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In keeping with the tradition of new and original animated shorts attached to Pixar films comes LOU, which will delight audiences on June 16th when it premieres alongside Cars 3. The two subjects are disconnected in theme and setting, but both LOU and the film that follows are fantastic examples of Pixar back at the top of their game. This short in particular reminds me of some of the shorts from the early 2000’s, like Geri’s Game and Presto.
Set on a school playground and with no dialogue, the best way I can describe LOU is as a guardian spirit of the Lost & Found bin. He comes alive by combining objects from the bin to make a form, which is ever changing. More often than not, he takes on a classic Jim Henson appearance, looking like a Muppet monster in most cases.
The plot involves a bully who is stealing toys from other children. LOU decides to teach the boy a lesson and eventually employs the child to help reconnect kids with their lost treasures. In doing so, the bully learns how to properly connect and engage with his peers. Yeah, it gives you the warm fuzzies deep inside.
What impresses me most about this short is that it’s completely told in pantomime, like many of the classic Pixar shorts before it. This universal approach allows audiences all over the world to experience LOU the exact same way, which is part of what makes it so special. It feels somewhat related to the Toy Story series by virtue of the way LOU comes alive, and even a scene where he is struggling to break free, which calls back to some of Sid’s bizarre creations.
Whether you’re a fan of the Cars films or not, there’s a universal appeal to LOU and I would be shocked if anyone out there didn’t fall in love with this short. Full of humor and charm, there’s a lot to love in Disney Pixar’s LOU.
I give LOU 5 out of 5 Cookie Monster Baseball Eyes