The first-ever Pixar animated short featuring Filipino characters, “Float,” is finally available for viewing for FREE on Youtube!
The company released the 7-minute film on the video-sharing platform this week in its effort to combat anti-Asian violence following the news of several hate crimes targeted towards Asians taking place recently in San Francisco and New York City. This is the first time this short was made available outside of Disney+, where it premiered last November 2019, and made accessible to Asian audiences, to whom the streaming platform has yet to be launched.
“Float” follows the story of a Filipino father raising his son while attempting to conceal his gift—the ability to float in the air, which causes discomfort to the people around them. It was written and directed by Filipino-American animator Bobby Rubio inspired by his own struggles handling his son’s autism diagnosis.
Watch the emotional Pixar short below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HAGuju_yKY&feature=youtu.be
Previously, director Rubio called upon the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to consider “Float” for an Oscar for Animated Short Film. Oscar nominations for the 2021 Academy Awards are set to be announced in March.
Rubio has worked with Pixar as a story artist in 2012 and has been working in animation with Disney since the 90s, working in classic Disney movies like Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
(ALSO READ: “For Your Consideration” — Filipino Director of Pixar Short “Float” Calls Upon the Academy Awards)
Aside from “Float,” Pixar also released “Wind” on Youtube this weekend, which is another touching film with Asian characters, created by Korean director Edwin Chang.
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