Sanjay’s Super Team is Pixar’s upcoming short film (paired with The Good Dinosaur in theaters) that tells the story of director Sanjay Patel’s discovery of his cultural roots by blending his Father’s beliefs with the adventure of action heroes. During our recent trip to Pixar’s Studio in California to discuss The Good Dinosaur, we were also able to have a brief chat with Patel and Producer, Nicole Paradis Grindle as well as screen the short film.
Having limited knowledge of the Hindu heritage, we were excited to be immersed into a world that was unfamiliar, yet could remind you of your own familiar past. With its stunning fast-paced camera work and bold animation style, Sanjay’s Super Team is an exciting look into Pixar’s future.
After the screening, director Sanjay Patel and producer Nicole Paradis Grindle gave some insight into the film’s production — including how the lighting completely changed the feel of the film and made it feel “complete”. The completeness came by giving the characters a punchy Tron-like glow to really sell the fantasy and anime qualities of the film.
This anime-inspired styling stands out in a very unique way – Pixar Post Forum user UntoldStories113 wrote about her experience viewing the short at the Annecy International Film Festival in June – “I saw the short at Annecy, and believe me, it’s visually gorgeous. It’s unconventional for a Pixar short, yes, and not at all what we’re used to. But the visuals play a big part in conveying the story and especially the clash of the cultures.“
After viewing the short ourselves, we couldn’t have said it better – the change feels exciting and fresh.
At the end of the presentation, Patel shared a very personal video featuring the emotional moment his father (who hasn’t seen a film in decades) watched Sanjay’s Super Team— the result brought tears to our eyes. Watching Sanjay’s Father express so much joy towards his Son’s film really brought the story to life at a much deeper level since it was in fact, all about their journey to understand each other.
Update: The Official YouTube Channel for Disney UK has released a short clip highlighting the separation of Sanjay and his father. Watch below and share your thought with other Pixar fans in the Pixar Post Forum.
