It’s officially the holiday season! Settle down, settle down. Yes, we know that means stress. But it also mean rewatching our favorite Christmas movies to remember why we love this time of year. If, though, you’re looking for something both new and quick to help get you into a festive mood, Disney just dove headfirst into the season with the debut of a new holiday short from Taika Waititi. “The Boy & The Octopus” is a sweet tale of an unlikely friendship. And it also turns an iconic Disney song into a perfect noel.
A terrifying encounter in the ocean becomes a beautiful bond in Taika Waititi’s latest partnership with Disney. His Disney holiday short also features countless Easter eggs and tributes to the House of Mouse. But the real fun here comes in the film’s own moving tale.
In a statement, Waititi talked about how “The Boy & The Octopus” crams so much emotion into just four minutes. “The story manages to connect the feelings that you get around the holidays, and the joy, the goodwill and everything, with those same emotions and those same sensibilities you get from Disney films,” he said. “I think they go hand in hand and it’s the perfect match – and only Disney could have made something like this…with me.”
Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company, explained how the short captures Disney’s own holiday spirit. “For generations, Disney has been an ever-present part of the holiday season all over the world, and this short builds on the enduring connection that so many families have with Disney during this special time of year,” said Ayaz.
What helps make this Disney holiday short extra magical is the perfect use of The Little Mermaid‘s “Part of Your World.” It might not be a Christmas song normally, but it absolutely works as a noel in “The Boy & The Octopus.” It not only has us ready for the most wonderful time of year, it has us wanting to rewatch Ariel’s own movie as part of our holiday celebration.
