Disney’s Versa is now streaming on Disney+. This short that was created by Malcon Pierce tells a story of loss, grief, and healing. Daps Magic was recently invited to the Walt Disney Animation Studios to preview this short and then speak with Pierce (the interviews can be found here). As the short film arrived on Disney’s streaming service, Disney shared more about this animated short film. Read about it below!

Walt Disney Animation Studios continues a long tradition of experimentation and innovation in short-form storytelling with Malcon Pierce’s Versa, streaming Friday, March 27, on Disney+.

Pierce, a 16-year Disney Animation veteran, wrote and directed Versa — a powerful and profound story of loss, grief, and healing. In the short film, a young couple looking to start a family experiences a gamut of emotions as they embark on an ethereal and imaginative cosmic dance of life. The story comes from a personal place for Pierce and his wife, Keely Tateossian, and combines a multitude of artistic styles, bold imagery, and exciting effects.

While working as an animation supervisor on Moana (2016), Pierce and Tateossian lost their infant son, Cooper, to whom Versa is dedicated. “After Moana, I spent a lot of time sitting back, thinking about life. I remembered that Cooper’s baby shower theme was ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’ We had all these star motifs for how we would remember him and keep him in our life. [Versa] sort of came from that,” said Pierce, whose family has since expanded to include a son named Casper. “I had the imagery in my head, but I didn’t have the heart. Then, I thought, ‘What if this is the story about the push and pull of what it means to grieve as a couple?’ Keely and I both had our own approach in dealing with grief.”

“The best part of this project has been hearing from folks as they share their own experiences with grief,” he continued. “It can be hard to talk about, because it requires emotional buy-in, so it’s been really rewarding. And, selfishly, it has helped me grow a lot.”

Music and Movement

From the outset, Pierce wanted Versa to incorporate the kinetic energy of a circus theater show and the built-in fluidity of ice dancing. In the process of putting together a sizzle reel showing his vision, he discovered a YouTube channel featuring the husband-and-wife team of Ben Agosto and Katherine Hill, world-renowned ice champions and choreographers. They were brought on to block the characters’ movements, while the brother-sister team of Oona and Gage Brown would perform the skating that was used for animation reference.

“Ben and Kat did a rough pass of choreography, and as soon as we saw their first blush of the skating, we said, ‘Oh, thank goodness! I think this is going to work,’” Pierce recalled. “That was a big moment, because Versa is musically-driven; there is no dialogue. It was a challenge, but it made us think differently. Constraints can help you think more creatively.”