In one underwater scene, you can see every grain of sand as it floats beneath the waves. Piper’s feathers are rendered with a level of detail never seen before seen in animation, and the beach looks shockingly realistic with its water effects and wet sand.

It has been 30 years since Pixar first burst into the animation world with “Luxo Jr.,” and “Piper” is a breathtaking example of how far computers have come in the intervening decades and what Pixar has been able to do with that technology. He must then learn to overcome his fear of the water, with some unexpected help from some fellow beach denizens.Īlso Read: 'Finding Dory' Review: Ellen DeGeneres Performs Swimmingly in Sprightly Pixar Sequel Unfortunately, the poor bird learns too late why the adults regularly run away from the water as they feed, and gets smashed by an oncoming wave. This summer’s offering is “Piper,” a six-minute short from veteran animator Alan Barillaro that features the a gorgeous setting and the most adorable protagonist in any Pixar short - possibly ever.Īs you can see in the clip above, “Piper” features a baby sandpiper who heads out with his mother to forage for clams that wash up on the seashore. In keeping with the tradition they have built since their inception, the studio is opening their “Finding Nemo” sequel with a short film that allows animators to jump in the director’s chair and try some more experimental fare. If you’re planning to go see “Finding Dory” this weekend, Pixar has a bonus treat in store for you.

Piper short film full video