Pixar has taken a bold step into the realm of 2D animation with the introduction of Bloofy and Pouchy in “Inside Out 2,” set to hit theaters on June 14. These characters, a beagle and his fanny pack sidekick, are the stars of Riley’s beloved preschool show, “Bloofy’s House.” This show is a playful nod to classics like “Blue’s Clues,” “Dora the Explorer,” and “Mickey Mouse Playhouse,” which Riley still enjoys as a teenager.
In “Inside Out 2,” Bloofy and Pouchy find themselves trapped in Riley’s Vault of Secrets. Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler, and her emotional companions are exiled there after refusing to relinquish control of Headquarters to Anxiety, played by Maya Hawke. In a humorous twist, Bloofy and Pouchy orchestrate an escape using dynamite cleverly hidden by Pouchy.
The decision to animate Bloofy and Pouchy in 2D was influenced by Pixar’s recent ventures into hand-drawn animation. Director Kelsey Mann explained that they initially struggled with how to bring these characters to life. They knew the characters would be from a preschool show that Riley watched, and such shows often have different animation styles, including 3D and 2D. Given the limited budget of “Bloofy’s House,” they decided to go with 2D animation, which was a departure from Pixar’s usual high-quality 3D animation.
Mann highlighted that Pixar had a team of talented 2D animators who had developed a robust pipeline for 2D animation while working on “Win or Lose,” Pixar’s first long-form series set to debut on Disney+ this year. This experience proved invaluable in creating the look of Bloofy and Pouchy and integrating them into the 3D world of “Inside Out 2.”
Rob Thompson, a lead draw-over artist with nearly two decades of experience at Pixar, was part of a seven-artist 2D unit tasked with bringing Bloofy and Pouchy to life. The challenge of capturing the simplicity of these characters was made easier by the team’s experience on “Win or Lose.” Thompson explained that they used TVPaint, a 2D animation program, to create the characters and then projected them onto 3D cards to make them move seamlessly with the camera.
The team drew inspiration from shows like “Blue’s Clues” and “Dora the Explorer” to achieve the modest animation style required for Bloofy and Pouchy. Thompson noted that Pixar’s usual high-quality animation doesn’t come quickly or easily, so they had to adjust their approach to make the characters look less refined, which was a philosophical shift for the team.
In terms of performance, the focus was on capturing Bloofy’s silly sense of optimism and his interactions with a non-existent child audience. Thompson mentioned that “Dexter’s Laboratory” was a good reference point for Bloofy’s character. Bloofy is very happy and one-dimensional, but when he’s stumped or concerned, the change is abrupt. This approach involved skipping the in-between thought processes of emotion and going for broad poses and acting beats, reminiscent of old-school Mickey Mouse animations.
For Pouchy, the biggest challenge was simplifying his teeth, which were initially too large and chompy. The team also pushed his googly eyes to enhance his design. The dynamite explosion orchestrated by Pouchy was another highlight, with the effects department using CG with a shader to make it look 2D.
Thompson expressed excitement about animating the explosion but acknowledged that the team had enough on their plate. The effects department took over, and the result fit perfectly with the overall aesthetic.
Bloofy, a minor character in “Inside Out 2,” is a 2D character from “Bloofy’s House,” Riley’s favorite childhood TV show. He is a small, anthropomorphic, freckled, buck-toothed, teal-eyed purple dog with a dark spot around his right eye. Bloofy wears a blue baseball cap, matching shoes, and a sentient yellow fanny pack.
Bloofy’s name is reminiscent of other well-known animated dogs like Goofy, Bluey, and Blue from “Blue’s Clues.” He is the first traditionally hand-drawn character in a CG animated film by Pixar. Bloofy breaks the fourth wall by asking questions to a non-existent child audience, similar to characters from other children’s TV shows like “Blue’s Clues,” “Dora the Explorer,” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”
The design of Bloofy and Pouchy draws inspiration from classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Goofy. “Bloofy’s House” is a playful parody of shows like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.”
Pixar’s foray into 2D animation with Bloofy and Pouchy in “Inside Out 2” showcases the studio’s willingness to explore new creative avenues while paying homage to beloved children’s TV shows. The integration of 2D characters into a 3D world adds a unique and nostalgic touch to the film, making it a must-watch for fans of both traditional and modern animation.
