When you think of a live-action film, you might think of the phrase “Lights, Camera, Action!” While computer animation directors may not need to shout that phrase on set, the lights, camera, and action still take center stage when creating a Pixar film.
In this post, we’ll explore the virtual cameras, lenses, and staging of Pixar’s film Inside Out 2. Much like our previous post when we explored the story, heart, and humor of the film, this time, we take a closer look at Pixar’s camera and staging team.
During our recent trip to Pixar Animation Studios, we learned that the team behind Inside Out 2 focused on three different camera and staging elements to craft the worlds of the film — The human world, the mind world, and Anxiety (the character and the emotion that crosses both worlds).
These “world” styles help us know where we are in the film, even if no characters are present in a scene. It’s an unconscious visual cue that viewers pick up.
Table of contents
HUMAN WORLD – THE IMPERFECT LOOK
The first focus was on the human world, trying to replicate a film camera’s physical look. The team utilized anamorphic lenses to achieve a more imperfect feel, which also allowed for a wider field of view in the human world.
As Adam Habib (Director or Photography Camera) noted during our discussion, anamorphic lenses can make the world a bit rounder by compressing the image horizontally (which you can see in the video below, where the rafters in the hockey arena have a curve to them).
The filmmakers also used organic camera movements in the human world, like Pan (turning left and right), Tilt (adjusting up and down), Tracking (moving left and right), Dolly (moving back and forth), and Pedestal (moving up and down).
MIND WORLD – THE PERFECT FEEL
When it came to filming inside Riley’s mind, the team took the opposite approach from the human world — making the mind a flawless place. They used spherical lenses and more mechanical camera movements (think of a crane camera hitting its mark each time).
Watch the video below to view more of Riley’s mind and how the team maintains a cohesive sequence through their thoughtful camera, lens, and framing choices.
THE WORLD OF ANXIETY – THE BLEND
The team approached blending the human and mind worlds with Anxiety by using camera angles and lenses to mirror the feelings between the characters and viewers.
By using handheld cameras (more natural shake), wide-angle lenses (distorting up close), and playing with motion blur and focus extremes (for uncomfortable feelings), these tricks created and added elements that make the film feel complete.
Now, viewers can see the Anxiety character shake and move erratically on the screen and sense that Riley is feeling anxious through how she’s framed by the camera.
MOTION CAPTURE HEADQUARTERS
During our time at Pixar Animation Studios, we had a hands-on experience with one of the motion capture cameras (shown in the video below).
The technology demonstrated allows the team to visualize the scene in real-time and plan accordingly for camera angles and staging. We were able to explore Riley’s Headquarters set design and roamed digitally around while we peeked in every nook and cranny.
ANGER’S STEAM ROOM
While exploring the set, we saw a door shaped like Anger that was never utilized in the first film. The set piece was from a scene that was cut from the original film, featuring Anger going to his “steam room” – a place where he would go and cool off when mad (shown below).
The filmmakers of Inside Out 2 were pleased to stumble across Anger’s unused door. This allowed them to have an entry point from which the new emotions could emerge – including Nostalgia.
Watch the video below for another fun fact about the emotion’s bedrooms that have never been seen before, either.
MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Want to see even more behind-the-scenes of Inside Out 2? Read our earlier posts from our visit to Pixar Animation Studios where we discuss the story process, as well as 6 Emotional Details about the film.
Still want more Inside Out 2 news? Check out all of our posts about the film, or chat with other fans in the Pixar Post Forum thread all about the movie.
Inside Out 2 hits theaters on June 14, 2024.
