Disney Pixar’s Acclaimed Short Film ‘Bao’ Dominates Disney+

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Once upon a time, Disney and Pixar were highly respected for their dominance in Western animation. Ever since “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” pioneered animation in 1937, the House of Mouse, along with their lamp-loving collaborators, have produced some exceptional original animated films, such as the Toy Story series, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Brave, and other popular titles. However, many viewers tend to disregard the companies’ short animated films, which can be just as impressive, if not more so, than their full-length productions.

It’s great to note that contrary to some assumptions, Disney Pixar’s top animated short from the past decade, “Bao”, which was released in 2018, isn’t playing second fiddle. Instead, it’s rapidly climbing up the Disney+ rankings, outpacing several of their well-known feature films. This surge is likely due to Disney+ being a go-to platform for fans to watch their beloved Disney movies, and sometimes we forget about the delightful short films that were shown before these movies. With an expanding collection of live-action originals and one of the most anticipated anime shows of Winter 2025, it’s evident that Disney+ is thriving.

Disney Pixar’s Bao Is a Streaming Hit

In 2018, Bao was launched, coinciding with the premiere of The Incredibles 2. As eager fans settled in to watch the long-awaited reappearance of their beloved superhero family, they were unexpectedly introduced to an eight-minute short film titled “A Mover’s Love,” which was told through food. Recently, seven years later, Bao has gained renewed attention, as it now ranks 9th among the most popular films on Disney+ this week, surpassing the popularity of Lilo & Stitch, which will be releasing its live-action adaptation later in the year.

Under the guidance of director Domee Shi, the heartwarming short film Bao tells a story about an Asian-Canadian lady grappling with her children leaving home. As she prepares bao dumplings for dinner, one of them miraculously springs to life, offering this mother a surprising opportunity for nurturing once more as she tenderly looks after the now living bao bun.

Beyond just Reddit users, many people believe that the animated short film “Bao” is Disney Pixar’s finest in recent years, a sentiment echoed by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well. In 2019, “Bao” was honored with an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film, outranking “Animal Behaviour,” “Late Afternoon,” “Weekends,” and “One Small Step.” Notably, it remains the only Disney short film to win this award since then.

Disney Pixar’s Phenomenal Library of Animated Short Films

Since 1984, when Pixar premiered “The Adventures of Andre & Wally B.“, they’ve been producing short films. Although this initial venture wasn’t one of their finest, the studio has since evolved into a dominant force in the animation industry, often collaborating with Disney on its short productions. Many of these animated shorts were also distributed alongside Pixar’s full-length features, and some even incorporated characters from these shorts for later movie projects. In essence, they’ve been skillfully integrating their short films into their larger cinematic universe.

2014 marked the release of two films by Pixar: “Lava,” a heartwarming tale about a volcano smitten with an island nearby, and “Inside Out.” In 1997, they released another gem, “Geri’s Game,” featuring a man playing chess against himself, alongside the release of “A Bug’s Life.” The studio is also known for creating short films that are set within the same universe as their well-known film series. For instance, “Carl’s Date” showcases the adventures of Carl, a character from “Up,” as he dips his toes back into the dating pool. Similarly, “Riley’s First Date” introduces us to a potential new beau for the leading character from “Inside Out,” as she takes him home to meet her parents.

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2025-02-18 22:12