Michael Rianda Profile picture
Cartoonist. Directed The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, former creative director for Gravity Falls. He/Him. Mostly back at tumblr now!?!? https://t.co/Xpsqz1krVu
shaene Profile picture 1 subscribed
May 7, 2022 7 tweets 4 min read
I was lucky enough to go to the Calarts Character Animation Student Showcase- and the films were SO WONDERFUL!

HIRE THESE KIDS, THEY'RE AMAZING!

Here are a few favorites:

Crossing by Xai Yaj.
This one is a stunner. The audience was breathless!
The Best Ham Sandwich According to a Fish by Jessica Xu (@zshooes) made me cackle SO hard!

It's beautiful AND hilarious AND insane! My favorite combination!

vimeo.com/706648074
Mar 21, 2022 62 tweets 22 min read
What I Learned from Chris Miller + Phil Lord on #TheMitchellsVsTheMachines

Lots of ppl asked what I learned from my literal heroes from making a film with them for a year: A TON

These are the Top 10 Lessons I learned that I will never forget:

Thread🧵 1/?? Image 1. Fight Against Formula in Every FRAME!

Me+@Roweyourboatz shared this core value with Chris + Phil.

BUT-

The DEGREE to which they examine EVERY single moment + iterate until there's NOT ONE "stock" decision left- truly surprised me!
Mar 18, 2022 4 tweets 2 min read
Since the family had already defeated multiple robots- they no longer felt like a threat.

So we invented an elevation: these TERRIFYING robots. The scarier the artists and animators made them- the more it felt like the stakes were raised.

#TheMitchellsVsTheMachineswatchparty Image If there's no TENSION- the comedy and emotions don't matter- you have to be SCARED for your characters!

Especially in an action-y adventurey movie like this.
Mar 18, 2022 6 tweets 3 min read
This we added late + was SO valuable- having moments where Linda+Aaron wanted Rick+Katie to work it out- made the audience want it more!

Plus anyone with a dysfunctional relationship in a family knows- it affects everyone in the family!

#TheMitchellsVsTheMachinesWatchParty Image It gave the whole movie more emotional reality! Because the emotions of one family member always affect the others!
Jan 20, 2022 12 tweets 5 min read
#TheMitchellsVsTheMachines was a big studio animated film made by 1st timers.

So when we pushed to make our main character queer, some people got VERY nervous.

But a badass LGBTQ+ artist- Lizzie Nichols wrote *this* letter that made me SOB + will stay with me forever.

🧵1/8 Lizzie(@raptorclaws) was the 1st person we talked to when ppl were asking: "Is Katie... gay?"

Me+co-director @Roweyourboatz are not- but loved the idea + didn't know if we *could* or should?

Lizzie said: "YES! Do it! Are you NUTS? This is a HUGE opportunity!"

Her RAD art:
2/8
Apr 16, 2021 27 tweets 27 min read
🤖⚡️🌈#TheMitchellsVsTheMachines🌈⚡️🤖
14 DAYS LEFT!

To celebrate the movies release April 30, ill be posting New Goodies+Behind the Scenes Stuff Everyday!

👇ART SUPERTEAM MEGA-THREAD!👇
Meet the VisDev ALL-STARS who make @MitchellsMovie look great! ImageImageImageImage Lindsey Olivares (@lindseydraws) is an absolute powerhouse genius! It was her style, taste+sensibility that shaped the movie's look!

She put together most of the art team+brought out the best in all those geniuses+ put so much love into this movie i'm STILL IN AWE! ImageImageImageImage