'Bao' Pixar Short
Last month, film buffs (and dumpling fans) had reason to be excited when Pixar revealed details about Bao, the studio's upcoming short film. The flick centers around a Chinese mother with empty-nest syndrome who gets a second chance at raising a child, thanks to a homemade dumpling that suddenly comes to life.
Though details—let alone a trailer—are sparse, Pixar has just released a clip and says the story will explore the "ups and downs of the parent-child relationship through the colorful, rich, and tasty lens of the Chinese immigrant community in Canada."
Get a taste of #Bao, our upcoming short opening ahead of #Incredibles2 June 15. pic.twitter.com/Yw17N2pNZX
— Pixar (@Pixar) April 12, 2018
Bao is significant in other ways, too: Director Domee Shi is the first female in Pixar's history to direct a short. "I just wanted to create this magical, modern-day fairy tale, kind of like a Chinese Gingerbread Man story," she tells Entertainment Weekly. "The word 'bao' actually means two things in Chinese: Said one way, it means steamed bun. Said another, it means something precious. A treasure."
The full short will premiere on June 15 as the lead-up to The Incredibles 2. Knowing Pixar's reputation, prepare to smile, laugh and ugly cry all at the same time.