Watch Float

Float is a heartfelt, emotionally-driven animated short film written and directed by Bobby Rubio, who has worked on several classic Pixar films previously. The film was released in November 2019, and has since become one of the standout short films amongst the other Pixar creations. The story revolves around a father, struggling to come to terms with his son's extraordinary ability. His son, who is of Asian descent, seems to have the power of levitation or floating, which causes the father much distress.

The short follows the father and son duo over the course of a day at a park. The father is visibly anxious, and constantly on the lookout to prevent anyone from witnessing the child's power. He even restrains the child at certain points to stop him from floating away.

The father's conflict arises from the societal pressure to conform and assimilate, paired with the love he feels for his child. He doesn't want his child to be ostracized because of his ability, and this anxiety controls his actions for the day.

The short film is graced with beautiful animation, as expected from any Pixar production. The characters are animated with a highly stylized aesthetic, and the watercolor backgrounds provide a contrast with the 3D-animated characters.

The film's most striking feature is the minimal dialogue and use of non-verbal communication to convey the characters' emotions. The father's anxiety and guilt are unmistakable in every line on his face and tension in his body language.

The film's carefully constructed atmosphere is both tender and heart-wrenching, as we witness a father struggle to accept his child's individuality while grappling with his own anxieties over protecting him.

The father's arc ultimately is what carries the film, becoming the perfect metaphor for how society treats those who are not like the rest. The father himself is grappling with his son's difference and struggling to stop stifling it out of fear of societal rejection.

The film was the first-ever Pixar production to feature an all-Asian cast, with a socio-cultural aspect that represented the Asian father-son bond realistically. Float portrays the burden and pressures of carrying on the family's traditions and the burden of having to navigate identity through multiple cultures.

Overall, Float is a beautiful and thought-provoking short film that challenges the societal norms and precludes the importance of individuality, acceptance, and understanding. The animation is captivating, combining 2D and 3D elements with a pleasing blending style. The film's true beauty lies in the emotional depth and realism that it captures in its interactions, relationships, and messages. It has become a testament to Pixar's ability to bring life-changing, relatable stories that capture the hearts of viewers of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds.