"I had often tried to imagine how my parents would get along with me if I could live with them," she recalls. "My grandparents have passed away. If I could (possess magic), I wish I could have one more dinner together with my grandparents."

Tang, who was also involved in the production of Pixar's Monsters University and Coco, reveals her main job is polishing props and items in the films according to their particular textures and characteristics, enabling them to convey hidden messages pertinent to the stories.

Speaking about the most valuable lessons she has learned at Pixar, she attributes it to "the understanding of failure".

"Most people probably think Pixar clearly knows how to start a new project, as the studio is stable and successful, consistently producing quality work. But the fact is that we struggle to get through every film, and every time we have to overcome new technical difficulties," she says.

Speaking about her impression of Tang and Pixar's other Chinese staff members, producer Kori Rae says they have done a remarkable job to help bring the whole fantasy world to life.

Unlike most fantasy stories which are set in ancient times, Onward takes place in a modern world populated with mythical creatures, such as elves, sprites, satyrs, gnomes and trolls.

Despite the fact that mythology, folklore and fairy tales were used as a base to design the characters, director Scanlon reveals the Pixar animators have tried to make all the characters look real and warm by giving them human features and expressions.

"It's part of the fun of animation. You'll see the creatures like you've never seen before," says the director.