Black Belts is a live action short film in the Launchpad series from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and was released on Disney+ on September 29, 2023.
Synopsis[]
KJ, an offbeat middle schooler and martial arts movie nerd from Compton, challenges the top dojos in South LA, wearing his uncle’s old black belt. But when his former fighter dad gets too involved, both learn there’s more to life than keeping your guard up.
Plot[]
KJ Hatton is a teenage boy obsessed with martial arts. His father, Maurice is a practitioner and teacher of Compton Strong Style. Maurice's brother, Donnie died from gun violence and KJ carries his black belt to remember him by. Despite this, Maurice refuses to teach KJ his ways and instead has him performing mainly construction based work following a fight that left him slightly injured. KJ is sent to pick up supplies from the hardware store, but the owner allows him to sneak into the back to see their dojo where he meets student Missy. A curt student named Trey mocks KJ, especially when he learns that he is related to Maurice.
KJ continues to mope about not being able to train by drawing pictures in his notebook. While Maurice can tell that he wants to know Compton Strong Style, he does not want to teach him on the grounds of all the hard work and what it reminds him of in the past. KJ is sent back to the hardware store where Trey once again mocks and belittles him. KJ follows Trey into the back just as Maurice follows him to the store. KJ starts to fight and beat up Trey, but when he takes it too far, Missy knocks him out. Maurice takes KJ back home.
Angered and upset over how things have been going for him, KJ reveals that his main reason for wanting to fight is so that he can defend himself the next time he gets picked on (explaining his injury). Maurice decides to take KJ out to "train" him and demands that he try and attack him, failing to do so every time. KJ, tired and angry, hugs his father and tells him that all he wants to do is draw. Father and son make amends as Maurice tells him that he will train him the right way from now on. After dinner, KJ asks Maurice about the move he was going to teach him and Maurice performs a move that sends a gust of wind through the living room.
Cast[]
- Seth Carr as KJ Hatton
- Tremayne Morris as Maurice Hatton
- Honey Robinson as Missy
- Godderick Alucard as Trey
- G. Smokey Campbell as Mr. Williams
- Anthena Neri Best as Stacy Hatton
Trivia[]
- This is Seth Carr's second Disney+ original he worked on, the first being The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Gallery[]
