The much-anticipated sequel to Disney Pixar’s 'Inside Out' made a triumphant return to theatres this past weekend, scoring a record-breaking opening at the global box office. After nearly a decade, fans of the Oscar-winning original are invited back into Riley's mind, this time, with emotions like Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui taking over from Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust.
Amidst the team that brought this 'emotional' film to life was
Jahnvi Shah
, who hails from Pune. The Animator, who served as the Characters and GT Production Coordinator for the film, got candid in an exclusive interview with ETimes, where she spilled the beans on her journey, setting emotions on a rampage and the challenges of revisiting the critically acclaimed franchise.
Janhvi, who has worked her magic on some major blockbusters like 'Wonder Woman 1984', 'His Dark Materials - Season 1' and 'No Time To Die', among many others, gave us an insider's take on the future of
animation
in the Indian film industry. While work may take her onward and upward, she remains a dedicated fan of Indian cinema, vowing to watch every Shah Rukh Khan movie, with recent additions like '
Pushpa
' and 'KGF' also making her list. Excerpts:
Meeting Jahnvi Shah
Thank you for creating this movie and congratulations to you and the team. 'Inside Out 2' is already declared as one of the best sequels of all time.
Jahnvi Shah: Thank you! I'm so happy to hear that.
'Inside Out 2' is coming nearly a decade after the original was released in 2015. Was there any pressure going into this one, especially since the first one already has an Oscar to its credit?
Jahnvi Shah: I wouldn't say pressure as much as we wanted to make sure we don't let the audience down, just like with every Pixar movie. The goal was to do our best, and with Kelsey Mann as a terrific director and Mark Nielsen as a fantastic producer, we knew we were in good hands.
Animation Styles and Collaboration
Much of Riley's mind was created in the first part. What inspired the creation of the Belief System?
Jahnvi Shah: With many films, we experiment with different settings and situations for our characters, guided by the story. The belief system felt essential for the movie, because it captures so much about our teenage years when we start discovering ourselves. It felt like the right direction for the story.
Can you tell us something about incorporating various animation styles in this movie, with 2D and video game characters all coming together?
Jahnvi Shah: That was a lot of fun. As part of the character team, it was fascinating. We explored the transition from childhood to teenage years, where interests shift from children's TV shows to video games and you're discovering this whole new world of content. It was interesting to investigate the kind of styles we should be going for, and the characters we should build in a way that is believable and fits in this world. We worked with animators excited to revisit 2D for some characters and others who brought their TV experience to create video game characters. It was a fantastic collaboration.
Hollywood vs Bollywood
Jhanvi, what were the reactions from people back home in Pune and where do you think animation in India stands on a global stage?
Jahnvi Shah: The reaction from home has been incredibly supportive. I have high aspirations from the current generation of Indian animators. The talent is unbelievable, and it's refreshing to see the work coming out of institutions like NID and MITID. While we were slow to catch up initially, we are getting there. Seeing the work of the younger students from my college, I have high hopes for the Indian animation scene.
When you see something as good as 'Inside Out 2' on a Hollywood platform and then compare it to the animation and VFX in Bollywood, where do you think is the lag?
Jahnvi Shah: I wouldn't call it a lag. Different audiences have different tastes, and it's the film industry's job to cater to their audience first. Both American and Bollywood animation styles have their merits. I think it's just a matter of thinking on a bigger scale sometimes. If you're aiming for a global audience, you need to think on a bigger scale. However, if your primary audience is local, then you need to cater to them. Both styles are beautiful, and I'm a fan of both.
Any favourite films that you can mention?
Jahnvi Shah: I'm a big Shah Rukh Khan fan, so anything he puts out, I'm there. I've been really enjoying the 'KGF' series and films like 'Pushpa.' In Hollywood, I love action movies like 'The Incredibles,' 'Mission Impossible,' and 'John Wick.' Anything with action is my kind of movie.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, 'Inside Out 2' features an all-new voice cast with actors Mark Nielsen, Amy Poehler,
Phyllis Smith
, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter stepping up behind the microphone. The film which was released worldwide on June 14 is currently playing in theatres.
The film debuted with a record-breaking $155 million at the North American box office, marking the second-highest opening weekend in Pixar’s history, only behind 'Incredibles 2'. The film also had the largest overseas opening of all time, surpassing 'Frozen 2' and scoring a global total of $295 million, a new benchmark for animated films.
