Disney+ has released plans for the upcoming lineup of Pixar Animation Studios’ SparkShorts program, with new shorts debuting in September and a feature-length documentary showcasing the work behind-the-scenes in making the shorts.
(Pixar)
What’s Happening:
- Pixar’s SparkShorts program will have new shorts debuting in September including Twenty Something (September 10) from director Aphton Corbin, and Nona (September 17) from director Louis Gonzales.
- In addition to the shorts, the documentary A SparkStory (September 24) will be released taking a look at the filmmaking process for both shorts.
- SparkShorts filmmakers are given six months to assemble a team and create a short animated film with no major rules applying, just their creativity.
(Pixar)
About Twenty Something:
- “Adulting can be hard. Some days you’re nailing it, while other days, you’re just a stack of kids hiding in a trench coat hoping no one notices. Gia finds herself in this exact scenario the night of her 21st birthday. This is a story about the insecurities of adulting and how we’re all just faking it till we make it. Erik Langley produces the short. “
- Twenty Something releases on Disney+ on September 10, 2021.
(Pixar)
About Nona:
- “Pixar Animation Studios introduces Nona, a grandmother who plans to spend her day off by shutting out the world to watch her favorite TV show, “E.W.W. Smashdown Wrestling.” However, when her 5-year-old granddaughter Renee is unexpectedly dropped off, Nona is caught between her two favorite things. Renee wants to play while the normally-doting Nona wrestles with wanting to watch the Smashdown, leading to a decisive showdown between the two, and a loving compromise.”
- Nona releases on Disney+ on September 17, 2021.
(Pixar)
About A SparkStory:
- “A SparkStory spotlights Corbin and Gonzales as they strive to get their uniquely personal SparkShorts visions on screen. Corbin’s film, Twenty Something, required novel approaches to storytelling to convey one character’s multiple perspectives—all using hand-drawn animation (a rarity for Pixar). Gonzales’ film, Nona, came from an intensely personal place, but that didn’t stop a serious bout of writer’s block from nearly derailing the entire production.
- A SparkStory releases on Disney+ on September 24, 2021.
What They’re Saying:
- Louis Gonzales: “I’m proud to see how the short was made better by the team working on it. I’ve never directed before but I feel like my 20+ years in the business really paid off.”
- Aphton Corbin: “The SparkShorts program is the studio’s way of seeing what talented storytellers can do on our own. After working with Pete [Docter] on Soul, I caught the studio’s eye as someone who had interesting stories to tell.”
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