Brazilian Thiago Calçado is a film director and animator. He has worked on Chicken Run and Kubo and the Magic Strings among other projects. In 2023, Pinocchio, of which he was one of the animators, won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, the world’s leading movie awards. Thiago, who is now living in the United States, has gained prominence in major film production companies, but is still as passionate about drawing as when he was a child. To find out more, check out the interview he gave to Gabriela C., age 11.

What is making an animated movie like?

It’s a lot of work. In the first year, the script is written. In the second, the puppets and sets are produced, and the script becomes a comic book, which we call a storyboard. We record the actors’ voices and then the shooting tests begin. After all this, filming begins in earnest. The process can be longer than a year and a half, two years.

Why did you become an animator?

I always liked drawing when I was a kid, but I never got to my last drawing, I just kept drawing. Kids always complete their last drawing without realizing it. Then they go on to do other things. I just never stopped drawing. Then, I decided that this could become a profession. I started studying more, taking courses. That was over 20 years ago, and at the time there was no such thing as film school for animation. The closest thing I found was advertising, but then I switched to film and followed my dream.

Which production did you enjoy working on the most? Why?

The one I most enjoyed working on was Kubo and the Magic Strings, which was my first big movie here in the United States, where I live. I feel a lot of love for this movie, because it is the story of a boy who takes care of his sick mother, and then goes on a journey with many adventures trying to discover his roots and who he is.

Was there an animation you saw or a trip you went on that gave you the idea to do your own TV series, Sol em Dó Ré Mi, which was released in 2024 and tells the story of a girl in love with music?

When I became a father to twin boys, I decided to do this animation to show my children that everyday tasks like brushing their teeth, eating, and bathing can be a lot of fun. If you do these things in a fun way, anything can be child’s play.

How did you feel when you found out that Pinocchio, a movie you’d worked on, had won an Oscar?

I was really happy; I think it’s like a recognition that studying and dedicating yourself to something you love is worth it and will lead to results. So, I looked back on my 20-year career in animation and thought: “All the sacrifice and effort were worth it.”

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming work?

I can. It’s a movie based on a book called Wildwood. It’s about an enchanted forest, and some of the forest animals kidnap a baby. And then the baby’s sister goes after them to rescue him, thus embarking on a great adventure.

What tip would you give to a child who wants to be an animator?

Never stop drawing, draw all the time. Watch lots of cartoons. That’s the good part! Put all your ideas down on paper, like in a diary, where you write down your ideas, because ideas go away, and you might forget them. And, if you can, take courses in this field and always keep on studying.

“Kids always complete their last drawing without realizing it. Then they go on to do other things. I never stopped drawing. “

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