Pixar Launches New Short Film Program SPARK SHORTS for Pixar Artist Projects
Pixar has launched a very cool new program for artists to get their short films made and out there for the public to view. The program will officially debut at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood this Friday, January 18, 2019, and run through the 24th. Here’s what the President of Pixar Animation Studios, Jim Morris, had to say about the program:
“The SparkShorts program is designed to discover new storytellers, explore new storytelling techniques, and experiment with new production workflows. These films are unlike anything we’ve ever done at Pixar, providing an opportunity to unlock the potential of individual artists and their inventive filmmaking approaches on a smaller scale than our normal fare.”
That’s so awesome! Each of the three shorts that are debuting will follow a showing of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, with three showings daily. The shorts will then make their online debut on the Disney/Pixar Youtube channel. Here’s a description of the first three films in the series:
Purl, directed by Kristen Lester and produced by Gillian Libbert-Duncan, features an earnest ball of yarn named Purl who gets a job in a fast-paced, high energy, bro-tastic start-up. Yarny hijinks ensue as she tries to fit in, but how far is she willing to go to get the acceptance she yearns for, and in the end, is it worth it?
Smash and Grab, directed by Brian Larsen and produced by David Lally, is about two antiquated robots who risk everything for freedom and for each other after years of toiling away inside the engine room of a towering locomotive.
Kitbull, directed by Rosana Sullivan and produced by Kathryn Hendrickson, reveals an unlikely connection that sparks between two creatures: a fiercely independent stray kitten and a pit bull. Together, they experience friendship for the first time.
I’m always excited to see new Pixar shorts, so this will be really fun to have a lot more to see from a variety of artists. We will also be able to check them out next year when the new Disney+ streaming service becomes available. Are you excited for the new shorts?
Source: Slashfilm