I don’t want you to make the same mistake that I did when I first saw this touching video. Don’t watch it first thing in the morning before you’ve even had your coffee. Actually, for the ladies, that may be better since you won’t have makeup running down your cheeks. The heartwarming short video is made to absolutely yank at the heartstrings. You don’t even have to be involved with animal rescue to get the feels from this animated short film. If you have a heart at all, you WILL get emotional!
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
The Disney-Pixar hand-drawn animated SparkShorts film is called “Kitbull” and is sure to be a conversation starter.
The first scene opens on San Francisco’s Mission District, honing in on one little black kitten at a fish market. She’s a tiny stray who’s just lucked out by swiping a fish for dinner. Avoiding any human contact, she retreats back to her home. Sadly, that happens to be a box in a junkyard simply lined with a stuffed pink elephant toy.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
The first scene opens on San Francisco’s Mission District, honing in on one little black kitten at a fish market. She’s a tiny stray who’s just lucked out by swiping a fish for dinner. Avoiding any human contact, she retreats back to her home. Sadly, that happens to be a box in a junkyard simply lined with a stuffed pink elephant toy.
Upon waking the next day, she is greeted by the sound of barking and chains. A new resident has arrived at the junkyard and it may not be exactly ideal for the stray kitten. She is greeted by the newcomer–and a face full of hot pit bull breath.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
Needless to say, the two don’t quite hit it off right away.
Hearing a commotion outside, the owner of the property heartlessly harnesses the animal with a heavy chain to a nearby crate. Now at least the young kitten can play and romp around carefree just outside the radius of the dog’s reach.
She is happily distracted by a plastic bottle top, proving even stray cats can make a toy out of anything. The animators of the film hit on exactly the actions and movements a silly kitten would have. We are treated to butt wiggles, pounces and even saucer eyes.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
Although she is weary of her new neighbor, she goes about her day as usual. The two briefly size each other up when the makeshift toy accidentally rolls into the “doggy danger zone”. Happily the dog pushes the bottle cap back to the kitten. With the chain securing the dog to the small area, the kitten relaxes a bit. Maybe the two can find a compromise to their new living arrangement?
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
As these days go by, we are given a glimpse into the poor pup’s reality though–the world of dog fighting.
One particularly brutal and rainy night, a horrific scene unfolds. With the rain beating down, thunder crashing overhead and lightening illuminating the miserable atmosphere, the doors to the building fly open. The faceless human coward kicks the wounded dog, sending it cut and bleeding, rolling down the steps.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
While the poor dog whines in pain and begs to be let in out of the rain, the kittens world is about to come crashing down around her.
A board tumbles down onto her hiding place from the storms wrath. During the ruckus, she becomes trapped in a discarded plastic ring. With no way out and now having drawn the attention of the terrifying beast, the kitten cowers in fear. She has no idea what the abused and seemingly vicious dog has in store for her. As the large canine teeth close in on her, she swipes out in fear, slashing the pup across the nose.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
Yelping in surprise, the dog jumps back–and with that movement, pulls the plastic ring trap from the kittens neck.
Now free, the kitten and pup stare at each other while a silent understanding settles over them both. Slowly the dog retreats to the shelter to nurse it’s wounds. When the shock wears off the kitten, she tries to sneak closer to the depressed puppy.
With no fight left in it’s battered body, the dog barely reacts to the tiny intruder. Inching closer and closer, the kitten bravely licks the poor pit bull’s lacerations. Accepting the miniature nurse’s care, the two snuggle up together in their shared misery. If they have no one else, at least they’ll have each other.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
But when a loud noise can be heard coming from the nearby building, the two new friends attempt a nerve-wracking escape. Barely able to jump, the pup is urged on by the tiny kitten who refuses to leave her new friend behind. With that small amount of “meowtivation”, the black kitten jumps on the dogs back and the two escape over the fence to freedom.
They are away from the horrible human, but where do they go now?!
Truly homeless, they wander the streets together in search of food and shelter. The kitten knows just where to go for a tasty treat though–back to the fish market.
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
As she nears the storefront, she is approached by the same woman she avoided on her last visit. This time, the woman is prepared and sets down a wonderfully stinky can of cat food for her. The peace offering is highly appealing, but the kitten has a stubborn streak.
She won’t eat the food because her companion doesn’t have any.
The traumatized dog peeks out from around a nearby tree and cautiously saunters over. Because the human may be afraid of this new larger friend, the kitten happily “figure-8’s” around the dogs legs. They are buddies and come as pair now, which is apparently just fine for the woman. The scared pup approaches her with eyes filled with terror, sadness and fear. (This is where I lost it and the tears won).
Screenshot from Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
The closing scene is right along the lines of the Disney “fairy-tail” ending. I’ll leave that scene for you to witness yourself though. Words can’t describe the multitude of feelings the film conjures for each of us stemming from our personal experiences.
For the director and writer, Rosie Sullivan, it came from a place we personally know very well–cat videos.
I loved watching cat videos in times of stress and I thought, “You know what, I just want to draw a little kitten doing something silly and very-very cat like.” At first I just wanted to draw something that made me feel good and was fun, but it evolved into something more personal to me eventually.
Screenshot from behind-the-scenes making of Disney-Pixar’s film “Kitbull”
I realized that growing up I was always very sensitive and very shy, and had actually a lot of trouble kind of making connections, making friends. And so I related to this kitten because it never really stepped outside of its comfort zone to be vulnerable and make a connection. So that’s eventually what the story became.
Working with people and coming up with ideas and seeing this evolve into something more than if I were to just do it on my own, was the most rewarding aspect of this whole process. I loved just working with people who I could trust and be blown away by.
Screenshot from behind-the-scenes making of Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
The producer, Kathryn Hendrickson, was another in a large team of animators, creators and artists that worked on making this short film what it is today.
What’s so rewarding is getting to see every single person on the crew come on and really have an impact.
With every single frame being hand-drawn and hand-painted, they’ve certainly created a meowsterpiece!
Screenshot from behind-the-scenes making of Disney-Pixar’s SparkShorts film “Kitbull”
Now that I’ve fully prepared you for watching the absolutely teary-eyed, honest and heartwarming 9 minute animated journey, I think you’re ready.
Just be sure to have a tissue handy and someone close by to happily hug afterwards! It’s well worth the oncoming warm “feelies”!
To view the behind-the-scenes making of the film and get to know the talented people behind the camera, you can check out these videos too!
REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP, MICROCHIP YOUR PETS & SPAY AND NEUTER!
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Awesome and amazing but it does tug at your heart and starts the river flowing!!!! Just glad it ended the way it did!!!!