Introduction
"Bao" (2018) is a heartfelt eight-minute animated short from Pixar Animation Studios, written and directed by Domee Shi — the first short film director at Pixar who is female
. The short premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2018 and was released in theaters alongside "Incredibles 2" on June 15, 2018
Description
Set in Toronto within a Chinese-Canadian immigrant household, "Bao" centers on a middle-aged mother experiencing empty nest syndrome after her son moves out
. While preparing dumplings (baozi), one dumpling magically comes to life as a playful little boy. She embraces this unexpected “second chance” at motherhood, caring for the dumpling-child with love and tenderness
As the dumpling grows—learning to ride the bus, play soccer, and socialize—tensions rise. The mother’s deep fear of losing him mirrors the real anguish of letting go. Ultimately, she devours him in a moment of desperation when he plans to move out with his fiancée
. Heartbroken, she wakes and realizes it was a symbolic dream about her actual son. The film closes as father, son, and new daughter-in-law bond in the kitchen, preparing bao together—suggesting reconciliation and renewed family connection
This beautifully crafted short uses vibrant visual storytelling—without dialogue—to explore universal themes of maternal love, family dynamics, and the bittersweet complexities of letting go
The Chinese "bao" carries dual meaning—both a steamed bun and a term meaning "precious"—making it a powerful metaphor for the child cherished by his mother
Summary
The animated short film Bao tells the story of a Chinese mother living in Canada who creates a dumpling (bao) that magically comes to life as her son. The mother, who is lonely and childless, showers Bao with love and care, treating him like her real child. As Bao grows, he seeks independence and desires to explore the outside world, much to his mother’s worry because he is fragile like a dumpling. Conflict arises
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