He started out as a modeling and shading coordinator in A Bugs Life (1998). And much like Flik’s journey from a lowly bug to the hero of the ant colony, Mark Nielsen worked his way to the top — eventually leading the charge for Pixar’s latest award-winning creation: Toy Story 4.

We reached out to Nielsen shortly after winning his first Academy Award to get to know him a little better. He shared with us his favorite romantic comedies.