Pixar Animation Studios has released the trailer for its new short, Carl’s Date, which debuts exclusively in theaters in front of Disney and Pixar’s Elemental.
The all-new short marks a return to the studio’s tradition of pairing its feature films with animated shorts on the big screen.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, Carl’s Date goes home with Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner) and his lovable talking dog, Dug (voice of Peterson), who were introduced in Pixar’s Oscar-winning feature Up.
Moviegoers will catch up with Carl as he reluctantly agrees to go on a date with a lady friend – but admittedly has no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends – if you’re a dog.
Opening in theaters on June 16, 2023, Elemental is set in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The film is rated PG for some peril, thematic elements and brief language.
The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in.
Elemental is directed by Peter Sohn, produced by Denise Ream, and features the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade, respectively.
Sohn previously shared the personal inspiration behind the film – a story of immigrants pursuing dreams in beautiful neighborhoods where language and cultures come together.
“This teaser has been all about trying to set up the world,” Sohn told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s a world of elements. What elements? Earth, water, air. Those are the ones you meet, and then finally fire being one of the last communities that come to this city.
“Growing up, I always saw my parents a certain way, but then when I hit my 20s and got a real job versus working at my family shop, I saw them as people. That shift from parents to people affected me a great deal.
The filmmaker continued: “All the stories they told me of their journey here I took for granted until I was like, ‘Oh my God, they did this without speaking the language. They did this with no money. My dad was a hotdog cart guy and he made all this. I could never do that.’ My empathy grew for them.”
Sohn told the magazine that the film will dive deeper into themes of identity, belonging, and “what assimilation or a melting pot might be,” but he wanted it to have a “really hopeful, fun vibe.”
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.