Family movies can provide wonderful opportunities for discussing important life lessons with kids. Many well-loved Disney and Pixar films tell stories of characters overcoming obstacles, navigating friendships, and dealing with family conflict or other life changes. Disney shorts are also jam-packed with valuable lessons for both kids and adults.
As with any movie, they can be subject to interpretation and can reflect many different meanings.
Watching these Disney-Pixar shorts with kids can spark valuable conversations and moments of connection. The relatable characters can help kids feel more comfortable sharing their own struggles, opinions, or feelings.
Here are 5 Disney-Pixar short films that teach children important life lessons to watch at your next family movie night!
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Bao (2018)
Bao follows the story of an older woman who appears to be an “empty nester.” She excitedly takes on the role of a mother upon discovering that one of her dumplings has come to life. The storyline follows the mother and her dumpling as he gets older, mirroring the challenges parents face as their children become more independent. Tension builds between the dumpling and his mother as he pulls away and favors his friends. One scene shows the dumpling leaving with friends and returning home late with a girl.
The climax of this short film starts when the dumpling packs his bags to move out with his girlfriend. The mother begs, pleads, and tries to stop him. As a last resort, she eats her dumpling. The mother begins to sob out of sadness and guilt. Time passes on, showing the mother curled in bed, sobbing in a dark room. Eventually, we see her adult son come to visit her, and they embrace in a moment of repair.
Viewers may notice a goatee similar to the one seen on both the dumpling and the son. It appears the dumpling symbolizes her son and the struggles she has felt as a parent while navigating the challenges of her child coming of age, growing up, and leaving home.
The final scene shows the mother, father, son, and the same girlfriend at the table happily eating dumplings together.
How Bao Teaches Children Acceptance And Coming Of Age
While Bao may be better suited for parents who can appreciate the struggles of parenthood, it provides wonderful life lessons for both children and parents.
Bao offers themes of a mother’s love, the ups and downs of the child-parent dynamic, children creating their own individuality, and acceptance of children growing up and making their own lives.
For children, it can show that things change and that we need to accept hard things. For families that watch Bao together, it can facilitate heartfelt conversations between parents and their aging children and normalize the challenges that they both may face as kids strive for more independence.
Self (2024)
Self is an excellent film for children and teens that can spark conversations about self-esteem, identity, embracing differences, peer pressure, and loving yourself.
Self follows the story of a wooden doll who is the only one different from the others. She is shorter, darker, bendable, and dressed completely differently compared to the golden dolls, who are all identical. She first tries to connect with the other dolls by waving and shaking hands, but she is not acknowledged.
That night, the doll makes a wish on a star. Her wish is granted, and the doll receives different golden body parts sent from the sky. A golden hand is the first to descend from the sky. The doll replaces her bendable hand with a golden, straight hand, but the group still does not accept her.
She then replaces her arms and legs with straight golden legs and high heels. She still is not acknowledged. The scene’s climax occurs when the doll endangers her life by leaping off a building, trying to catch the golden face falling from the sky. She appears happy at first and replaces her face. As she steps towards the other golden dolls to greet them, she steps onto her original face, cracking it. It appears there is a moment of reflection, and the doll decides to put her original face back on, embracing the crack and embracing herself. The doll appears proud and finally able to accept her differences. The group of other dolls are also able to accept and acknowledge the doll for who she is. There is a short connection between the doll and one of the other golden dolls.
How Self Teaches Children Self-Love
Self teaches valuable lessons about navigating the pressures of fitting in, self-esteem, loving and embracing yourself, and accepting differences. Self promotes themes of self-discovery and sets an important lesson for kids to be true to themselves and love their unique attributes. Parents may also find opportunities to discuss the dangers of trying to conform to fit in and the courage it takes to stand out of the crowd.
Float (2019)
Float is another wonderful film about embracing differences and accepting who you are. Parents may want the tissues ready for this one. Float follows the story of a father who discovers his infant son floats. At first, the father appears mesmerized and looks at his son with love and admiration. This is short-lived as the father notices people walking by. The father quickly grabs his son, but the infant floats away again. This is met with fearful expressions by the neighbors. The father realizes that others will not accept his son and worries about judgment.
As time passes, viewers may notice the shift from a once happy and playful father to a stressed and sullen father. The house is dark, the curtains are closed, and the house is a mess.
The next scene shows the son, who is now older, possibly getting ready for his first day of school. The heavy rocks in his backpack and the jacket covering his head keep him down to the ground. As the father and son leave the house, it seems as though it may be the first time the child has been allowed outside, as everything seems to be exciting and new to him.
The peak of the film is when they pass a playground. The son lights up, wanting to enter. While the father looks from the side of the fence, he becomes lost in thought. He then realizes his son is gone, floating in the playground.
The father chases his son throughout the playground, trying to catch him. He becomes angry and pulls at his son to leave the playground, which is met with kicking and screaming from the young boy. Out of anger and sadness, the father yells, “Why can’t you just be normal?!”
The son crumbles, putting his jacket back on with tears falling from his face. The father hugs his son, looks to the playground exit, and then back, facing all the people scattered around the park. He walks towards the swings, where he sits and gently swings with his son on his lap. The father and son gaze at each other with excitement and joy. We see the father gently push his son off his lap to float in front of all the other parents and children at the playground. The boy begins to float in the air while the father jumps happily, cheering him on.
How Float Teaches Children To Embrace Differences
Float is a fantastic clip for children, parents, families, and educators. Float teaches children the importance of acceptance, embracing differences, kindness, and inclusion. Parents with a child “different” from the crowd may especially appreciate this film. Children who may be labeled as “different” or treated differently from their peers may find the young character safe and relatable. The father and son can serve as models to empower children and parents not to let others’ judgment dictate their choices and behavior. It can help empower and teach children and parents not to fear differences, to advocate, and for parents always to be their child’s biggest cheerleader. Float can also empower and teach kids to use their voice, be themselves, and be proud of their differences.
Loop (2019)
Loop is another excellent example of inclusion, kindness, and friendship. The story starts by showing what appears to be kids at a summer camp. The main character Renee, who is nonverbal and appears Autistic, sits in the canoe alone, waiting for someone to join her. The camp counselor encourages Marcus to join Renee. Marcus hesitantly describes Renee as “the girl who doesn’t talk.” Reluctantly, he attempts to have a conversation with Renee. Renee is comforted by repetitive sounds and colors on her phone, which she plays in a loop throughout the film.
There are various moments where Marcus struggles to communicate with Renee. Over time, Marcus begins to learn what Renee is trying to say. Renee communicates to Marcus the area of the lake she would like him to go to. She directs Marcus to the water reeds, and we see Renee excitedly embracing the feeling of the water reeds. She closes her eyes and lightly strokes each strand as the canoe goes down the lake. She requests that Marcus do this a few times. Marcus observes Renee’s delight and allows himself to do the same, connecting with the same feeling as Renee.
To connect, Marcus tells Renee he wants to show her somewhere “really cool.” Since she is comforted by the sounds and colors from the ringtone on her phone, it appears Marcus has the idea that Renee may enjoy the echoing of the sound, which can be heard from under a bridge. He encourages Renee to play the ringtone. It is dark, and Renee appears uncertain. The colors reflect around the,m and the sounds from her phone are louder. After a few moments, the echoing seems too loud and overstimulating for Renee, which leads her to try and escape, tipping them both over.
Next, we see Marcus and Renee on land, with Renee crying under the canoe. Marcus makes many failed attempts to communicate and calm Renee down. As time passes, Marcus sits down beside the canoe, talking calmly and patiently. He offers Renee a water reed that she begins to touch. This appears to be calming, and she invites Marcus to feel the sensation of the reed as well.
This moment of connection is helpful for Renee. She appears happy again and willingly joins Marcus in the canoe to return to the camp.
How Loop Teaches Children About Inclusion And Kindness
Loop can spark great conversations with kids about differences, including patience, understanding, empathy, and friendship. This short film reinforces our likes, dislikes, preferences, and challenges. It also teaches children that not all communication is with words. Parents may find it helpful to invite their kids to reflect on Marcus and Renee and explore how they feel about the interactions between them. Inviting children to reflect on what they would do, their ideas, or how they can show kindness may be helpful.
Loop can help teach kids not to be fearful of differences. If Marcus had not gone in the canoe with Renee, he would have never had the opportunity to get to know her and learn a different way to communicate. For parents with kids on the spectrum, showing representation through characters like Renee may be comforting and empowering and offer an opportunity for conversation and reflection between children and families.
Piper (2016)
Piper follows an adorable baby bird named Piper. As she leaves her nest for the first time, Piper faces challenges in finding her own food. Piper runs excitedly on the beach, trying to find shells and mollusks. Since this is her first time, Piper is not aware of the dangers of the waves. Piper is left alone, with a large wave crashing over her.
Piper is shown frazzled and scared. She returns to her nest, peaking over the sand, and hides again when she hears the wave coming. She decides to try again, carefully approaching the shoreline, only to run away again in fear. She then befriends a tiny hermit crab that she sees burying itself into the sand and digging up shells. She finds that she can find food this way. Suddenly, a large wave approaches, and Piper quickly responds by burying herself into the sand, allowing the wave to wash over her. As she is safely grounded, she opens her eyes while underwater, taking in the beauty of the ocean.
After the wave recedes, we see Piper happily bouncing around on the beach. She appears proud and accomplished from overcoming her fears. Piper voluntarily jumps and plays in the water, showing her ability to embrace the waves. She proudly shows her mother and other birds her trick of digging up shells and mollusks, which provides plenty of food for them all.
How Piper Helps Teach Children Courage And To Face Their Fears
The story of Piper demonstrates life lessons of bravery and overcoming fears. It exemplifies the pride and accomplishment kids can feel after trying something new or something they see as challenging. Parents may find it helpful to relate Piper’s excitement to how their kids may feel about accomplishing something difficult. This short film offers a safe space for kids to explore their fears and offer their reflections on Piper. Piper can also help teach kids confidence and the courage to tackle fears.
Those are my family’s five favorite Disney-Pixar shorts that teach life lessons. If you want to watch movies with a specific theme or lessons, check out our options below.