Pixar’s short film ‘Float’ featuring Filipino characters is now on YouTube

“Float,” Pixar’s first short film featuring Filipino characters, is now available on YouTube!

After premiering on Disney’s streaming platform in November 2019, Pixar Animation Studios and the SparkShorts filmmakers wanted the film to be accessible to everyone.

“[We] are in solidarity with the Asian and Asian American communities against Anti-Asian hate in all its forms,” said the description of the video.

“We are proud of the onscreen representation in this short and have decided to make it widely available, in celebration of what stories that feature Asian characters can do to promote inclusion everywhere,” it added. 

The move comes at a time when calls for racial justice are being made amid reports of several attacks against Asians.

The seven-minute film follows the story of a father who discovers that his son is different because of his ability to float.

With this, he kept him hidden and away from others, until he realizes the joy of his uniqueness.

It was directed by Filipino-American Bobby Rubio who was inspired by his own son.

In a 2019 interview with GMA, Bobby said the characters he drew were originally Caucasians, but a coworker suggested he change them to Filipino-American.

“She said it was my story based on my relationship with my son and how will my son feel when he looks up on the screen and sees a white kid playing him. That hit me. I didn’t want my son to feel like he wasn’t worth it.”

Toward the end of the film, Bobby thanked his son Alex for making him a better father. He also dedicated it to “all families with children deemed different.”

As of writing, the video has garnered more than 4 million views since its premiere on Feb. 27. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News