Pixar Spark Shorts

[Sotiris]

Posters for the three remaining shorts premiering on Disney Plus.


Source: https://www.pixar.com/sparkshorts#float1


Source: https://www.pixar.com/sparkshorts#loop1


Source: https://www.pixar.com/sparkshorts#wind1

[Rumpelstiltskin]

I hope we will see a Pixar short with actual dialogue for a change.

Your wish has been granted! Yes, it was refreshing watching a Pixar short with actual dialogue. I don't know if it was because of that or not, but it didn't feel like a Pixar short at all. I liked that because it shows they really let the filmmakers have more creative freedom in this new shorts program. I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of the shorts.

It is a step in the right direction. If someone made a short that what plot is concerned could be shown to an audience from the 40s and 50s without anyone noticing anything out of the ordinary, then the shorts division would really start to move away from its own traditions. Someone at Netflix, I think it was Ted Sarandos, was once asked what the typical Netflix movie was, and he replied that there are no typical Netflix movies. Melissa Cobb who runs the kids and family entertainment division there has adopted the same approach.
Since Pixar's main purpose with the shorts is to experiment and try new ideas rather than holding on to a basic formula, and their entire collection of original shorts combined is no more than what a studio like Disney would release in a single good year in the old days, there is no need to continue with the Lasseter inspired shorts. At least not exclusively. And it seems they are partly moving away from it now, one step at the time.

[D82]

^Regarding the last thing you said, I wonder if this new experimental short programs from Pixar and WDAS are replacing the pre-existing short programs, or if both will co-exist. They haven't announced any new theatrical shorts to be released in front of Toy Story 4 and Frozen II yet, have they? It's a bit early to announce it for Frozen II, but if there's a Pixar short preceding Toy Story 4 in theaters, it should be revealed soon.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

I haven't heard any announcements for new shorts yet. Unless it hasn't changed lately, shorts originally had two main purposes; to test out new software and technology, and to try and find new talents in the form of ideas, directing and so on (in addition to giving them some experience). Even the shorts used to cost money, especially the original ones. But as computer power becomes cheaper and more available, perhaps they have reached a point where a short made with already existing software has become cheap enough to allow more experimentation. While the more costly shorts projects will be handed over to just a selected few.
But that's just guessing and speculation. We can't say for sure until someone on the inside share some info about the subject.

[Sotiris]

Purl won the top prize at Siggraph this year making it the frontrunner for Best Animated Short at the Oscars.

Pixar's 'Purl,' Inspired by Being a Woman in Animation, Brings Contemporary Message to Siggraph
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behin ... ph-1227444

[D82]

Wow, I didn't expect it would win. Well, the truth is that it tackles an important and timely issue; that must have helped. This short and A Kite’s Tale were the only shorts Disney brought to Siggraph this year, right? I guess these are the ones they think have more chances of winning awards.

[blackcauldron85]

New trailer:
Pixar SparkShorts – Official Trailer | Disney+ | …: https://youtu.be/JG7Xgy1akzI

[Sotiris]

‘Purl’ Director Kristen Lester On Tide Change In Animation Inclusivity
https://deadline.com/2019/11/purl-direc ... 202779200/

Pixar SparkShort “Loop” Promotes Autism Acceptance, Celebrates Difference and Helps Inspire Change
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar- ... re-change/

Bobby Rubio, Director of Pixar’s Float, Talks Autism Acceptance Month and the Importance of AAPI Storytelling
https://d23.com/bobby-rubio-director-of ... rytelling/

[D82]

‘Float’ Director Bobby Rubio on Unconscious Bias and Pixar’s First Filipino American Character
https://variety.com/2019/artisans/artis ... 203420002/

[Sotiris]

Kitbull has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the Animated Short category.

Animated Short Film

“Dcera (Daughter)”
“Hair Love”
“He Can’t Live without Cosmos”
“Hors Piste”
“Kitbull”
“Memorable”
“Mind My Mind”
“The Physics of Sorrow”
“Sister”
“Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days”

Source: https://oscars.org/oscars/92nd-oscars-shortlists

[D82]

^I was really glad when I saw it was on the list. Of the Pixar Spark Shorts that were released online, this is the one we liked the most here, and it seems the Academy too.

[D82]

Exclusive BTS Video of SparkShorts ‘Loop’ & Q&A with Director Erica Milsom
https://www.animationmagazine.net/short ... ca-milson/

[Sotiris]

Pixar’s ‘Kitbull’: Hand-Drawn 2D at its Most Engaging
https://www.awn.com/animationworld/pixa ... t-engaging

Behind Pixar’s 2D shift for Oscar nominee Kitbull
http://kidscreen.com/2020/02/04/behind- ... e-kitbull/

[Sotiris]

Kitbull has been nominated for Best Animated Short at the Oscars 2019.


Source: https://twitter.com/Pixar/status/1216712738002567168

[Farerb]

I'm glad Kitbull is nominated and I hope it wins.

[Jules]

Congratulations to Kitbull. There is a particular appeal to this film because it feels far more like an indie short than a big-studio production.

[D82]

I'm really glad Kitbull was nominated. I'd be happy if it won too, but I actually prefer the Oscar went to Sister. That's my favorite of the shorts from the Academy shortlist I was able to watch online. I haven't seen Dcera (Daughter) and Memorable, though, maybe one of them is even better. I wish they're made available to watch before the Oscars. Last year all the animated shorts were eventually available to view online, but this year it seems they're not doing the same. I was only able to find four of them.

[Sotiris]

Kitbull has won the Humanitas Prize for Best Short Film.

[Sotiris]

They're making a docu-series about the program.

In the documentary space, Disney+ has commissioned an untitled Pixar series from Chef’s Table producer Supper Club. The series will follow Pixar’s SparkShorts program, which offers a select group of Pixar employees the opportunity to make their own animated short film. Brian McGinn, Jason Sterman and David Gelb executive produce.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/01/disney-unv ... 202845137/

[D82]

^That sounds interesting.