You are an animator, a director, a writer AND you voice a character! Do you find it difficult to switch between roles?

No way! It helps breaks up my day! In a way it’s energizing, if I spend the morning writing then go and do a voice it helps me feel refocused. I love the fact that I get to do so many different things.  

Which role do you prefer and why?

I like doing it all, but if I had to pick I’d choose doing the voice stuff, standing in front of a mic. It’s fun.

When you write the character of Dug did you have yourself in mind for the role?

Actually no. I had in mind my dogs at home. I thought of the way that they are so easily distracted by cats and squirrels. I used the voice that I use when I talk to them.

Does Dug have any of your traits?

I get told I look like him! I think we are similar in the way that when we both meet someone new we like them until proven otherwise. Dug asks for nothing, but gives you undying love in return. I’m also very loyal, but not very smart. Just ask my wife!

What inspired the story of Up?

Pete Docter and I wanted to do something different. We had great relationships with our grandparents, but no-one writes stories about old men, so we thought, why not use an old person? The best thing about old people is that they have lived so long that they’ve earned the right to say and do what they want. It means they are great characters and can get away with a lot of things!

And the characters of Carl and Russell?

The look of Carl came from looking at old actor like Spencer Tracey. His character was inspired by Ed Asner, who does the voice for him.

Russell was inspired by Pete Sohn – director of Partly Cloudy. Russell is a kid version of him. They are both very funny and have a lot of energy. We used Pete Sohn’s voice for a while but then we had to change it because he sounded too old.

What’s your favourite bit of Up?

The Carl and Ellie sequence (at the start of the film) which spans from them meeting as kids to growing old. It’s very emotional.

I also like the introduction of Dug (see below).

It’s quite controversial to use such a sad opening

But it’s very true for an old person to have lost someone they have loved. We at Pixar strives to be truthful to our characters. Toy Story is also a sad film; it shows you the life span of a toy – going from being loved to discarded when the kid grows up.

We also needed a good reason for why an old man would tie all these balloons to his house and embark on such a big adventure.

Could a house really be lifted by helium balloons? If so, how many would it take?

Maybe a very small house. We made the house and the balloons same proportion as a hot air balloon, but in reality the number of balloons used could only lift a car. You would need a million more to lift a house. But I believe you can.

Do you have any dogs?

Yes, I have two dogs – Rose a German Shepherd and Ava a King Charles spaniel. I’ve had dogs my whole life, since I was about three.  I bough my first dog from

A cardboard box at the side of the road. She was called Marcella and lived until I was 17.

What would they say to you if they could talk like Dug?

They would ask me why I don’t play more, and where I go every day!

My favourite part of the film is when Dug says “I just met you but I love you” – Will there be any Dug spin off films?

I hope so! It’s not for sure but people love Dug.

Up is out on DVD now!