Short and Fun-Sized: Disney and Pixar's Upcoming Shorts

by Daniela

Over the last few years I've started to pay attention to animated short films. It's probably the perfect thing for a lazy person like me who can't seem to sit through a whole movie at home. For some reason a 90 minute movie can weirdly become a 3 hour chore.

For any Disney and/or Pixar fan you'll know that their shorts premiere before their feature films. Get a Horse played before Frozen, Paperman before Wreck-it Ralph, The Blue Umbrella before Monsters University etc. It's no different when it comes to Pixar's Lava (2015) and Walt Disney Animation's Feast (2014). Disney and Pixar shorts are known for their memorable characters and beautiful scores. I sometimes wonder how in the world they made me care so much for an umbrella of all things! Don't even get me started on how much I love the music in Paperman! Although these Feast and Lava are still relatively unknown and some time away, slowly and surely Disney and Pixar have been releasing little glimpses to tease us for what's to come.

Winston, the Boston Terrier with an appetite.

Feast (2014)

Premiering this year in front of Big Hero 6, Feast tells the story of man and his best friend. Winston is  Boston Terrier who is on the hunt for food and an emotional connection with his owner. James  and Winston begin their relationship when James offers the pup a french fry and the audience is shown their story over a series of meals the pup and owner have shared. Suddenly James starts being involved with a woman and these two bachelors go through lifestyle changes in their diets. Long gone are the french fries and in come the Brussels sprouts. Winston feels as if his relationship with James is deteriorating and has to make a sacrifice in order to save the connection they once had.

While we haven't had any clips of the short we have been treated to some (what I believe to be) stills! Winston is adorable and just by looking at his little face you can tell the audience is just going to eat him up! Uh, wait.. unintentional pun. I've heard that Feats also utilizes the technology that was created for Paperman by making a hybrid of 2D and 3D. I personally thought the art direction and animation of Paperman was so beautiful and fluid that I'm glad that Feast isn't taking the traditional 3D/ CGI route. 

It all started with a french fry.

There have already been rave reviews from its screening at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival which is big step in the right direction. Pet lovers will have something to root for. I think it's refreshing to look at a "love story" from a different perspective. It doesn't always have to be romantic. After all, they do say that the best way to a man's (or puppy's) is through his stomach.

Lava (2015)

Although it may be little bit of a while away, Pixar wants to let everyone know that they aren't gone. Lava will be shown in front Inside Out in 2015. Pixar has been noticeably absent from the game in 2014 after some shuffling in their schedule. After a string of just.. good movies, they're hoping to return bigger, badder and better than ever. Lava is centered around the love between two volcanoes, Uku and Lele. Yes, their ship name should be Ukulele. It's a love story that courses over millions of years that was inspired by the beauty of ocean volcanoes on tropical islands. 

Uku wants to give you a hug!

I initially had no clue that Uku was supposed to sing so imagine my surprise when he opens his mouths and treats us to his voice like butter. He sings about someone to "lava" over a soft ukulele tune. I've been learning how to play the ukulele for the past two weeks and I can't wait to start playing this! The animation is gorgeous and the stunning landscapes toe on the line of realistic. Uku's face moves so well with the lyrics and is so expressive. Yes, volcanoes have feelings. The puffs of smoke and the clouds are just so beautifully animated. Their fluffiness never fails to amaze me. The time-lapse at the end of the clip moved well and set the tone of Uku being alone. The world moves around him but he stays as an unmoving volcano.

Please send him someone to "lava"

We didn't get to Lele but of course, Pixar isn't going to be playing all their cards with the short so far away. Pixar tends to stray from love stories and they certainly don't do musicals. So, Lava is something different, like The Blue Umbrella, that Pixar can have their hand in. I find that shorts have stunning animation so judging from how I raved about the clouds I'm sure this won't disappoint. I'm absolutely looking forward to more sweet Hawaiian-style ukulele tunes. I actually don't even know if Lele is supposed to sing as well. On a sidenote, is it weird that I started singing "ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough to keep me from you," in my head? Yes? Okay.