Far From the Tree is a 2021 animated short film that was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The animation is a seamless mixture of 2D computer-cel and CG character animation. It was released on June 15, 2021 at the Annecy Film Festival and was released on November 24, 2021 alongside the feature film, Encanto.[1]
Synopsis[]
Parenting is tough, especially when the stakes are high. On an idyllic beach in the Pacific Northwest, curiosity gets the better of a young raccoon whose frustrated parent attempts to keep them both safe. In the all-new Walt Disney Animation Studios animated short, Far From the Tree, this young raccoon will learn that while there is reason to be fearful, as danger lurks around every corner, it is still possible to live with an open heart.[2]
Plot[]
A small baby raccoon, identified as Marie by the crew, and her father, Papa, who has a scar over his left eye, venture outside of the woods and onto a beach. While Marie is quick to venture out, the Papa is overly protective in an aggressive manner. He attempts to dig for oysters for them to eat, but Marie continues to get distracted by tufted puffins, crabs and a seashell where she listens to the ocean in it. Papa takes the seashell and smashes it; leaving the Marie sad.
A seagull appears and Marie is enticed to follow it towards its flock. However, as she gets close, she realizes that there is a coyote prowling for food. The coyote chases after her and manages to leave a scar across her nose. Papa appears and manages to bash the coyote away as they run up a tree to hide. He angrily chatters at his daughter before revealing that his scar came from a similar predator. Both parent and child raccoon begin to feel distant and heartbroken.
Years later, Marie, now an adult, ventures onto the beach with her own young; following a similar pattern from her father. Once again, the young is faced with similar eye catching oddities that the parent tries to deter him from. When the young runs after a seagull flock, Marie proceeds to angrily chastise him, but catches herself making the same mistake her father did and calmly takes her young to the top of the tree to show him the predator and her scar. Mother and child comfort one another.
The two return to the beach, with Marie teaching and playing with her son before returning to the tree, where the she gifts her child with a sea shell.
Trivia[]
- The seventh Walt Disney Animation Studios short film to be produced in a 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, after Get a Horse!, Feast, Inner Workings, Once Upon a Snowman and Us Again.
- The official names for each of the raccoons are 'Papa',[3] 'Marie',[4][5] and 'Baby Boy'.[6]
- Although raccoon sound effects were used for all the raccoons in the short, two non-raccoon sound effects were also used in the short: one of them which is a puppy sound effect with the other being a porcupine sound effect.
- While the adult male raccoon is confirmed to be Marie's father, real male raccoons don't have a hand in raising their young.
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