O Guarda-Chuva Azul

This is yet another Disney/Pixar computer-animated short shown before their main feature which in this case is Monsters University. This one has a different look as initially, it looks like real live action with the depiction of city streets in the rain. But then, the title character comes to life-complete with eyes and a smile-and as the score starts playing, so do many of the city's inanimate objects also come to life. And then, this blue umbrella sees a red one and...well, watch the short if you want to know. In summary, The Blue Umbrella has a wonderful charming atmosphere that permeates throughout the brief running time and should leave a long enough smile on your face as you wait for the main feature to begin...

Since the characters in this are umbrellas, we have to have rain (which we do). The umbrellas have to have personality (which they do). The interaction between them as they jockey for position on the street is fun to watch. Pixar has a way of moving a step above the competition. Well done.

I know this is animation and we're supposed to be dazzled, but I had the opposite reaction. I did love it, I do marvel at it, but it's so well done I allowed myself to believe it was real. That's the goal, I think, of this kind of animation work, this advancement and it was so advanced beyond what we've come to expect I said YES and went along with it. Of course, I know the truth ... but my 7-year old nephew who watched it with me did not think it was animation. For him and for children, inanimate objects can come to life, they can have faces, they can have drama. So I watched from his perspective and it was marvelous.

I hope this kind of work continues and becomes so accepted that audiences will stop talking about the technical and come back to the story. (Or as much.)

I will note that in my opinion, the storytellers worked very hard to prevent any decision of male or female for their humans. There was only one moment when I thought "that's a woman" -- otherwise, it could have been two men, two women, one of each ... I wonder if people are assuming male/female because of the colors of the umbrellas and boots? Or because the umbrellas' faces have been rendered with choice of male/female? Then again, that's ME making an assumption, that long eyelashes and coy looks are female. And that's not necessarily so!

As far as the idea of coupling it with MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, I think it's a great idea. As I said, I watched it with my nephew and he has watched it over and over and over again, making my purchase of the DVD even more worth its value than if he was just watching an obviously animated movie. I'm happy for him that he also got a smaller packaged gift of suspension of disbelief.

Maybe not one of Pixar's absolute best short films in the same way Geri's Game, One Man Band, Presto and Knick-Knack are, but that can be ignored because The Blue Umbrella doesn't disappoint at all. It accompanies Monsters University wonderfully, one of those cases where the short film and the feature are about equal in rating and quality and not a case of the short film being better or the feature being so. The visuals are stunning to watch, with everything looking so real and there are a lot of lavish colours. The music matches the quality of the visuals, it is understated and gentle but immensely charming also. The story, effective in its simplicity, keeps ones attention even with the brief(perhaps too brief?) running time and never feels too obvious, it has a lot of whimsy and heart, as well being very touching. And of course it is very charming too, from the very start right through the ending. The ending was especially well done in this being heartfelt and touching respect. That is not to say though that The Blue Umbrella isn't without funny moments, there are some but done subtly and gently without being in-your-face. The characters are simple but really sweet, carrying the story beautifully. Overall, beautiful and heartfelt, not one of the best Pixar short films but it didn't need to be to be good. All it needed really was to be of at least good quality, and it ended up to be great quality. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The animation and sound design in this are surreal. The story is super simple and bland but what can I say, sometimes I'm just tryna feel good.

This short made me feel good.