Animation Maestro Rodrigo Blaas Discusses Visual Storytelling in 'Ratatouille' and 'Star Wars'

Blaas shares insights on his career and collaborations with Guillermo del Toro at Málaga Film Festival talk.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:13am

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Emmy-winning animator, director and producer Rodrigo Blaas wowed attendees at a Málaga Film Festival talk, discussing his impressive career credits including 'Ice Age,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'The Incredibles,' 'Ratatouille' and 'Wall-E.' Blaas also spoke about his work on the acclaimed 'Trollhunters' series with Guillermo del Toro and his recent original 'Star Wars' short film 'Sith' for the 'Star Wars: Visions' series.

Why it matters

Blaas' insights on visual storytelling and his experiences working on beloved animated films and franchises provide valuable perspective from an acclaimed industry veteran. His return to Spain and establishment of El Guiri Studios also highlights the global nature of the animation industry.

The details

Blaas recounted a childhood experience that left a lasting impact, watching films like 'The Princess Bride' and 'Alien' at a summer cinema. After years working at large studios in the U.S., he decided to scale down and establish El Guiri Studios in Madrid, inspired by the 'melting pot of many talents.' Discussing his work on 'Ratatouille,' Blaas explained the challenge of making the simple vegetable stew visually appealing, ultimately finding inspiration in a refined confit byaldi variation. For his 'Star Wars' short 'Sith,' Blaas embraced the opportunity to create original characters and a brave new story within the iconic franchise.

  • Blaas' talk was part of the Málaga Film Festival's Golden Talk series, organized by the newly launched San Diego Comic-Con Málaga event.
  • The first edition of San Diego Comic-Con Málaga is set to take place in September.

The players

Rodrigo Blaas

An Emmy-winning animator, director and producer whose credits include animated hits like 'Ice Age,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'The Incredibles,' 'Ratatouille' and 'Wall-E.'

Guillermo del Toro

A renowned filmmaker who collaborated with Blaas on the acclaimed 'Trollhunters' series.

El Guiri Studios

The animation studio Blaas established in Madrid after returning to Spain, inspired by the 'melting pot of many talents.'

Thomas Keller

A renowned California chef who provided the visual inspiration for the ratatouille dish in the Pixar film 'Ratatouille.'

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What they’re saying

“My cinematic birth was at a summer cinema. … For me, that was my childhood. And of course nobody really checked what kind of films they showed there. I saw the two films that really marked me, 'The Princes Bride' and 'Alien' – and I wasn't totally terrified.”

— Rodrigo Blaas, Animator, Director, and Producer (Variety)

“In the end, it's just about presenting this kind of visual feast, because you can't provide smells or tastes, so you have to do it all through the emotion of that visual avalanche, always touching those emotional nerves. It's part of everything that your story and your emotions carry.”

— Rodrigo Blaas, Animator, Director, and Producer (Variety)

“To make an original 'Star Wars' story – for me that call was tremendous, it was epic. Suddenly I've grown up — I've been a 'Star Wars' fan since I was little. They've had a huge impact on our generation.”

— Rodrigo Blaas, Animator, Director, and Producer (Variety)

What’s next

The first edition of San Diego Comic-Con Málaga is set to take place in September, where Blaas and El Guiri Studios will be involved.

The takeaway

Rodrigo Blaas' insights on visual storytelling and his experiences working on beloved animated franchises like 'Ratatouille' and 'Star Wars' provide valuable perspective from an acclaimed industry veteran. His return to Spain and establishment of El Guiri Studios also highlights the global nature of the animation industry.