Partly Cloudy (2009); animated short film family comedy

Poster artwork for the family animated short film Partly Cloudy.

Baby Buddies by Linh

Perhaps Pixar Animation Studios is starting a trend where an animated feature is preceded by a cleverly humourous and at times emotive short film.

The phenomenal Wall-E followed the animated short film Presto, which is about a neglectful magician and his mischievous and vengeful rabbit. Presto was well received and it seems we may be seeing more animated shorts from Pixar in the future.

PECK PICKS UP: Gus has another bundle of joy for Peck in the animated short Partly Cloudy. Image: Pixar Animation Studios.

This time, Disney and Pixar’s latest animated film Up follows the quirky Partly Cloudy. It is a six-minute short that puts a playful spin on the childhood myth of storks delivering babies, and in particular, where the storks get the babies. The storks travel all around the world to drop off a baby wrapped in a white cloth after picking them up from clouds that create the babies out of thin air.

It’s not only human babies produced in this way but also baby animals.

PLUCKY: Peck reassures Gus that he's ready for anything in the animated short Partly Cloudy. Image: Pixar Animation Studios.

Partly Cloudy tells of a friendship between a grey cloud named Gus and his stork friend called Peck. While other white clouds create cute human babies, kittens and puppies, Gus floats at the bottom of the hierarchy and is responsible for creating more dangerous animals.

After fashioning babies such as a snap-happy crocodile, a rambunctious ram then a passive porcupine, Gus presents Peck with a cloud shaped like a baby shark. Frightened and exhausted, Peck flies over to the white clouds.

The short film shows the fragility of friendship; despite the prickly situations and other differences, two best friends can stick by each other.

Partly Cloudy is almost a perfect prelude to the animated feature Up which carries similar themes.

LONESOME CLOUD: Gus feels abandoned and sad in the animated short Partly Cloudy. Image: Pixar Animation Studios.

Director: Peter Sohn

Voice Cast: Tony Fucile, Lori Richardson

Producer: Kevin Reher

Original Music:  Michael Giacchino

Film Editor: Jason Hudak

Running Time:  6 minutes

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Baby animals are delivered the same way as human babies in the animated short Partly Cloudy. Image: Pixar Animation Studios.