Disney has just released an all-new short film, A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus, in collaboration with Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, premiering today on YouTube.The film follows the journey of a child who discovers a curious octopus has attached to his head during a seaside vacation. After returning home, the boy forms a true friendship with the octopus by introducing his new companion to his life on land harnessing the power of the Force with his Jedi lightsaber, playing with his Buzz Lightyear action figure, and imagining Santa Claus route around the world with the map on his wall before taking the lovable octopus out into the world to experience the joy of the holidays, hidden under his Mickey Mouse beanie.While watching the Disney holiday classic, The Santa Clause (1994), the boy comes to understand the extent of the octopus desire to explore everything the world has to offer, and he sets in motion a plan to make it happen. For the boy and the octopus, it is the precious everyday moments of childhood and friendship, as much as the magic of the season, that make their time together so meaningful. Numerous hidden easter eggs include nods to films like Moana (2016), Lilo and Stitch (2002), and Toy Story (1995), among others.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, said Waititi. I think they go hand in hand and it's the perfect match and only Disney could have made something like this with me. The short was created in conjunction with global creative agencies adam&eveDDB and Untold Studios, and produced by Hungry Man. A melodic rendition of Part of Your World from the Disney classic The Little Mermaid (1989) can be heard throughout the short, highlighting the octopus desire to explore the world above. This take on the fan-favorite song was recorded live by a 60-piece orchestra and mixed in the legendary recording studio Abbey Road.Tim Pennoyer, Director of Brand Marketing and the and themarketinglead whohelpedspearhead the campaign, shares with AWN, The biggest challenge in bringingA Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus to life was creating an octopus character that felt both realistic and emotionally expressive. Working with our amazing partners in adam&eveDDB and VFX experts Untold Studios, we knew we were asking a lotan octopus with eight tentacles that could move independently, shapeshift, and even change skin color, all while conveying the warmth and charm needed for our story. It was the most complex character Untold Studios has ever brought to life, requiring an incredible level of detail in VFX to capture those intricate movements and transformations. He adds, The octopus had to feel both lifelike and relatable, with a full range of motion that would make the character truly magical on screen. It was a huge technical and creative challenge, but we knew it was key to making the story unforgettable. We would spend hours talking through every single scene with the octopus debating each expression on his face, and even the sounds he would make. All these details bring him to life.Take a few moments to enjoy the film: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 Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company. Were thrilled to collaborate with Taika Waititi on this timeless story of childhood friendship against the backdrop of this magical season.A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus is the latest creative collaboration between Waititi and The Walt Disney Company. The acclaimed filmmaker directed Marvel Studios Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Searchlight Pictures Jojo Rabbit (2019) and Next Goal Wins (2023), as well as executive produced Hulus Reservation Dogs, What We Do in the Shadows, and the forthcoming limited series, Interior Chinatown.Source: The Walt Disney Company Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.