The Twits stars Margo Martindale and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan spoke with ComingSoon’s Tyler Treese about the new animated Netflix movie. The duo discussed their characters, working on a Road Dahl adaptation, and the film’s nuanced message of empathy. It will begin streaming on Friday, October 17.

“Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, Phil Johnston, reimagines Roald Dahl’s iconic characters, Jim and Credenza Twit, in their first feature animated adventure. The Twits tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the meanest, smelliest, nastiest people in the world who also happen to own and operate the most disgusting, most dangerous, most idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia. But when the Twits rise to power in their town, two brave children and a family of magical Muggle-Wumps, are forced to become as tricky as the Twits in order to save the city. A hysterically funny, wild ride of a film (chock-full of the Twits’ beloved tricks – from the Wormy Spaghetti to the Dreaded Shrinks), The Twits is also a story for our times, about the never-ending battle between cruelty and empathy,” says the synopsis.

Tyler Treese: Margo, I wanted to ask you about playing such a cartoonish villain in The Twits because you really get to go all out in a way that you certainly can’t always do in live action. So, how fun was it just getting to lose all restraint here?

Margo Martindale: It was a gift. It was a joy. It was a delight to be able to go over the top, then over the top, over the top, and over the top. It was just a never-ending joy.

Maitreyi, Beesha and Bubsy are really the heart of this film’s narrative. What registered with you the most about Beesha’s story arc? I thought how it handled empathy was very relevant, and it was in a very nuanced way in this film.

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan: I think there’s so many things around her character that are just great. I think she’s obviously literally a child, but she’s a child that’s being forced to grow up a little too fast. She doesn’t know how to ask for help. She thinks she can just handle it all on her own.

That, I think, is something that a lot of people can relate to. But the thing that I love truly, truly the most is that at one point, she kind of becomes just as horrible as the Twits. And that is obviously soul-crushing to see as the audience, but it’s so real. It’s so easy to just stop giving empathy and lose sight of who you are.

I think that character arc where she realizes, “I don’t wanna be a Twit. I don’t wanna be mean, I wanna like, you know, stay good.” I think that’s a really awesome message that Phil just expertly woven into the film’s narrative.

Margo, there’s such a wonderful history of Roald Dahl adaptations in film. What does that mean for you to be a part of that and add to it with The Twits?

Martindale: An honor, a joy. I had not read The Twits. I read it. I immediately laughed out loud, and this is just that much more. It really is. I’m very happy to be part of this.

Maitreyi, you were also in Turning Red, which I loved, and you do My Little Pony. Animation has such a special place in the hearts of families and kids. What’s been most rewarding about creating these pieces of art that kids just rewatch over and over again, and become such a pivotal part of their upbringing?

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan: I’m a big fan of animation. It’s one of my most favorite genres. I think the most rewarding thing is that with animation, I think they do the best at delivering such deep and emotional stories in such accessible ways. That is animation through and through. Some of the best animated films have delivered some of the most poignant messages, and it’s poignant because it’s able to deliver to all ages, right?

All the best animated films truly are so much deeper than what it seems. I think I like that approach to storytelling. So getting to be a small little part of a puzzle that is in the creation of over three-plus years… an animated film takes multiple years, like three is short, I think that’s like such a beautiful thing.

Margo, there are some musical numbers here. How was that experience of singing in character? I could not do that, so I’m always impressed by how well actors do.

Margo Martindale: It was something I loved. So it really was great. I worked hard on it. Because it was all new music and all harmonies. So yeah, it’s a part of me that I love to do. I wish I even had a better voice, but it’s good enough right now [laughs]. It’s good enough.

Thanks to Margo Martindale and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan for taking the time to talk about The Twits.

The post Margo Martindale & Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Talk The Twits Movie’s Empathy & Songs | Interview appeared first on ComingSoon.net – Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.