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This is the first sequel Disney Animation has done in 18 years. Why was Ralph and Vanellope’s story ripe for a follow-up?

We set the first movie in an arcade with these old arcade games and I think a valid question that everyone was asking after that movie was, “This is interesting, and it’s a good movie and all, but games aren’t really played in arcades anymore. They’re really played online.” So I thought it was good to answer that question and see what happens when Ralph and Vanellope leave the arcade. Because they’re digital characters, they have the luxury of being able to travel pretty much anywhere and that’s an irresistible prospect.

Was there a worry about doing a sequel to something that was so successful?

Not to me. … This was a movie that was a unique thing when it was created, so it seemed like it had a little more legs in it. I think there was plenty of good reasons to make another one.

Talk to me about the chemistry you have with Sarah Silverman. You guys were actually together recording your lines.

That was very important to me right from the beginning. I wanted us to record together. Most animated films don’t have that luxury or make that a priority. A lot of animated movies, the actors might be in a scene together, but they’ve never actually met, which is a strange thing to me. Actors are very creative, interesting people. If you get them in a room together, great things happen. So I made it a priority from the very first movie that we do that. I think that’s one of the reasons the emotional stuff resonates. We were there together. When I tell her character, “I’m going to miss you,” I’m looking right into Sarah’s eyes as I say that. And I think that comes across.