Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — “We all have this music inside us, this story that we have to share.”
Those were the words of Filipino animator Ronnie del Carmen, the co-director of Disney-Pixar’s 2015 film Inside Out.
Clearly, the Cavite native filmmaker had a big story to tell.
“Don’t let your time on this planet go by without you telling your story.”
Before moving to the United States at the age of 30, del Carmen graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Advertising from the University of Santo Tomas. After a career in advertising, del Carmen took that leap of faith into the film industry.
“I grew up here [in the Philippines],” said the accomplished artist. “All my formative years were here. By the time I migrated to the U.S. I was turning 30 already so I’m very much a Filipino.”
According to his website, del Carmen found himself working for companies such as Dreamworks and Warner Bros. as a story artist, story supervisor, character designer, and illustrator prior to his move to Pixar.
Del Carmen worked on films, such as Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, WALL·E, and Up, before making his debut as a director for the animated short film Dug’s Special Mission.
Inside Out revolves around a young girl named Riley and her personified emotions. Emotions, that del Carmen says is natural for himself to literally draw out the feelings from characters.
“I draw them and then I dramatize them,” he said. “Movies are great as ideas but you have to show it.”
More than being just an animator, del Carmen sees himself as a storyteller, and film is his medium.
“Our story telling is character-based; it’s emotion-based. When you watch them in reel, you have to feel it,” said del Carmen.
“You get carried away by the story.”
Del Carmen partnered up with director Pete Docter to finish the film. According to del Carmen, the work they have produced is down to their good working chemistry.
“I would come up with stuff and go over to his office and say ‘look at this!’” he said. “Because he trusts me to handle those things, I get to do it.”
Inside Out recently debuted during the 68th Cannes Film Festival in an out-of-competition screening, and has gone on to receive critical acclaim.
Since its wide theatrical release last June 19, Inside Out has grossed $635.5 million worldwide, against a budget of $175 million.
Inside Out will be released in the Philippines on August 19.
