The Facts:

Synopsis: A woman gets a second shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes alive.

Director: Domee Shi

Running Length: 8 minutes

TMMM Score: (8/10)

Review: Proving once again that there is no emotional well they can’t mine for a few surprising tears, Pixar’s latest animated short  (playing before Incredibles 2) falls right in line with some of their more plaintive fare.  Think UP territory kind of emotions.  Directed by Chinese Canadian illustrator Domee Shi, Bao is a tale of an empty nester that gets an eyeful just as she’s about to take a mouthful of her carefully prepared dumplings.  Over the course of eight minutes, Shi (the first female director of a Pixar short) takes us through a fast-tracked parental journey that culminates in a bit of a shock only to resolve itself in a most beautiful fashion.  Pixar would be wise to allow for a five minute “Call Your Mom And Tell Her You Love Her Break” after this one is over.