Disney animator Malcon Pierce will premiere his short film, *Versa*, at the Animation In Film festival this weekend.
This animated short follows a young couple as they cope with sadness and loss while trying to have a family. According to Pierce, it’s a creative and visually stunning story, told through dance.
The movie draws inspiration from the personal experiences of its creator, Pierce. While working on *Moana*, he and his wife, Keely, tragically lost their baby son, Cooper. A small crystal star, given to them by his mother-in-law, served as a touching daily reminder of their son.
You know, after Cooper passed, it was just… heartbreaking. But every morning, my family and I would find these tiny rainbows all over the house – they were made with this little star-shaped prism he loved. It became our way of remembering him, a little piece of him still with us each day. It really helped us keep him close.
Pierce pitched the idea for *Versa* to Jennifer Lee, Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, and she suggested he focus on the characters’ perspectives. Artist Paul Felix then collaborated on the visual development, producing seven paintings that illustrated Pierce’s initial concepts.
The story primarily uses physical expression – like dance and ice skating – to show characters’ feelings instead of relying on spoken words.
Pierce collaborated with choreographers Katherine Hill and Ben Agosto to ensure the skating felt genuine and portrayed the couple’s emotional story. He described a poignant scene: “There’s a moment where the father skates around the mother and leans in to hear the baby, only to feel a kick!” Pierce added that they were discovering many beautiful, subtle details like this.
The music is crucial to the film’s impact. Composer Haim Mazar created a score using a 69-piece orchestra, blending traditional orchestral sounds with those of 1990s synthesizers to mirror the parents’ emotional experience.
Pierce was also inspired by Kintsugi, a Japanese art form where broken pottery is repaired with gold, representing healing and the beauty that can come from difficult experiences. He explained, “We really focused on the idea of building a relationship with grief and discovering hope even in the toughest times.”
Versa is Pierce’s artistic expression of grief and a tribute to life, blending animation, music, and dance to share powerful feelings. Interestingly, Pierce also included a playful nod to Cooper in the credits of *Moana*, listing him as a ‘production baby’ with a star next to his name – a symbol of his lasting impact. Pierce explains, “I often say that star has guided me throughout this journey, and it still does today.”
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2025-10-18 22:09