Far from the Tree

Disney has a lot to answer for in its treatment of mothers (dead or absent), but Bao and now Far from the Tree help to make up for it. This beautiful, moving short film, like Bao before it, manages to show the challenges and love of motherhood in only a few minutes and without dialogue. The classic animation is exquisite, with a distinctive color palette. The story, about two raccoons foraging by the sea, shows how parents, with the best intentions, can pass on hurt to their children but can also learn to do better. (Yes we get this in five minutes with silent raccoons.)

A master class in narrative and how you don't need flash or even words to convey real human truths.

So this short film was deep. I think I learned more about how to and how not to parent from this short film than from any educational book or video.

Generational trauma and how it is passed down (and how it can be avoided) is explored in a Disney short- you heard that right- and all of it is explored and felt without any dialogue! It's only 7 minutes so won't go into detail about plot, but it starts out with two raccoons who go foraging by the sea.

Gorgeous hand drawn animation, and beautiful, emotional story. Wouldn't be surprised if it wins best short. (And though Encanto, the movie it precedes, is enchanting, this short exemplifies and expresses Encanto's theme more effectively than Encanto!)

'Far From The Tree (2021)' is an animated short released alongside 'Encanto (2021)'. It tells the tale of a raccoon whose curiosity causes her to clash with her harsh yet protective father; years later, as she raises her own son, she comes to empathise with her father and the position her innocent outlook put him in. The short is generally a light and bubbly affair, but it also has moments of danger and darkness. It also makes some relatively keen points about parenthood, the suppression of curiosity and the cyclical nature of less-than-ideal upbringings. It's quite poignant and it often does things you don't really expect it to, using the non-speaking nature of its characters to convey just how intangible and difficult to discuss its themes truly are. The racoons are all really expressive and the piece does a good job when it comes to getting you to care about them. It also makes each of their outlooks seem crystal clear, allowing us to empathise with even the least conventionally likeable of them. The short is a mixture of 2D and 3D animation. From what I can tell, the characters are actually 3D models rendered to look like 2D drawings. I'm guessing that some of the background elements make use of traditional cel animation. Either way, the aesthetic is beautiful in a rather rustic sort of way. The animation is simple but effective, as is the sound design and music. Overall, this is a great little short. 7/10.

Referring to "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" saying, it's a simple message for parents NOT to repeat the mistakes of their parents. Communication is king. Tastefully done in a warm, fuzzy, Disney way without being too preachy. Also it's great to see Disney pumping out some 2D character animation ... even though it's only a short.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Disney production of any sort that touched on parental abuse, short film or not. I was very caught off guard, but also very touched. I didn't cry but I almost did! What the heck Disney?!

Very cute, well animated, and very to the point without getting too scary for younger kids.