For Primary schoolthe animation team of director Peter Sohn, known for The good dinosaurinvented new animation techniques.
“The characters were so complicated to make! Pixar didn’t have a roadmap for characters like this. We are used to making metal toys or cars. “Creating characters using only visual effects was completely new for the studio,” explained Peter Sohn during the Elementary feature film presentation press conference, which was attended by QMI Agency.
Car Elementary takes place in the city of Element City, populated by characters that are part of the four elements – Fire, Air, Water and Earth. The script centers on the love story of Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis in the original version), a young “fire” woman, and Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie), a young “water” man.
The animated film “Élémentaire” hits theaters in Quebec on June 16th. Photo courtesy Disney/Pixar
“I made many sketches and detailed the director who worked on the project for seven years. […] It took a lot of workers to create this roadmap. Hundreds of artists worked on the project to create images that convey emotions even before they were animated.”
“The process was lengthy and took place in stages. I worked on my ideas over time, starting with the simplest ones, such as defining the way we look at fire – the flame, the spark – and water – especially the flow. I then fleshed it out by adding more personal details.
give life…
For the role of Ember, Peter chose Sohn Leah Lewis, an actress and singer known for her roles in the Nancy Drew series. And it’s Mamoudou Athie who stars in Jurassic World: Domination, providing the voice of Wade.
“I’m always looking for actors who are able to develop their characters much further than I imagined,” he said. And all without the similarities between the actors and their animated alter egos.
Leah Lewis lends her voice to the character Ember in the original version of the film Elementary. AFP / VALERIE MACON
“Ember looks like it did a few years ago,” said Leah Lewis. She’s a little on the defensive, she’s afraid to discover the other elements. She is also loyal to her family. On top of that, she has an explosive side, which I also had when I was younger, although I don’t get as angry as she does.
For Mamoudou Athie, whose father received political refugee status in the US when he was six months old: “I enjoyed every aspect of the recording and dubbing process. This film has a very moving openness and humanity.”
Mamoudou Athie lends his voice to the character Wade in the original version of the film Elementary. AFP / VALERIE MACON
“The whole film is about connections between people. And when Elementary inspires one cineast to engage in dialogue and discovery, that’s great. You know, without a little courage there can be no empathy. Trying to connect with the other, this small courageous gesture is extraordinary,” concludes Peter Sohn.
Elementary has been in theaters since June 16th.