norman josephCreative minds from the bustling streets of Mumbai blaze an inspiring path from the heartland of Bollywood to the glamorous world of Hollywood. In a candid chat with ETimes, he looks back on his early days in the industry, culminating in his promotion to chief technical director on newly released animated films.moana 2‘. Revealing how his passion for creativity was sparked during college, he has always had an interest in film since childhood and grew up on the Indian film scene as a child actor.
Norman Joseph talks his journey from Mumbai to Hollywood and the magic of animated storytelling in the evolution of Moana 2
Talking about his roots in Indian television, Norman said, “I started with PT Sagar. dorda mountain. This is a great opportunity…”
He admits that “acting will always be my first love” and opens up about choosing a career behind the camera. After working as a software engineer for four years, he decided to quit his job and pursue a degree in computer graphics. This decision paved the way for him to enter the Hollywood animation industry. “It’s been an incredible journey and I feel so lucky for the opportunities I’ve been given. Animation is a collaborative medium – communities come together to create something beautiful and impactful,” he added.
As Chief Technical Director, Joseph played a vital role in shaping the world of Moana and its sequel, Moana 2. For the sequel, he worked with the lighting department to enhance workflow and technology. An Indian talent, Joseph has been making his mark on global animated blockbusters over the past decade since his debut in 2014’s Super Heroes 6.
While Norman Joseph has had an impressive career behind the scenes, it is not uncommon for Indian talents like him to be overlooked while working off-camera, even if their contributions are significant. Public recognition is often actor-centred, e.g. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopraand Deepika Padukonethey are hailed as pioneers in Hollywood.
Joseph graciously acknowledged the recognition, saying, “I really believe in making an impact,” and taking the dynamic in stride, he added, “If an artist from India can make an impact on American content or movies , that would be great.
See “Moana 2” Ollie Cravalho, Dwayne JohnsonTemuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House and Alan Tudyk reprise their roles from the first film, with Khaleesi Lambert Zinda, Rose Matafio , David Fein, Hualaleh Chung, Avimi Fraser and Gerald Ramsay also join the cast. The film releases in India today (November 29).
