I wasn’t prepared for all the emotions brought about by Disney•Pixar’s short film Sanjay’s Super Team and our interview with its director, Sanjay Patel…but I am not surprised because it is a personal story about him and his father.
In Sanjay’s Super Team, accomplished artist Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop culture comes into conflict with his father’s traditions. Sanjay is absorbed in the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. Tedium and reluctance quickly turn into an awe-inspiring adventure as the boy embarks on a journey he never imagined, returning with a new perspective that they can both embrace.
Getting to chat with Sanjay himself was really cool because you could see how much making this short film meant to him and his father. His father had never seen a film that Sanjay had worked on so it was a pretty big deal for them both (The last movie he seen was the Sound Of Music). As his father watched, he felt a sense of pride because he always wanted Sanjay to be proud of his culture and felt that he finally got it. Sanjay’s father was so proud that he actually hugged him after watching it and that isn’t something that happens often. **They showed us a video of his father watching the film and hugging him, it had me crying!
When asked to tell this story through a short film by Pixar, he said no 3 times because he was scared. He only ended up agreeing to do the film because his father felt it was his sacred duty for him to try ad do his best. By learning about his culture, Sanjay was able to connect with his father and through this short film, we get to learn more about it as well.
Sanjay’s Super Team was wonderfully done because it gives you a glimpse into another culture in a way that captures our attention all the while be respectful of their beliefs. My 7 year old son, a fan of super heroes himself, will totally be drawn to this.
It opens in theaters everywhere on November 25th, in front of Disney•Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur. Want to know more about The Good Dinosaur, click here for some fun facts.
