The Best Animated Shorts on Disney Plus' Short Circuit
I turned on Disney Plus yesterday and I saw a banner for Short Circuit - and of course I immediately thought of everybody’s favorite robot, Johnny 5. Unfortunately it turns out I had the wrong Short Circuit, but what I discovered was definitely the next best thing - an experimental collection of animated shorts from employees of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
If you haven’t found out yet, Disney Plus is an absolute hotbed for amazing short films. Not only do you get access to all of the classic Pixar shorts you’ve already seen in theaters before Disney feature films, but you also get a hilarious, must-see series called Forky Asks a Question, as well as the beautiful and creative Spark Shorts from Pixar Studios.
If you haven’t seen them already, you simply must watch Bao and Float - two incredibly beautiful and very emotional short films that are definitely among the best on Disney Plus. But I want to focus on the newest addition to the service - the 14 new animated shorts that make up the collection called Short Circuit. I couldn’t be happier that Disney continues to promote short films and utilize the amazing creative and artistic talent of their employees in this way - because we’re being given solid gold.
I very quickly binge-watched all 14 shorts along with my 7-year-old son and my 3-year-old daughter. All in all it will only take you about 45 minutes to see them all - but we definitely rewatched our favorites quite a few times. The range of emotions and the creativity on display is a sight to behold, and I just love sharing these films with the kids so much.
I particularly enjoy that they all begin with an interview with the creator, because I think it makes this exposure to art and creativity that much more powerful for kids. It’s very cool for everyone to understand the inspiration behind a film before watching it, and it’s fun for the kids to see the creative process taking place and realize that artistic expression like this is possible.
But I know what you must be thinking. 45 minutes? Who has 45 minutes? I probably only have about 10 minutes until one of the kids starts screaming, and I’m going to need you to narrow this little activity down for me. Well that’s what I’m here for. While I highly recommend checking them all out, the kids and I have all picked our very favorite shorts from Short Circuit so you can skip right to the cream of the crop as far as we’re concerned.
Fetch - Short Circuit © Walt Disney Animation Studios
Fetch
Directed by Mitch Counsell
Fetch was my daughter’s pick and definitely her favorite of all 14 shorts. At first she thought the little girl looked like Anna from Frozen, and that certainly didn’t hurt to pull her in to the story. And both of our kids really love their dogs, so the fact that this is a story of a little girl who wants to play fetch with her pet is right up their alley. It’s also the perfect mixture of adorableness and scariness to really capture the kids’ imaginations.
Director Mitch Counsell was inspired by his nephew and the purity, naivety, and magic of childhood during his creation of Fetch. It turns out to be a wonderful ode to adventure and imagination - and the moments of scary tension are really perfect for us. I’m a sucker for anything promoting childhood imagination and Fetch is certainly no exception. And the music is just beautiful.
Puddles - Short Circuit © Walt Disney Animation Studios
Puddles
Directed by Zach Parrish
Puddles is my son’s pick for best short in Short Circuit. At its core it’s a film celebrating the magic and wonder of life - particularly childhood. But you have to get your face out of your cellphone to truly appreciate it. I’m so happy that my son completely understood the message of the film after one viewing, and I bet all kids can relate to the frustration of a loved one only half paying attention to them.
If you’re a regular reader, you know how sensitive I am to the concept of promoting imagination and creativity in kids. It’s actually very sad to see the sister in this film ignoring her brother’s imaginative play that he wants to share with her, and heartbreaking to see his disappointment. But Puddles is actually a very upbeat film with an important and beautiful message - and a flying whale that reminds me of Ocean Meets Sky and represents the very same childhood magic.
Just a Thought - Short Circuit © Walt Disney Animation Studios
Just a Thought
Directed by Brian Menz
For whatever reason, Just a Thought was the very first short that we watched, even though it’s in the middle of the collection. The comic strip art style really stood out to us in the thumbnail, and it turns out that Director Brian Menz was inspired by his love for comic strips. The newspaper texture and the thought bubbles are a huge part of the whole concept of the film.
And Just a Thought turned out to be one of my personal favorite films of the bunch. I think it’s a really clever and original concept - other people can actually see the thought bubbles above your head. And the boy in this story is embarrassed that everyone can see his thoughts about his crush. I suppose I’m a sucker for a sweet, romantic story like Just a Thought, and there are great lessons about bullying and being yourself to be found as well.
Cycles - Short Circuit © Walt Disney Animation Studios
Cycles
Directed by Jeff Gipson
Jeff Gipson has made a painfully emotional film in Cycles, and it’s by far my personal favorite short film from Short Circuit. It’s inspired by his relationship with his grandmother and the difficult conversation his family had to have about moving into assisted living. The film itself is an exploration of the emotional meaning and impact of homes and the stories they tell.
We watch as the story of a family and a home is told in reverse, and it moves me to tears every time I see it. A big part of its beauty comes from the hauntingly beautiful guitar music, written and performed by the director’s mother - and inspired by her own parents. It’s such a personal film and indescribably powerful. I honestly believe that Cycles is just as big of a gut punch as the beginning of the movie Up, and that’s saying a lot.
What’s your favorite animated short on Disney Plus? Have you watched the Short Circuit series of films yet? Let us know in the comments!
