Bao (2018) – Short Film before Incredibles 2
“A little dumpling with a big heart.” 🥟💓
Before the superhero spectacle of Incredibles 2, Pixar treated audiences to Bao, a tender, whimsical, and quietly powerful short film from first-time director Domee Shi. Lasting just under eight minutes, the short uses magical realism to tell a deeply relatable story about love, family, and the bittersweet nature of letting go.
Set in Toronto’s Chinese-Canadian community, Bao follows a lonely, middle-aged woman who gets an unexpected second chance at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings springs to life. This tiny, wide-eyed bao bun quickly becomes the center of her world — she nurtures it, protects it, and watches it grow, even as it starts craving independence.
The animation is exquisite, capturing the textures of steaming dough, cozy kitchens, and bustling markets with mouthwatering precision. The dumpling’s expressions are irresistibly cute, and the physical comedy — bao learning to walk, getting into trouble, or sulking like a teenager — balances the emotional weight of the story.
What makes Bao truly remarkable is its emotional gut punch. Without a single spoken word, the film captures the universal parental struggle of holding on and letting go, culminating in a moment that’s as shocking as it is deeply moving. Michael Giacchino’s gentle, melodic score underscores both the warmth and the heartbreak, leaving the audience in a reflective hush.
By the time the lights come up and Incredibles 2 begins, Bao has already set the emotional bar sky-high. It’s a small story with enormous heart — proof that sometimes, the most powerful tales can fit inside a dumpling.