If you haven’t seen it yet, then the short film Float will resonate with all parents, but especially with parents of children with special needs. Disney-Pixar’s Float comes from a personal story and a touching tribute to children that are “different”.

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Float is the story of the bond between parent and child. It’s also about accepting one’s child, no matter what their circumstances are.

It’s really the story of any child’s difference.

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Disney-Pixar Float

In the short film, just under six minutes long, a father discovers that his son is “different”. He is playing with his baby boy when the baby begins to float in the air. In a panic, the dad runs inside to hide with his child, to protect him from the judgement of others and their stares.

When they go outdoors, he tries to hide his son’s floating by keeping him on a leash and weighing his backpack down with stones to keep him grounded.

One day his son escapes and floats around a playground, other families start to notice and are afraid, and the father must decide how to react. He drags his son screaming and kicking away from the playground. In a moment of frustration he says “Why can’t you just be normal?!”

This short film is very moving and will resonate with parents of children with special needs, such as autism.

About the Making of Float

The touching and personal story was created by Filipino American animator, Bobby Rubio, it’s based on his own experience and his son who has autism. It also features Pixar’s first Filipino American characters.

Rubio says it took him years to tell his family’s story but that his wife pointed out that as he is a storyteller maybe he should tell their story with a comic and that was the start of the journey which culminated in the short film being made.

Float really does speak volumes about the relationship between parent and child, and about loving one’s child as they are.

And, at the end of the film there is a dedication to Rubio’s son Alex, saying:

“Thank you for making me a better dad.
Dedicated with love and understanding to all families with children deemed different.”

Stream it now on Disney+ and be sure to watch the Extra behind the scenes short with Rubio himself describing how it came about.

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Have your say! Have you watched the Disney-Pixar Float short film? Did you like it? Tell us in the comments below.