Jun 19, 2026 11:00pm IST
“The Indian Animation Industry Is Growing And People Are Becoming Very Aware.”: Ravindra Dwivedi, Effects Technical Director of ‘Toy Story 5’
The beloved “Toy Story” franchise has been capturing the hearts of audiences for over three decades. This week, the magic returns to the big screen with “Toy Story 5”. The latest installment tackles a highly contemporary conflict: the traditional world of toys meeting the relentless rise of modern technology. Behind the stunning visuals making this confrontation come to life is Ravindra Dwivedi, the film's Effects Technical Director. Boasting an impressive portfolio with past hits like ‘Elemental’, ‘Lightyear’, and ‘Nimona’, Dwivedi sat down to discuss his journey, the secret to the franchise's longevity, and what it means to see growing Indian representation in global cinema.
The Spark: Where Art Meets Engineering
For Dwivedi, a career in high-end animation wasn’t an obvious first step, but rather the intersection of two distinct passions. After graduating with a degree in computer engineering, he found himself at a crossroads while looking into higher education.
"I love drawing and painting as a kid. So there was this aesthetic side that I always wanted to lean more into," Dwivedi recalls. "But I also loved the other aspect, like computer programming, physics, and maths."
The definitive turning point came when he watched a Pixar masterpiece. "During that time, actually “Ratatouille” came out. I saw that movie and I was really blown away. I decided this is the field that I want to [be in]. It seemed like a perfect balance of both art and technology."
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Evolving Favorites and the Power of Heart
When pushed to name a favorite character from the “Toy Story” lore, Dwivedi admits his answers have shifted over time. "It has evolved over the years," he says. "For the initial one, obviously Woody, I loved his character. And then it evolved now into like loving Jessie more as a character has evolved more and more. There are other fun characters, like Forky on the side that I really enjoy. But if you say favorite, then at the moment, I think Jessie is my favorite."
That ability of characters to grow and shift is precisely why Dwivedi believes the franchise has stood the test of time since the first movie debuted 30 years ago.
"One of the things about Pixar is the stories we make are really driven by a very strong character and a very strong story. We only make movies when we really feel like there's a story. With ‘Toy Story’, following all the sequels, there's always been a very core heart to the story."
He emphasizes that this emotional core is universal. "No matter where you are in the world, you can connect to it. It really follows all the lineage really well—it builds upon the previous, and they all even stand by themselves. All of them hit you really hard emotion-wise. There's a lot of authenticity, there's a lot of research, and I think that's why it connects so well."
Mirroring Reality: An Aging Woody
That commitment to authenticity meant tackling a bold creative choice for “Toy Story 5”: showing the physical passage of time on the toys themselves, including a noticeably aging, slightly balding Woody.
"It's always going back to the authenticity, right? Everything has to make sense," Dwivedi explains. "It has been 30 years. If you show Woody as he was in the first or the second movie, the audience would start thinking, 'Wait a minute, but it has been so long.' You really see it building upon the story and you really see the characters growing. But you're also always looking for the fun things to play with for the entertainment aspect."
A Proud Moment for Indian Representation
Dwivedi’s name in the credits of ‘Toy Story 5’ points to a massive, welcoming shift in Hollywood: the undeniable rise of Indian talent in animation and technical fields. Looking back, he notes how much the landscape has changed since he first applied to schools.
"I remember when I started, you used to see less and less names compared to now," he says. "When I was looking for cities and colleges to go to, I couldn't find people who knew really about them. I had to do my own research."
Seeing an influx of Indian names on the big screen now brings an immense sense of pride.
"It's a great thing. You feel really proud. It really means that the Indian animation industry is growing and people are becoming very aware. Now it feels like it's already out there, people know about it. Animation is such an incredible storytelling medium, so I really hope it continues to grow."
What to Expect from Toy Story 5
As the film rolls into theaters this week, Dwivedi hopes audiences can connect with its highly relatable premise, whether they are looking at it from a technical perspective or just looking for a fun escape.
"It's definitely very relevant to the current times. It's like toys meets tech," he says. "If somebody is looking through the lens of getting into animation, I hope they see the advancements and a lot of the beautiful imagery that's out there. For the audiences, I hope people see the balance—tech has invaded everybody's home. I hope people go watch and see if they can learn anything from it, or just be entertained and have fun!"
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