Lou (2017 film)

Lou
Film poster
Directed by Dave Mullins
Produced by Dana Murray
Screenplay by Dave Mullins
Music by Christophe Beck
Cinematography Adam Habib
Edited by Anthony J. Greenberg
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • March 12, 2017 (2017-03-12) (SXSW)
  • June 16, 2017 (2017-06-16) (with Cars 3)
Running time
 6 minutes[1]
Country United States

Lou is a 2017 American computer-animated short film written and directed by Dave Mullins and produced by Pixar. It was theatrically released alongside Pixar's Cars 3 on June 16, 2017. The short is about a lost and found box and the unseen monster within.[1] It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.[2]

Plot

The lost-and-found box in a kindergarten playground is home to Lou, a creature made from the assorted unclaimed items. Every day after recess, Lou picks up the toys that the children leave behind; the next day, he sets them out on the playground for their owners to find.

A bully by the name of J.J. starts taking others' toys, keeping them in his backpack. Lou starts to sneak the toys out of his backpack but J.J. catches him in the act and a chase ensues, including various shape shifts by Lou.

During the chase, Lou notices the name tag on J.J.'s underwear matches a toy left in the box, a teddy bear that belongs to J.J. but was taken from him by a similar bully. J.J. tries to retrieve the bear but Lou refuses to relinquish it until J.J. empties the lost-and-found box. Eventually, J.J. finds joy in reuniting the kids with their toys when a girl gratefully hugs him. J.J. excitedly returns the rest of the toys in the box. Returning to the box for more toys, J.J. finds that Lou has taken himself apart and all his parts are returned to their owners. J.J. then sees his teddy bear is the last toy left and happily reclaims it. As J.J. joins two boys for a game of catch, the film ends with the three missing letters of the box (used for the title sequence), which is revealed why the creature was called, "Lou."

Reception

Director Dave Mullins presented the film at the 2017 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.[3]

Lou premiered at the South by Southwest festival on March 12, 2017.[4][5] It was theatrically released on June 16, 2017, together with Pixar's eighteenth film Cars 3.[1]

The film is dedicated to Mullins' father, who died during the making of the short.

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 78% based on 9 reviews.[6]

Awards

Year Presenter/Festival Award/Category Status
2018 Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film Nominated[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Truitt, Brian (1 February 2017). "Sneak peek: Pixar's new 'Lou' short tackles playground bullying". USA Today. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "90th Academy Award Animated Short Film Nominees". The Oscars 2018. Disney Enterprises, Inc. January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  3. ↑ Hopewell, John (24 April 2017). "'Despicable Me 3,' Pixar's 'Coco,' 'The Big Bad Fox' to Bow at France's 2017 Annecy Animation Festival". Variety. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "2017 Schedule - Lou". SXSW. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Winfrey, Graham (7 February 2017). "SXSW: Midnighters, Short Films and VR Round Out 2017 Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Lou (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  7. ↑ "90th Academy Award Animated Short Film Nominees". 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
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