Disney Pixar Short Film Bao Melts the Hearts of Moms

This Friday, June 15th Disney Pixar Incredibles 2 opens in theaters and before your favorite animated superhero family graces the screen you’ll have the pleasure of seeing the new Disney Pixar Short Film Bao. Thanks to Disney Pixar Studios for inviting me to San Francisco for a media event, I was able to screen the short film in advance and chat with the Pixar team behind the creation process.

BAO in Disney Pixar Short — ©2018 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Director Domee Shi was inspired to create Bao by her own life, growing up as an only child with Chinese parents. The word Bao means treasure – something precious.

Domee Shi has always loved drawing food. To hear her tell it, she loves eating food as much as she loves drawing food so creating a short film centered around a dumpling was perfect.

She was inspired by the Gingerbreadman when making Bao. Direct Domee Shi says her mom would always cuddle her when she was growing up, like her little dumpling. One day her mother said, “I wish I could put you back in my stomach so I always know where you are.” I think all mothers can relate to wanting to protect their children and viewing them as delicate little dumplings.

When you want to show you care about a person it is custom to say “have you eaten?” which lead to the Pixar Short Bao have a meal-centered storyline. A mother’s care comes across by making homecooked meals and pampering her family.

During the creation process for Bao, Director Domee Shi’s mother paid a visit to the crew and did a dumpling demo. This gave all the artists the chance to see firsthand how dumplings are made, how they look and feel, and how one would move if it truly was alive. This provided the ability to make the animation as realistic as possible.

Dumpling demo for Bao short film — Director Domee Shi with her mother Ningsha Zhong shows the production team how to make dumplings (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

Our family was able to screen the Incredibles 2 film in theaters this Monday and everyone loved Bao. The entire theater was laughing and cheering for this adorable short film. If you are a mother, be ready for Disney Pixar Short Bao to pull your heartstrings. As a mom of a daughter turning 21 this summer, a member of the military, and in college – Bao brought tears to my eyes. Watching your kids grow up and leave home is emotional and we all wish we could protect them forever.

The Disney Pixar team took several trips to Chinatown in San Francisco to get ideas for the costumes in the short. The Chinatown grannies inspired the funky clothing, like the visors you see the mom wear in Bao. Even though Bao is a Pixar Short, there are so many details involved! It is filled with beautiful colors and lots of different set scenes.

Thanks to Director Domee Shi’s mother, I am sharing this yummy dumpling recipe with you. I cannot wait to try out this recipe with my family this summer. Make your own Bao in your kitchen.