Versa is a new Disney animated short that can now be watched on Disney+. The story was written by director Malcon Pierce, based on a tragic experience that he and his wife went through together. Recently, Daps Magic was invited to the Walt Disney Animation Studios to preview Versa and also speak with the filmmaker behind it. During the conversation, Pierce shared great vulnerability as he shared his deeply personal journey that was behind creating this animated short. This was a process that saw him transform his grief into art. This process was very honest, and Pierce received support from his wife, co-workers, and even Disney as Versa came to the screens of Disney+.
While watching Versa for the first time in a theater at the Walt Disney Animation Studios, the thought popped into my mind, wondering what the backstory to this film was. It seemed fairly straightforward. As I watched this tragically beautiful story unfold, I questioned whether someone was very good at putting themselves into a tragic situation or if they were pulling from life experience. A short time later, I would find my answer and soon found myself sitting across a table from the filmmaker, Malcon Pierce.
Origin
Pierce is the artistic director at Disney Animation Studios in Vancouver. Peirce shared about the origins of the project, saying, “I remember having the idea to do something performing arts related, something akin to Fantasia, but I struggled with the story that would carry me through this creative endeavor.”
The story of loss that inspired Versa happened while working on a Disney film. After this heartbreaking event, he and his wife Keely approached dealing with the grief in very different ways. Keely approached things head-on and documented the process with her camera. Pierce, instead, turned to work. Eventually, however, with the help of Keely, he too directly faced the tragedy. He recalls, “My wife encouraged me to confront my emotions, suggesting I visit the nursery we had prepared.” During this moment of facing that intense pain, Pierce’s wife took photos. This ultimately led to clarity for the project. “Those photos documented my journey from pain to acceptance. The last photo, where we are hugging and smiling, became the nucleus of my story for Versa.”
A Professional and Personal Process
This emotionally transparent moment unlocked the creative process for Versa. It put Pierce on the road to what would eventually become what can now be seen on Disney+. The process of creating this short film was not just a professional one. It was also a deeply personal one. The process of creating this film became a part of the healing process.
The road to completion of this film was not necessarily an easy one, however. With the direction that was provided by his wife’s photographs, Pierce began to sketch out ideas. He was drawing inspiration from his personal experience, he shared, “I’m a visual person, so I started drawing moments and thinking of set pieces. It felt like I was finally capturing something meaningful.”
Community Support
This process led him to seek out the help and advice of others. His wife was a big part of the process, offering opinions throughout. Pierce also reached out to Jennifer Lee, who was then the Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios. “I reached out to her because I valued her emotional understanding of characters. She helped me refine my ideas and think deeply about the characters’ perspectives.” Pierce shared. These conversations led to what would become the narrative arc of Versa. This wove themes of grief, healing, and hope together.
Throughout the process, Pierce discovered that his story was resonating with others. “It started to build a community around shared experiences of loss and healing, which was incredibly powerful,” he notes. This helped him as he created this short. Initially, Pierce wanted to approach the story from a position that was more abstract. However, with the encouragement of his wife and others, he began to open up and face the fear of sharing his emotions and experiences. He shared that “At first, I was flinching when putting myself out there, but with every positive reaction, I gained more confidence.”
Support and positive reactions were given to Pierce from many different levels. This included his wife, his peers, and even Disney. This was encouragement for him to maintain his artistic integrity and really be vulnerable and honest with his storytelling. This came at some risk with such a sensitive topic. However, “I was never asked to change my vision; instead, I was encouraged to enhance it. That support was crucial in allowing me to be honest in my storytelling.”
Channeling Grief
Versa isn’t just an animated short that came out of someone’s imagination. Instead, it is the product of a life experience that led to heartbreak. This grief was channeled to create something beautiful. This was only possible because of the environment in which this short was created and the support received by Pierce as he created it. This environment offered a place where creativity and confidence can grow. The result is a short that has a story that is vulnerable, authentic, and resonates with those who watch it. Ultimately, this leads to deeper connections between the filmmaker and audiences, but also between audiences and those in their lives.
There is something very beautiful about artistic expression coming out of raw emotion. This can be grief, but it also can be love or other emotions. These very personal experiences, when explored with honesty and vulnerability, can then lead to something beautiful. It is the proverbial rose growing out of the ashes. This is what Versa is.
What do you think of Versa? Have you seen this Malcon Pierce short from Walt Disney Animation Studios yet? If so, what did you think of it? What did you think of the process of creating this film? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
