Michael "Mike" Rianda is an American writer, director, and voice actor. Theres are a million movies about fandom right now, and this one really gets to the center of it. Director, Sony Pictures Animation . How do you kind of toe that line between being explicit and saying, Yes, she is a queer character without falling into that trap? I guess Ill play a Breath Of The Wild again.. Rianda and Rowe were the guests of honor at the 2022 Character Animation Producers Show on May 4 at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, addressing students in the audience where they once sat a decade before. The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a 2021 computer-animated science fiction comedy film produced by Sony Pictures Animation.The film was directed by Mike Rianda (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Rianda and Jeff Rowe, with Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Kurt Albrecht serving as producers.The film follows the dysfunctional Mitchell family that winds up having to save Earth . www.michael-schumacher.de. When Katie Mitchell (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of her dreams, her plans to meet "her people" at college are upended . In the end, they come up with a nice synthesis of value our relationship in the past, but move forward in the future and grow together.. The Machines (Netflix / Sony Pictures Animation) - Michael Rianda & Jeff Rowe", "Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations Led By 'Belfast' And 'West Side Story', "BAFTA Awards Nominations Unveiled: 'Dune,' 'Power of the Dog' Lead Field, Will Smith Earns First BAFTA Nod", "BAFTA's Children & Young People Awards 2022 - Winners", Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production, Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in a Feature Production, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Rianda&oldid=1137888762, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Aaron Mitchell / Talking Dog / Furbies / Wi-Fi Enthusiast, Lee, Thompson, Mr. Poolcheck, Additional Voices, Special thanks (episode: "The Hardest Thing"), Jrmy Clapin and Guillaume Laurant (2019), This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 23:18. I like the characters, its funny, and it has beautiful art. He teaches at his alma mater, CalArts, and has previously worked for Pixar Animation Studios, JibJab and Disney Television Animation, where he served as a writer and creative director for the Annie Award-winning TV show, Gravity Falls.. You said you want to make the best animated movie the history of the world. She was like, It should be as proportional to her life as my identity is, or your identity is, or Aarons identity is in the movie, or Rick and Lindas identities are. Because Aaron likes a girl in the movie. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. In discussing this with LGBTQ+ members of their crew, the decision to make Katie open about her queerness was obvious. Look em up! Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. He worked on Gravity Falls for about two and a half years and left around March 2013, though he still continued to consult on the series after his departure. Enterprise. It basically felt like what it feels like to be a teenager, and we were able to sort of like use her drawings to externalize all those really intense feelings she had. What do you like? And like, a policeman is\ watching me talking to this child, and Im like, No, no, hes my nephew., AVC: Were just talking about the internet here!, MR: We found that if you did stuff that was current right now, it would be poison. MR: It was mostly separated. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. The Mitchells vs. The movie is this celebration of humanity, so everything that makes the movie feel more human is a win. Mike was born in Salinas, California in 1984. 7,381 followers. He is known for his work on Gravity Falls as a creative director and writer for season 1, and creative consultant for season 2. Its really nice to see everybodys hard work celebrated like that. Thats awesome. Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson) is an aspiring filmmaker with a dream to go to film school and has a contentious relationship with her father Rick (Danny McBride), who doesnt understand technology and is dismissive of her interests. Today we are thrilled to have director Michael Rianda here to talk about his career in animation, Gravity . The Machines" is produced by Phil Lord & Chris Miller and is unmistakably creatively inspired by their work on " The Lego Movie " and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.". The other children still found him to be a loser, but one that drew and said amusing things, and was thus deemed acceptable. In 2015, after completing his tenure on the Disney Channel animated series Gravity Falls, Rianda was approached by Sony Pictures Animation asking if he was willing to pitch any feature film ideas . For those of you who follow me because of Gravity Falls (all of you) I left the show in March to work on this. Andrew Ross! The director said he put a lot of thought into each character in . A post shared by Michael Rianda (@mikerianda), CalArtians Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe directed and wrote 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' | Image: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation, isten as they talk and reminisce about the highs and lows of making. The Machines," a very personal project inspired by his own delightfully crazy family, and a childhood infatuation with robots. Did you have more time to work on it? Im gonna make a movie soon. Ian Worrel! Cox Communications Strategy, Michael Schumacher. Katie never would have known a time without this stuff, so its perfect that Rick would connect with her over a meme that got turned into like a radio single. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a 21st century Homo sapien in . (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) By Michael . Sony Pictures Animation's Connected is an original animated comedy from director Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie). (My Amazing Co-Writer!) This is Mike Rianda's first film with co-director and co-writer Jeff Rowe. And that love really comes off of the screen in such a vibrant and understandable way. Lord and Miller are responsible for many . bio for Mike Rianda agency, manager, speaker fees, speaking agency entertainment booking agency, speaker's fee, how to book, booking agencies for lectures, speaking event, celebrity appearances for hire, who is agent, manager, publicist, who represents, speakers bureau management who represents Mike Rianda. In terms of directing, I was really thinking of this as a copilot situation. The Machines, a story inspired by his own delightfully crazy family, and his childhood infatuation with robots, coming this year to Netflix. Raymond Xu! One of my friends, [Gravity Falls creator] Alex Hirsch, who consulted on the film, got me this for my birthday. This Netflix sci-fi family comedy, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, follows the Mitchell family, which is based on Riandas own family. Everybody Dies in 90 Seconds. He faced a hard truth when he was 11 years old: he was a loser that wore sweatpants every day. Ive got to edit. Or, Hey, man, can you take the editing or can you take the layout? Rianda was born in Salinas, California in 1984. Thanks for all the Gravity Falls love! (The Amazing Art Team!) If I had done a movie before, I would have been more of a pain in the ass about getting people in the same room. The Machines', "The Mitchells vs. the Machines Connects with Critics", "The Mitchells vs. Thats such a good point about Gravity Falls because Katie has such reverence for the art that she creates. Lets hit it. RIANDA: Thats a great question, and that was something that we kept going back and forth with the crew about. He means well, even if he doesn't know how to adapt to Katie's bond to technology. The movie was written by Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe, and directed by Rianda, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller as producers. You can have Mitchells Vs Time Itself. In every aspect of the movie, from the art style to the characters, we asked ourselves: How can this be as unique and specific as possible? Thats all a sign of affection. Michael "Mike" Rianda is an American cartoonist, director, and writer. I was just an obsessive little kid who was looking to connect with somebody.". AHAHAHAHA!!!! The Machines," a very personal project inspired by his own delightfully crazy family, and a childhood infatuation with robots. AVC: Were you able to record the voices in the same room? Heres a Preview of my next project:Im writing and directing an animated movie in development at Sony Pictures Animation. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. In 2021, he directed and co-wrote, along with Jeff Rowe, The Mitchells vs. the Machines,[6] in which he also voiced Aaron Mitchell. Mike Rianda. Everyone in the crew did such an awesome job, and weve been able to bring people to events, and its been a blast. Patriarch Rick Mitchell, voiced by Danny McBride, and his wife Linda Mitchell (Maya Rudolph) must keep their family safe while saving the world. Sony Pictures Animation produced the film in partnership with Netflix who handled the distribution and they released it on April 30, 2021. . . All rights reserved. We both found it so useful because, for me, it was like training to become a director. She would be like, Holyfield is terrible. Sometimes in films or TV shows, somebody is just a fan by saying, I love this person. Mike Rianda Photos, News and Videos | Just Jared Sony Pictures Animation's Connected is an original animated comedy from director Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The . Search instead in. AVC: As you say, looking for the reality, is what makes it so effective. But the downside of that is everyone is busy, so its really hard to get people in the same room. "Katie is the kind of character I would want [my two . Its hard to laugh when youre afraid, you know? trip with the whole family is the best way to . Or was it mostly separated? He didnt, but it worked out. I was an obsessive little kid and I would call video games stores and be like, Hey, do you want to talk to me about Bangai-O on the Dreamcast? And theyd respond, Kid, youve called, like, four times in one day. And I was like, I dont have any friends! I was just an obsessive little kid who was looking to connect with somebody. A co-founder of DEVO is a perfect fit. And Ill do this other thing. Theres so much stuff you have to do in the movie and having someone that you trust is so valuable. How did the move to April 2021 affect the production? The Machines Proves Sony Animation is Mike Rianda Photos, News and Videos | Just Jared. It all came down to the fact that it was all feeling more human because you could see the paintbrush strokes and you could see the wobbly lines, and thats sort of the same vibe as Katies drawings. So, you know, Im somewhat familiar. If a little kid was reading it, They would walk away by the time they got to the second C.. MR: We wanted the movie to be about now and be contemporary. But Rianda maintains that he is wildly in almost all of the characters. A little Katie (Abbi Jacobson). Michael Rianda is the director of "The Mitchells vs. The Mitchells vs. Probably not a great idea, but hey, were all gonna die some day. Posts Videos Tagged. My dad was like, I dont know, buddy. You know, but lovingly. They just totally accept her for who she is, and they just have conflicts about other stuff like everyone does.. She appeared in the film Person to Person opposite Michael . Amazon.com: The Mitchells vs the Machines [DVD] : Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Kurt Albrecht, Columbia Pictures; Lord Miller; One Cool Films; Sony Pictures Animation: Movies & TV The Machines,' from Sony Pictures Animation, now playing on Netflix. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. AVC: Theres so much like mixed media in the animation style. Its almost impossible to describe, even for me who worked in TV animation. He is also known for directing, co-writing, and co-starring his feature directorial debut "The . o Sony Pictures Animation's "Connected" is an original animated comedy from director Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie). I hope to finish it one day. Youre killing me.. Although Aaron is the only Mitchell that Mike Rianda lends his voice to, he claims to have left a piece of himself in each member of the family (via The A.V. But Aaron was really based on me as a kid. Producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller and director Mike Rianda offered an in-depth look at Sony Pictures Animation 's upcoming feature " Connected " on the first day . My dad looks exactly like Rick. . He faced a hard truth when he was 11 years old: he was a loser that wore sweatpants every day. The movie sort of helped her through her identity issues, which was really meaningful. AVC: Was it disappointing to find out that it was going right to Netflix or did you just want it out already? The Machines", "Annie Awards: 'The Mitchells Vs. The show Ive been working on for the past year and a half, Gravity Falls, is finally out. Like the former, it is loaded with jokes and gags with so many visual flights . Ive spent six years doing this, so it will be my last chapter directing. See exclusive portraits of Kenneth Branagh, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Adrien Brody, Ruth Negga, Simon Rex, and more at the 2021 SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Verified. I think that was another reason why the movie feels cohesive: Its a bunch of first-time filmmakers, and we have Katie Mitchell Energy. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. This is the poster for a movie Im making. Directed by Mike Rianda ("Gravity Falls"), "Connected" tells the story of nature-loving dad Rick Mitchell (Danny McBride) who has to take a road trip with his entire family to bring his daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) to college. Because it was on Netflix like a zillion people watched it, and that was really gratifying. Chances are that you know a Mitchell in your life. Let me be very clear: Michael Rianda's first animated feature film, The Mitchells vs.The Machines, is fantastic, laugh out loud funny, and one of the best things I've seen this year.The movie . But dont take our word for it. MR: Hey, man, I would say, Never say never, and I wont be doing it. Directed by Mike Rianda, co-directed by Jeff Rowe and produced by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), the visually radical family road trip flick arrives on Digital . Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is a talented young queer filmmaker who sees the world through her passion. Directors: Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe Screenwriters: Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe . The Machines (out now on Netflix), the story of a dysfunctional family that comes together to save the world from a robot apocalypse. Theyre both amazing! He is also known for directing, co-writing, and co- He is also known for directing, co-writing, and co-starring his feature directorial debut The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Katies meme-ing the movie as its happening. How 'Mitchell vs. Machines,' 'Belle' and 'Ron's Gone Wrong' Filmmakers Tackled Tech, AI in Their Films. We want to hear from you! As Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe were writing the story for The Mitchells vs the Machines, they realized that all of the people they knew who inspired Katie Mitchell were queer. And I was like, 'I don't have any friends!' The Mitchells vs the Machines is another game-changer from Sony, . The Machines Director Reveals the Film Has a Secret Robot Language", "MICHAEL RIANDA | Sony Pictures Animation", "Mike Rianda On The Six-Year Journey Of The Mitchells Vs. It's an animated film from the mind of Mike Rianda, "The Mitchells Vs. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. It stars the voices of Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric Andre, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Blake Griffin, and Conan O'Brien . Directed by Mike Rianda and produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the Sony team innovated a new hand-drawn aesthetic. The Machines,"a very personal project inspired by his own delightfully crazy family, and a childhood infatuation with robots. How 'The Mitchells vs. The film was directed by Mike Rianda (in his feature directorial debut), co-directed by Jeff Rowe, and written by Rianda and Rowe, with Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Kurt Albrecht serving as producers. Lightboxes. Father: Not Known Mother: Not Known Marital Status: Single Michael Rianda Favorites Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. C'mon! "The Mitchells Vs The Machines" stars Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric Andre, Olivia Colman and Blake Griffin. Amazon.com: The Mitchells vs the Machines [Blu-ray] [DVD] : Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Kurt Albrecht, Columbia Pictures; Lord Miller; One Cool Films; Sony Pictures Animation: Movies & TV It was all my super talented friends. All American Speakers Bureau is a full-service talent booking agency providing information on booking Mike Rianda for speaking engagements, personal appearances and corporate events. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Which unfortunately translates to this continuing to be a ghost town! Please Note: All American Speakers Bureau is a full-service talent booking agency providing information on booking Mike Rianda for speaking engagements, personal appearances and corporate events. VIEWS. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. And to Alex, it was like, Oh, I have somebody who, if I cant do something, they can do it, or we could split up tasks or whatever made sense. Myke Bakich! The Mitchell family (voiced by Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson, Michael Rianda, and Danny McBride) in THE MITCHELLS vs. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and stepdad to their beloved daughter Jessie . He faced a hard truth when he was 11 years old: wearing . ], because I think everybody feels like their family is dysfunctional and everybody feels like, Oh, well, everyone else has it figured out, and were a mess. But I think everybodys a mess. The film was just nominated for a People's Choice Award for Best Family Film and stars the voice talents of Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson . Select from premium Mike Rianda of the highest quality. AVC: I read that some of the jokes were improvised by the actors;how does that work in animation? I love that song. Posts by #TeamMichael. This all makes sense. Sony Pictures Animation's Connected is an original animated comedy from director Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie). This is a puppet show me and my cousin made. Sony Pictures Animation. She was a great background artist in the movie, and we also talked to her a lot about this sort of thing. Reconnected! Oh yes, Im happy about that. Katie Mitchell ( Abbi . Director Michael Rianda tells Insider the 4-year journey it took to get his movie to Netflix. Director Mike Rianda Wrote A Little Of Himself Into Every Character In The Mitchells Vs The Machines. 11 min read. It was important to sort of strike a balance between not hiding it, because that would be the worst, but also sort of making sure that it was clear. Co-directors Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe talk about featuring the first openly LGBTQ+ hero in an animated movie. Then hed write a version. Two malfunctioning robots help the Mitchells as the family tries to save the world. The Mitchells vs. The Alien Invasion or whatever. Also, Im a lot like Katie in that I wanted to go to art school. The filmmakers tasked the four editors with bringing in 25 songs each, then sorted through the 100 songs to choose "Live Your Life." "I teared up on the mix stage hearing the . To try to escape the mockery of his classmates, he began trying to exploit his only two marginal skills: making bad jokes and drawing. This path led him to the California Institute of the Arts where he studied character animation from 2007-2010 and made the short films, Everybody Dies in 90 Seconds and Work. He has since been employed by Pixar Animation Studios and JibJab, taught at CalArts, and worked at Disney Television Animation where he served as a writer and creative director for the Annie Award-winning TV show, Gravity Falls.. The Machines' Went Beyond the Let me be very clear: Michael Rianda's first animated feature film, The Mitchells vs.The Machines, is fantastic, laugh out loud funny, and one of the best things I've seen this year.The movie . So if you leave a meeting, you could be like Was that bullshit? "I was sobbing when I read it," he said. According to THR, the design of Katie's father Rick in The Mitchells vs The Machines was based on director Mike Rianda's real-life dad. "The Mitchells vs. the Machines" is currently streaming on Netflix. Mon, 26 July 2021. Even beyond its frenetic pace and heartfelt story, the oversized heart at the center of "The Mitchells Vs. the Machines" is this family. Michael "Mike" Rianda (born December 25, 1984) is an American writer, director, and voice actor. He made his directorial debut with the 2021 Sony Pictures Animation film The Mitchells vs. the Machines, in which he also voiced Aaron Mitchell, a talking dog, Furbies, and a Wi-Fi enthusiast. How did you make all these parts cohesive? Netflix. A little Linda (Maya Rudolf). Rianda praised one of the movie's animators, Lizzie Nichols, for penning a letter to the executives. Rianda was born in Salinas, California in 1984. Follow. Also super exciting! Salinas, California Area. Youve got to update your Tumblr, my friend. She seems gay. And so, we talked with them and were like, Is that okay? And theyre like, Yes, of course. You know, we got three hours. MR: We did have a little extra time due to the pandemic, but it came with its own challenges. The Mitchells vs. The Machines stars Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Danny McBride, Beck Bennett, Fred Armisen, Eric Andre and Olivia Colman, among others, and was written and directed by Mike Rianda . The Machines Related Fun! I still consult and keep in contact with everyone. All three films address the progress (and perils) of social media and the web. MR: No, I know. Contact an All American Speakers Bureau booking agent for more information on Mike Rianda speaking fees, availability, speech topics and cost to hire for your next live or virtual event. Chances are that you know a Mitchell in your life. of their living room at the Sony Pictures Animation campus in Culver City. Easily the most heartfelt movie about family life that also includes a robot apocalypse and a pug often mistaken for a loaf of bread, "The Mitchells vs. the Machines" is an antic, irreverent animated delight that somehow doesn't sacrifice depth even as it hurtles forward at breakneck comic speed. Filmmaker Mike Rianda is just as effusive, warm, and beaming with contagious enthusiasm as his debut feature, the Oscar-nominated The Mitchells Vs. From left to right, Linda, voiced by Maya Rudolph, Katie, voiced by Abbi Jacobson, Aaron, voiced by Michael Rianda, Monchi, voiced by Doug the Pug, and Rick, voiced by Danny McBride. MR: Its really weird. DEADLINE: A pitfall that some movies do with queer characters is they make that their definitive characteristic, which overshadows everything else. We hope. Ive got a bunch of fun stuff from both these projects! The Machines," a story inspired by his own delightfully crazy family, and his childhood infatuation with robots, coming this year to Netflix. That is one thing were trying to do with the whole movie: have people feel seen. Linda (Maya Rudolph) is the warm-hearted mediator, who you don't want to cross. 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' director/co-writer Mike Rianda and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller take a deep-dive into the making of the brilliant Ne. Writer-director Mike Rianda. The Machines stars the voice talents of Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric Andr and Olivia Colman. Katie Mitchell in "The Mitchells vs. the Machines." Sony Animation/Netflix. Sometimes you do this whole run and you get excited about it, and it doesnt end up in the movie. I mean, the best is obviously I am Alda Aldene And I Hate Puppets. MR: I would like to say that this was our master plan, but I think our intuitions led us here. DEADLINE: Katie Mitchell is the first openly queer character in an all-ages animated feature. Directed by Michael Rianda, and written by Rianda and Jeff Rowe, "The Mitchells vs. Sony was not chicken shit about it, which was wonderful. Basically, you record the voices with the actors. Rianda was born in Salinas, California in 1984. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Actor: The Mitchells vs the Machines. Ensuring that the central family's story arc felt real and thematically engaging was of the utmost importance, as director/co-writer Mike Rianda and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller explained . Fred [Armisen] and Beck [Bennett], especially, we wanted to get in the same room because theyre the dumb robots. Katie and Rick are joined by the rest of the family, including Katie's wildly positive mom Linda (Rudolph), her . Released December 14th, 2021, 'Dog Cop 7: The Final Chapter' stars Abbi Jacobson, Sasheer Zamata, Michael Rianda, Valarie Rae Miller The movie has a runtime of about 8 min, and received a user . Profession: Actor Known For: Princess Of The Magical Tears Net Worth: USD $1 Million approx Family & Relatives. Director Mike Rianda's film, produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, shares much of the DNA of . Thats one of the things that I think is cool about the title. Director Mike Rianda and producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord talk . Sony Pictures Animation's Connected is an original animated comedy from director Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie). AVC: Yeah, everyone thinks theyre the Mitchells and everyone else is the Poseys. Am I being an asshole? And them being like, No, no, no, no, no, that sucks, and we need to fight it or Mike, calm down. We are able to sort of bounce stuff off of each other, and since we trust each other so much, if we both agree, we know its the right move. In "The Mitchells vs. the Machines," Katie's queerness is part of who she is, but it's not the only characteristic that makes her noteworthy. MR: You know, we were going for it. Like Aaron, I need 25 dog wigs before the end of the dayAre you stopping to get coffee? The Machines. Michael Rianda is the writer and director ofSony Pictures Animations upcoming original feature comedy "The Mitchells vs. Create an account. 1386 RS PRO 1:115V ac 230V ac2:24V ac:20VA 504-230 Its so easy for these things to go wrong. Neil Patrick Harris & Family Host an Outdoor Movie Screening at Their Hamptons Home! But, in . For director Mike Rianda, however, this was his family. Howd you arrive at the decision that she was queer? The plot involves the Mitchell family working together to save the world from a robot uprising while on a road trip. In the . We work with Imageworks, and theyre mostly in Vancouver anyway, so we were doing remote check-ins often. We were writing the character, and we realized that all of our references of our friends that we went to art school with, that were like Katie, were all queer, and some of the LGBTQ+ members of the crew were asking, Is Katie gay? After talks with LGBTQ+ members of the crew and Abbi Jacobson, who voices Katie Mitchell, Rianda decided that it was important that her queerness not be a conflict in the story, just a facet of Katie that is accepted and normal, and the problems she should deal with are normal teenage problems. Its no time for coffee! It was so funny because Abbi is also a director and shes been a showrunner, so she had that gear and it was funny to see her tap into it. Riandas innovative animated film contains all the messiness, dysfunction, and humanity of the Mitchell family.