>>149678366
Is there any behind-the-scenes overlap between that film and Bolt? I know Disney was still new to CG at the time, so it's likely they looked for help wherever they could
>>149678187 (OP)
Because small mammals lend themselves well to the concept by being naturally unassuming. For this character in particular: >rodent = kept as a pet but also has negative connotations >unassuming appearance, cute by nature but not THAT cute. Dark sunken eyes can signal darker personality traits without being immediately obvious. >hamster ball is a thematically appropriate prop that clearly separates the character inside of it from the rest of the cast. Something that is commonly used to signify distance and otherness.