Sanjay's Super Team is a Pixar short film that was released with the theatrical release of The Good Dinosaur.[1] It is directed by Sanjay Patel and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle. The music is provided by Mychael Danna.[1]
Synopsis[]
From Pixar's official website:
“ | In “Sanjay's Super Team,” the new short film from Pixar Animation Studios, 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.[2] | ” |
Plot[]
Sanjay is a small young boy who is more interested in watching his favorite cartoon "Super Team" than in accompanying his father in a daily Hindu ritual. Sanjay is annoyed by the bell his father rings, while the father is bothered by the sound of the television. As a result of a confrontation, the father turns off the TV, and asks Sanjay to take part in the prayer
The father is standing in front of a box, in which he lights up a lamp in front of the representation of three spirit like figure (Hanuman, Durga and Vishnu). Bored to death, Sanjay attempts to reach to a superhero action figure his father confiscated. In doing so, he accidentally puts out the lamp. As this happens, the setting is suddenly transfigured into a temple room adorned with three statues. The smoke from the dying candle -- now a large fireplace -- aggregates to form an angry creature, which takes for himself the attributes of the three statues, destroying them. As the beast attacked Sanjay, he has the idea to reignite the flame using his action figure.
The room is flooded with a surreal light, and three gods appear and proceed to face the beast. They ring a bell, whose vibrations destabilize the monster, but it reacts by destroying the bell. Sanjay realizes that the central fireplace can act as a large bell, and hits his action figure on it as hard as he can. This breaks the action figure. The massive vibration causes the creature to fade away, appeased. The gods give Sanjay their blessing and give him his repaired action figure.
Back in the real world, Sanjay's father notices what is going on and allows him to return to the TV. However, he is surprised when Sanjay shows him a drawing of the three gods, along with the words "Sanjay's Super Team", and the father and son bond over it.
Characters[]
Production[]
The short is based on Patel's own personal experience as the child of Indian immigrants and the struggle he had with his cultural heritage. His family owned a motel on Route 66, which is the basis for the setting of the short.[1]
Awards[]
- Nominated: Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film[3]
- Nominated: Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject[4]
Trivia[]
- The shrine in one corner of the room echoes the appearance of the TV set in another corner, with a pair of incense sticks in a holder on top of it, resembling the aerial on top of the TV.
Rating[]
Sanjay's Super Team is rated PG (for some scary imagery ), making it the second Pixar short film to receive this rating, after Party Central.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Pixar artist Sanjay Patel gets personal with Sanjay's Super Team
- ↑ Pixar Sanjay's Super Team
- ↑ Pixar Honored with Two Oscar Nominations for Bao and Incredibles 2 — Including Ed Catmull to Receive Sci-Tech Academy Award, Pixar Post, January 22, 2019
- ↑ 43rd Annual Annie Awards Nominees, December 1, 2015.