
Ronnie del Carmen, best known as co-director of Pixar's 'Inside Out,' has reportedly moved to Netflix and is working on an animated feature based on Filipino folklore and mythology.
The multi-awarded animator-director is said to have a deal with the streaming giant that includes animated series and films.
'Inside Out' co-director and Filipino-American filmmaker Ronnie del Carmen / Source: IMDB
It's no secret that Ronnie often draws inspiration for his films from his own experiences.
In a Cartoon Brew exclusive, he emphasized the truth to the popular saying that “art imitates life.”
He said, “This is what we are doomed to be: to have what we are going through in life show up in what we make. No matter what we're making.
“It can feature toys come to life, invisible guardians in our heads, or what have you -- but at the heart of it is the story that we are living through.
“Our lives are in our movies. If you're any good at this, then this will be your curse.”
And for his first project with Netflix, Ronnie draws inspiration from his Filipino roots and the rich culture and tradition in his homeland.
“I grew up somewhere else. My story starts in a group of islands, in a region that I've now traveled back to many times over. Each time I wish I could stay and relearn what I missed.
“Now I feel the pull of figuring out the beginning. The parts that I use to make movies began there. So on this new journey I go where these stories will thrive.
The Cavite native also said that the streaming platform was the perfect place for him to tell his story.
“I carried these tales to Netflix, and when they heard my story they asked me to tell it here.
“So this is where I'm growing and nurturing these stories that have never been told, in an arena they deserve to belong to.”
Even before joining Netflix, Ronnie has had a colorful career that spans decades and an outstanding portfolio, which includes some of the most iconic animated films.
Ronnie graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising.
His first time to work for an international film was in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 movie 'Apocalypse Now,' which was shot in the Philippines. He was a painter on the set.
After graduating from college, Ronnie worked as an art director for advertising campaigns on TV and print, before moving to the United States in 1989.
There, Ronnie landed a job at Warner Bros. as storyboard artist and character designer for 'Batman: The Animated Series' (1998).
He would later on become story supervisor for Dreamworks's 'The Road to El Dorado' (2000) and Pixar's 'Finding Nemo' (2003) and 'Up' (2009).
One of his most notable works is co-directing and co-writing the story for the animated film 'Inside Out' (2015).
This earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Original Screenplay.
The film 'Inside Out' won the Oscar Award for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year in 2016.
Speaking of the Oscars, you might want to check out the complete list of this year's nominees here.
And for more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.
Check out also the list of 2021 Oscars Best Picture nominees and where to watch them.