'Bao' - A New Pixar Short Reminding Us of Precious Little Tales

Press release:

Pixar's latest short, Bao is set to release alongside Incredibles 2 on June 15, 2018. The 8-minute short film (Pixar's longest to date) is written and directed by, Domee Shi, (Pixar's first Female-directed Short Film) and focuses on the ups and downs of the parent-child relationship through the colorful, rich, and tasty lens of the Chinese immigrant community in Canada. The official short film synopsis reads: 

An empty-nesting Chinese mom gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life. But she must come to terms with the bittersweet revelation that nothing stays cute and small forever.

 

In seeing the short preview, we cannot help but be reminded of Momotaro Peach Boy and Thumbelina (especially with the "another chance at Motherhood line there), but also Tom Thumb and Kaguya-Hime! The idea of precious little children (as in teeny, thumb-sized, etc) having to grow up and all the difficulties that come with that (especially from the parent's point of view) seem to be echoed here. We're looking forward to the rest!

You can see the 30 second preview below:

In a recent EW interview, director Domee Shi noted, "Often times it felt like my mom would treat me like a precious little dumpling, wanting to make sure I was safe, that I didn’t go out late, all that stuff", Shi tells EW. "I just wanted to create this magical, modern-day fairy tale, kind of like a Chinese Gingerbread Man story. The word ‘bao’ actually means two things in Chinese: Said one way, it means steamed bun. Said another, it means something precious. A treasure.”

Bao will premiere on April 21, 2018 at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Hans Christian Andersen & His Tin Soldier Manhole Cover

When you go someplace new, don't forget to look down...

Manhole cover in Copenhagen with an image of Hans Christian Andersen and his well known character the Brave Tin Soldier.
(Found HERE.)
Here's the full view:Note the fish about to swallow the soldier, the rat he escaped from in the sewers and the little paper boat.

I'm wondering if the elements of this story, particularly the gutters, sewers, a canal (water and waste) and is said to represent Andersen in his younger years, is the reason it was chosen as the design around his image.

Some of the most beautiful manhole covers in the world are in Japan. There is at least one of Momotaro (a.k.a. Peach Boy) who is a well known and loved folktale character. The one shown below is from Okayama City.