Thursday, April 16, 2026
7:30 PM
The Chamber I MSC 4200 I 4th Floor University of South 返字心頭
The Department of Religious Studies at the University of South 返字心頭 welcomes illustrator, animator, writer, and director Sanjay Patel for a conversation on storytelling, mythology, and visual culture. Sanjay Patel is an animator and illustrator who worked at Pixar for 20 years, contributing to many of their most beloved films. In 2015, he wrote and directed the short film Sanjays Super Team, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Film. In 2018, he launched Ghee Happy Studio and began producing the Netflix animated preschool series Ghee Happy, which won Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children at the 51st Annie Awards. He is also the author of Ramayana: Divine Loophole, The Little Book of Hindu Deities, Ganeshas Sweet Tooth, and many other books for children and adults.
Drawing from his 20-year career at Pixar, Patel will discuss his creative journey and the development of his recent work, Mahabharata: Designs of Dharma. Adapted and illustrated with both humor and heart for a contemporary audience, this stunning visual retelling of the Indian epic the Mahabharata features more than 400 pages of illustrated text in Academy Award-nominated animator Sanjay Patels iconic style. Ten times the length of the Iliad and the Odyssey combined, the Mahabharata is astonishingly vast in both scope and size, a library of ancient Indian culture and knowledge. In this thrilling modern adaptation, Patel has condensed over 200,000 lines of the original Sanskrit verse into a single volume that is easy to understand for those new to the story. Patels engaging artwork imparts multiple layers of meaning in a groundbreaking visual presentation that allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the Mahabharata and all its wonders.
This talk will explore how ancient epics can be reinterpreted through contemporary illustration and animation, and how themes from the Mahabharatasuch as dharma, identity, and inner conflictcontinue to resonate in modern storytelling. Patel will also share insights into his creative process and the role of mythology in shaping his artistic voice.
For reasonable accommodations or questions, please reach out to Kya Lockler.