Podcast Summary
A love story between a scientist and a filmmaker: Interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists and filmmakers can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and captivating storytelling.
The BBC provides valuable information and inspiration through storytelling, allowing us to expand our perspectives and think deeply about various topics. This was exemplified in the love story of Elizabeth Riga and Stuart Samita, who met over a cadaver at the University of Chicago and went on to work on over 70 films together, grounding movies in science and helping animators understand the anatomy and movements of real and imaginary creatures. This collaboration between scientists and filmmakers highlights the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge and the power of storytelling to ignite our curiosity and imagination. The BBC, with its commitment to delivering high-quality stories, plays a crucial role in fostering our intellectual growth and broadening our horizons.
Creating believable mythical creatures and worlds through biomechanics and physics: Mythical creatures and worlds can be grounded in reality through the use of known structures and biological terminology, creating a sense of familiarity and believability for audiences.
Even the most fantastical creatures and worlds can be broken down to basic structures and biomechanics. Mythical creatures like dragons have wings that can be modeled after known animals, such as pterosaurs or bats. In the case of Strange World, an animated movie, the creators have imagined a subterranean labyrinth filled with strange beasts. These creatures range from manta ray-like beings that swim in the sky to giant rolling blobs with tentacle-filled mouths. The creators have used biological terminology, such as "clade," as an Easter egg. Despite the fantastical nature of these creatures and worlds, creators aim to make the audience feel comfortable with their existence within the laws of physics. The new endeavor of the creators is to dream up an entirely new animated world, filled with diverse and branching forms, and lots of pinks, yellows, and blues. However, a major spoiler of the movie lies in its science, making it impossible to discuss further without giving away the plot.
Anatomical Adventure in Disney's Strange World: Discover the scientifically-inspired journey through the human body in Disney's Strange World, explained by scientists Stuart Samita and Elizabeth Riga on NPR's Shortwave podcast. Apple Card and Integrative Therapeutics sponsor this educational episode.
Disney's new film, Strange World, transports viewers into the fantastical world inside the body of a giant turtle. Our explorers, who begin their journey in the lungs, travel through the stomach and liver, encountering biologically-inspired landscapes. Each location, from the windy lungs to the acidic stomach, is based on real-world cellular and tissue structures. Scientists Stuart Samita and Elizabeth Riga guide us through this anatomical adventure on NPR's Shortwave podcast. By shrinking us down to the size of immune cells, they help us understand the science behind this biologically delirious film. Apple Card sponsors this episode, offering daily cash rewards on various purchases. Integrative Therapeutics also supports the podcast, providing clinician-curated supplements now available on Amazon.
Combining Ideas from Various Organisms for Unique Creatures and Landscapes: The movie's creators drew inspiration from various organisms, such as marine ecosystems, insects, and vertebrates, to generate unique landscapes and creatures, resulting in a visually stunning and imaginative world.
The creation of the landscapes and creatures in the movie involved a fusion of ideas from various organisms, particularly marine ecosystems, insects, and vertebrates. For instance, the entrance and respiratory system were inspired by both turtles and insects, with the former's alveoli being likened to expanding and contracting trees, and the latter's trachea being represented as holes leading into caves. This hybrid approach resulted in unique and intriguing designs for both the environment and the creatures. The creature creation process was particularly noteworthy, with Splat, the adorable sidekick character, being a standout. Modeled after a macrophage, Splat deviated from the spherical shape of a real macrophage and instead took on a more distinct and characterful form. This creative liberty allowed for the imagination of microscopic organisms as larger-than-life creatures, bringing a fresh perspective to the world of science and biology.
Exploring the character Splat's mobility and expressiveness, compared to a macrophage: The film showcases the wondrous and strange aspects of the natural world, highlighting the capabilities of cells and the importance of representation in media, with a multiracial family and inclusive portrayal of same-sex relationships.
The fascinating exploration of the character Splat, which was compared to a macrophage, a type of white blood cell known for its ability to move through blood vessels and engulf invaders. This cell's mobility and expressiveness were described as viscous, blobby, and charming, with the ability to squeeze through tight spaces. The film's representation of a multiracial family and its matter-of-fact portrayal of same-sex relationships were also highlighted as powerful and inclusive elements, adding depth to the story without making it the focus. Overall, the discussion emphasized the wondrous and strange aspects of the natural world, showcasing the capabilities of cells and the importance of representation in media.
Normalization of queer relationships in 'Strange World': The animated film 'Strange World' portrays a world where sexual orientation isn't a source of conflict or judgment, and emphasizes the importance of caring for the planet.
Learning from our discussion about the animated film "Strange World" is the normalization of queer relationships within the story. Ethan's coming out to his grandpa was portrayed as a casual conversation, without any fuss or drama, reflecting a world where sexual orientation is not a source of conflict or judgment. Additionally, the film emphasizes the importance of taking care of the planet and highlights the need to focus on significant issues rather than trivial matters. As Elizabeth Stewart, the film's co-writer, pointed out, it's imaginative to think about a world where family conflicts don't stem from sexuality. Overall, "Strange World" offers a touching and magical representation of acceptance and prioritizing what truly matters. For those interested in learning more about the science behind the film, Disney has released a short video featuring interviews with Elizabeth Stewart and the animators. There's also a fun faux documentary about the film's various creatures. Our episode was produced by Margaret Cirino, edited by Gabriel Spitzer, fact-checked by Anil Oza, and engineered by Josh Newell. Our supervising producer was Rebecca Ramirez, and Brendan Crump served as our podcast coordinator. Our senior director of programming was Beth Donovan.
Acknowledging Anya Grundevan's Role at NPR: NPR recognizes Anya Grundevan as Senior Vice President of Programming, highlighting the diverse leadership team driving the organization's success and innovation.
During the podcast, it was announced that Anya Grundevan holds the position of Senior Vice President of Programming at NPR. I'm Aaron Scott, your host for Shortwave from NPR. A special thanks to Easycater for their support, enabling companies of all sizes to effortlessly organize food for their meetings and events through online ordering and 24/7 live support. To learn more, visit easycater.com. This podcast episode didn't focus on specific programming or initiatives from NPR, but rather acknowledged Anya's role within the organization. This is an important reminder of the diverse leadership team behind the scenes, ensuring the continued success and innovation of NPR's programming.
