A Short Review: Pixar short films

The start of a Pixar movie is something we all know and love — how could you forget the nostalgic lamp jumping on the “I” in Pixar just before your favorite childhood classic starts. But for me, the real entertainment started with the short film that was shown before the movie.

Since my brief attention span usually causes me to stop the movie halfway through, the Pixar short films capture the joy of watching a storyline without having to get bored in the middle of it or having to pause because you don’t have time to finish. The short films are ideal if you’re looking for a low-commitment and light-hearted storyline, although I typically get sucked in by the large number of short films and end up watching each one that comes into my “recommended” section of Disney+.

They may be brief, but the nostalgic short films are painfully underrated for their plot creativity and valuable messages. As a bit of a Pixar short film connoisseur, here are some of my favorites you can watch on Disney+.

PARTLY CLOUDY

If there’s one thing Pixar has mastered, it’s friendship. Every Pixar friendship duo seems to compliment each other perfectly, and “Partly Cloudy” emphasizes the importance of loving our friends through their faults. 

“Partly Cloudy” tells the story of the cloud people who bring babies to life for storks to deliver to expecting families — it follows one, less-trained cloud who can’t seem to make the same cute and cuddly animals and babies for his stork to deliver as the clouds around him. When the cloud next to him makes an adorable puppy, he makes a terrifying alligator, or a spiky porcupine — trust me, you probably wouldn’t want a stork delivering this cloud’s creations to your doorstep.

The cloud worries that the stork is upset with him, having to carry and deliver the monstrous creatures, but the sweet ending shows the stork would rather have his slightly-troubled cloud with him than any other perfect-creature-producing cloud out there.

“Partly Cloudy” is a heart-warming reminder about the importance of friendship and accepting people for who they are, and it’s the perfect film to share with your best friend.

LIFTED

If you’re looking for a good laugh rather than a life lesson, check out the short film “Lifted.” With the premise of a young alien tackling his first lesson in the abduction of a sleeping human, we watch him operate his spaceship where he bumps the human into furniture, drops him on the ground and slams him into walls.

I felt like my 10-year-old self watching “epic fail” YouTube videos with my sister, laughing every time the human hit something different.

While it’s about overcoming failure — although I’m not sure what the message of overcoming a failed abduction signifies — the short felt more light-hearted and laughable than anything else. Everyone in the family, from your little sister to your dad, will be laughing at this one.

PIPER

“Piper” — a short about a baby sandpiper bird facing her fears — is your sign to get control over whatever fear you may be facing.

Watching Piper overcome her fear of the sea to find food on the shoreline was nothing short of adorable. I firmly believe that full Pixar movies don’t quite hit the peak cuteness factor that Pixar short films do, and “Piper” proves this.

The animations and scenery are some of the best parts of the film. With peaceful shades of blue and purple skies over the sand and water, I was left feeling both relaxed and motivated to approach any worries, not to mention wishing for a beach vacation.

And if you like the short, you can keep watching the Pixar animations of adventures in the sea by watching “Finding Dory,” which the short played before.

BAO

I wouldn’t recommend dedicating the seven minutes and 40 seconds to watch this short film unless you’re fully prepared for a good cry — and a craving for dumplings.

“Bao’s” plotline is about a mom whose life changes when her dumpling comes to life, but really the short film captures the mother’s loneliness and sadness when she feels she’s losing her son as he drifts from her. Watching the dumpling (a metaphor for the son) grow up left me appreciating and missing my parents before I’ve even left home, and wishing I could stay a kid forever. 

Although I warn any seniors to avoid watching this with your parents — they might not let you leave the house after graduation — this short film is a special ode to growing up.

LAVA

I’m not sure how Pixar fits an entire plotline that can draw real emotion, themes and bring me to tears in five minutes — “Lava” was no exception.

While more well-known, the short film “Lava” is too sweet not to include. The love story is about two volcanoes who face away from each other and are only able to bond through their song — which I promise you’ll be humming the rest of your day. The simple child-like romance of the two while struggling to be with each other at the right time captured the human (and volcano) desire for love on screen.

You may find yourself wishing for someone to “lava” after watching the film, but I promise it’s worth it. And if you enjoyed the short film and are ready for a more time-committing show, watch “Inside Out,” the Pixar movie the short is paired with, to keep enjoying a plotline filled with love and emotions.