'Bao' Pixar Short

The studio's upcoming tale is about a dumpling that comes to life

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."


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.