Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1512296
WINTER 2023 41 D E PA R T M E N T this page (top): Concept art for Leo explored ways to make him appealing and capture his age; (bot tom) Leo's eyes were used to convey his softer, sweeter side; previous page (from top): Leo singing to Mia; Leo and Squirtle in their terrarium. "Hopefully you feel the warmth and the contrast between when he's hanging out with the kids … compared to where he was in the beginning of the film." —JASON FIGLIOZZI, ANIMATION DIRECTOR, LEO When Leo and Squirtle are alone in their terrarium, they are curmudgeons, and Figliozzi says that there's a nice contrast between Leo as a scowling grump and the arc of his personality getting warmer as he starts to enjoy helping the kids. "There's a sweetness to him," says Figliozzi, that's conveyed by subtle smiles and happy eyes. "Hopefully you feel the warmth and the contrast between when he's hanging out with the kids … compared to where he was in the beginning of the film." One of Figliozzi's favorite sequences is where Leo is singing Mia to sleep and put her at ease. Even though Leo genuinely thinks the words of the song are helpful, in fact they aren't very nice, and he's unintentionally giving bad advice. "I think that's one of the funniest, but also warmest scenes, of the movie. It's just a really funny mash- up of sincerity with harshness," Figliozzi says, noting how tricky it was to find that balance. Instead of having Mia respond in a big way to the song, she listens quietly and conveys her emotion in her eyes. "There's a moment of her looking taken aback and a really subtle eyebrow raise and an eye flare right when Leo starts singing, which I think hits really well," says Figliozzi. This is in contrast with Leo, who's very performative and who's smiling, not realizing the lyrics are actually dismissive of Mia's emotions. Layering all these nuances was challenging, and they worried that it could come across as mean. But at a screening, when the audience laughed at the first line of the song, it hit home that people connected with it. Figliozzi also gives much credit to Adam Sandler's performance which he says combined with the filmmakers' artistry to make Leo "animation gold."