jhanvi Shah: I wouldn’t say pressure, but we wanted to make sure we didn’t disappoint the audience, as is the case with every Pixar film. Our goal was to do our best, and with a brilliant director in Kelsey Mann and a brilliant producer in Mark Nielsen, we knew we were in good hands.
Animation Styles and Collaboration
Much of Riley’s mind was formed in the first part. What was the inspiration for creating the belief system?
Jhanvi Shah: In many films, we experiment with different settings and situations for our characters depending on the story. The belief system felt important for the film, as it explains a lot about our teenage years when we start to discover ourselves. It felt like the right direction for the story.
Can you tell us a bit about incorporating different animation styles into this film, combining 2D and video game characters together?
Jhanvi Shah: It was a lot of fun. As part of the character team, it was fascinating. We saw the transition from childhood to adolescence, where interests change from kids’ TV shows to video games and you’re exploring this whole new world of content. It was interesting to figure out what kind of styles we should approach, and what kind of characters we should create that were believable and fit into this world. We worked with animators who were excited to revisit 2D for some characters, and others who used their TV experience to create video game characters. It was a great collaboration.
Hollywood vs Bollywood
Jahnvi, what was the response from people in Pune and what do you think is the state of animation in India globally?
Jhanvi Shah: The response from back home has been incredibly supportive. I have great expectations from the current generation of Indian animators. The talent is incredible, and it is refreshing to see the work coming out of institutes like NID and MITID. Though we moved slowly in the beginning, we are getting there now. Seeing the work of the young students of my college, I have great expectations from the Indian animation scene.
When you watch a good film like ‘Inside Out 2’ on a Hollywood platform and then compare it with Bollywood’s animation and VFX, where do you think it falls short?
Jhanvi Shah: I wouldn’t call it backwards. Different audiences have different tastes, and it’s the film industry’s job to put its audience first. Both American and Bollywood animation styles have their merits. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of thinking big. If you’re targeting a global audience, you have to think big. However, if your primary audience is local, you have to keep them in mind. Both styles are beautiful, and I’m a fan of both.
Is there a favourite movie you can mention?
Jhanvi Shah: I am a huge Shah Rukh Khan fan, so whatever film he makes, I am there. I am really enjoying the ‘KGF’ series and films like ‘Pushpa’. In Hollywood, I like action films like ‘The Incredibles’, ‘Mission Impossible’ and ‘John Wick’. Any film with action is my go-to film.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, ‘Inside Out 2’ features an all-new voice cast with the likes of Mark Nielsen, Amy Poehler, among others. Phyllis SmithLewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adele Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter stepping behind the microphone. The film, released worldwide on June 14, is currently playing in theaters.
The film grossed a record-breaking $155 million at the North American box office, the second-biggest opening weekend in Pixar’s history, trailing only “Incredibles 2.” The film also had the biggest foreign opening of all time, surpassing “Frozen 2” and earning a global total of $295 million, a new benchmark for animated films.
