Pixar’s Short Based On an Indian Boy, Gets an Oscar Nomination

Sanjay’s Super Team, inspired by the story of an Indian-American family has been nominated at the Oscars.

Pixar’s animated short film Sanjay’s Super Team, just got nominated at the Oscars (Photo: Facebook/Sanjay’s Super Team)

Disney-Pixar’s animated short Sanjay’s Super Team, is a strong contender in the ‘Animated Short Film’ category at the 88th Academy Awards. The announcement is exciting because this short film is based on an Indian-American family. The directorial debut of animator Sanjay Patel, is inspired by his own experiences as a child born to Indian immigrant parents.

Sanjay’s Super Team highlights the contrast between a young boy’s fascination with western pop culture (specifically, a morning cartoon show), and his father’s traditional values.

The seven-minute film was attached to the theatrical release of Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur, in November 2015. Patel and film producer Nicole Grindle discuss their motivations for making the film, in this video.

The other contenders in the ‘Animated Short Film’ category at the Oscars this year are Bear Story, Prologue, We Can’t Leave Without Cosmos, and World Of Tomorrow.

(This story was first published on October 19th, 2015)