From the 22nd of May, is available on the streaming platform Disney+, Out the first Disney-Pixar short film with a gay main character. Written and directed by Steven Clay Hunter, the film is part of the SparkShorts project, which produces independent low budget animated short-films made by young creatives. The 9 minutes story follows the story of Greg, a 20 years old guy who can’t find the courage to coming out to his parents, and tell them that he’s about to move to another city with his boyfriend Manuel. When his mom and dad unexpectedly go to his house to help him move, Greg tells Manuel to leave and try to hide any hint of his homosexuality, like a picture of him and his partner. Thanks to a bit of magic, Greg transform in his dog, find out that his family already knows about his secrets and still loves him.
Out is the first Disney-Pixar production that openly talks about homosexuality. Since now, even if with some small steps in the right direction, their LGBTQ+ characters always played a small role in their animated films. GLAAD, the organizations that fight for LGBTQ+ rights, said to The New York Times: “Over the past few years, L.G.B.T.Q. characters and stories have become common in the kids and family entertainment space with little controversy, but with a large celebration from L.G.B.T.Q. families with children who have longed to see themselves represented.” Positive are the comments appeared on social media, many people wrote that they got emotional while watching the short film and that they wished something like it existed when they were kids to help them find the courage to coming out to their parents.
The streaming platform has now surpassed 50 million subscribers all over the world and is available in Europe from March 31st with many Disney classic and Pixar mini-series.
