This is every bit as cute as you’d expect, to be honest.
Have you heard about Bao? Pixar’s new short-film about a small dumpling which becomes sentient? If not, you’re in for a treat.
The eight-minute short, which is set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival later this month before being rolled out across screens during the trailers for The Incredibles 2, is the first Pixar short to be directed by a woman, Chinese-Canadian director Domee Shi.
Little is known about the plot of the short apart from this blurb from the Pixar website:
In “Bao,” an aging Chinese mom suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively, giggly dumpling boy. Mom excitedly welcomes this new bundle of joy into her life, but Dumpling starts growing up fast, and Mom must come to the bittersweet revelation that nothing stays cute and small forever. This short film from Pixar Animation Studios and director Domee Shi explores the ups and downs of the parent-child relationship through the colorful, rich, and tasty lens of the Chinese immigrant community in Canada.
Okay, so not exactly the sort of plot that would make you fall on the floor laughing, and the very concept of food coming to life in a world where other food continues to be eaten presents an ethical quandary.
But knowing Pixar’s track record for tugging at the heart strings, this one is likely to be a hit, and induce a couple of tears along the way.
Get a taste of #Bao, our upcoming short opening ahead of #Incredibles2 June 15. pic.twitter.com/Yw17N2pNZX
— Pixar (@Pixar) April 12, 2018
