Movie · 2016 · Family, Animation · 6m · G · English
Curator score: 8.9/10 (127.6K ratings)
Overview
A mother bird tries to teach her little one how to find food by herself. In the process, she encounters a traumatic experience that she must overcome in order to survive.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.9/10
IMDb: 8.3/10
Letterboxd: 4.07/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
TMDB: 8.1/10
Director
Alan Barillaro
Production
Pixar
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A gorgeously animated, emotionally legible short that pairs near-photoreal naturalism with a simple coming-of-age survival story. It’s more of a showcase for craft and charm than a complex narrative, but the visual achievement and immediate appeal make it easy to recommend.
Best for
Pixar fans
viewers who love visually stunning animation
families and kids
fans of nature-centered storytelling
people who enjoy short films with a warm emotional payoff
Skip if
you want a layered or surprising plot
you dislike cute, straightforward family fare
you prefer feature-length storytelling
you’re looking for something darker or more experimental
Overview
This is the kind of short that announces its intentions immediately: delight, precision, and a little bit of awe. The animation is the main event, with sand, surf, and feather detail rendered so vividly that the film often feels like a miniature nature documentary with a gentle emotional arc.
Worth noting
What makes it work is the balance between realism and personality. The bird behavior feels observed rather than merely cartooned, which gives the central challenge real texture even when the story is simple and familiar.
Bottom line
If there’s a limitation, it’s that the narrative is intentionally slight. But for a film this short, that restraint is part of the appeal: it gets in, makes you smile, and leaves you impressed by the technical and emotional polish.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Karsten · 892 likes
One of the best looking short films out there ugh
alor (5★) · 792 likes
yes the rumors are true, this is the animated short that cured all my mental illnesses
mememily (5★) · 641 likes
all i can think about is how they had to animate every grain of sand for this