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IMDbPro

Bao

  • 2018
  • G
  • 8m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
35K
YOUR RATING
Bao (2018)
Oscar-winning Pixar director and writer Domee Shi discusses how her first credit paved the way for her to tell bold, risk-taking stories in animated short 'Bao' and full-length feature 'Turning Red.'
Play clip1:42
Watch Domee Shi on the Credit That Changed Her Life
3 Videos
30 Photos
Computer AnimationAnimationDramaFamilyFantasyShort

A Chinese-Canadian woman suffering from empty nest syndrome gets a second shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes alive.A Chinese-Canadian woman suffering from empty nest syndrome gets a second shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes alive.A Chinese-Canadian woman suffering from empty nest syndrome gets a second shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes alive.

  • Director
    • Domee Shi
  • Writer
    • Domee Shi
  • Stars
    • Sindy Lau
    • Kai Li
    • Sharmaine Yeoh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    35K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Domee Shi
    • Writer
      • Domee Shi
    • Stars
      • Sindy Lau
      • Kai Li
      • Sharmaine Yeoh
    • 117User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Videos3

    Domee Shi on the Credit That Changed Her Life
    Clip 1:42
    Domee Shi on the Credit That Changed Her Life
    Bao
    Clip 0:32
    Bao
    Bao
    Clip 0:32
    Bao
    Bao: Discovery
    Clip 0:32
    Bao: Discovery

    Photos30

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 25
    View Poster

    Top cast4

    Edit
    Sindy Lau
    • Mom
    • (voice)
    Kai Li
    • Bao Kid
    • (voice)
    • (as Daniel Kai Lin)
    Sharmaine Yeoh
    Sharmaine Yeoh
      Tim Zhang
      Tim Zhang
      • Dad
      • (voice)
      • Director
        • Domee Shi
      • Writer
        • Domee Shi
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews117

      7.534.5K
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      Featured reviews

      Kirpianuscus

      a mother

      Story of a mother and her son. More realistic than you expect, rich nuanced, admirable crafted, using the perfect music and exploring each moment of the way from kid to adult. Charming , seductive, touching, admirable are only words in this case. In essence, a great short animation. The story reminds Little Tumbling but, in same measure, it is a splendid portrait of the essence of motherhood and that is its basic virtue. Short, just special. Or, pure delightful, for wise mix ox of smile and tears. Like each portrait of mother.
      0U

      A perfect short film

      This powerful little short film uses food to tell the story of guilt and family. Disney recently released this on YouTube and I can very easily recommend this gem.
      9jagotskysquay

      Uhhh... yeah it's good.

      I am 30 year old man.

      I have made my mother's life a living hell for my entire life. I moved out when I was 18 and got a place with my girlfriend of the time.

      I could tell she sensed " something " about her but being a naive, self-serving fool, I stupidly told myself that the girl was more important. I wasted the next two years of my life on that girl, always holding to that stubborn frame of mind.

      Just after my 20th birthday I got into trouble. Long story short, I did something i never should have more or less because I had the girl on my mind. I landed myself in prison, luckily only for two years.

      I then got out only to learn that that girl had robbed me for everything I had, and she had also broken in to my moms house and robbed her, Stole my mothers last remaining memory she had of HER mother, her wedding ring.

      I had spent those two years rethinking my life and my path, and felt I was going to get out and do things right, I just KNEW I was going to succeed.

      I have struggled ever since, still ever so stubborn, made many stupid decisions between then and now.

      I'm not sure what I am trying to say here but j guess it is a bit like this.

      Don't take your mother or father for granted. You will realize how much they mean to you once you've gotten to the point of no return.

      This little short reminded me of that.
      8EmbraceTheGeek

      Another Unique Pixar Short

      Bao is a very cute short animation. I honestly didn't realize the protagonist was a woman until I looked at a discussion on Reddit but that shouldn't stop your attachment to the characters of the story. It was a nice opener for Incredibles 2 and the ending was surprising. Definitely worth a few minutes of your time and it will pull on your heartstrings. Yes you may cry and laugh and Domee Shi did a great job making a fun short.
      9silverwing99-618-344035

      Prepare to ugly cry

      Pixar and Disney really ought to merge with Kleenex ... they just know how to get you right in the feels! Being Asian and the mom of two boys this got me ... a very well done short showing what it's like when your child grows up and how hard it is to let go.

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        A few Easter eggs point to Toronto, Canada as the location: the CN tower in the cityscape background, a boy wearing a Vince Carter style "15" jersey, and a Canadian flag pinned to the refrigerator door.
      • Goofs
        Mom eats Bao yet he reappears all grown up toward the end of the story.

        Correction: the son was real (see the family photos on the wall above the dining table) and the living bun was a dream, playing out the real life events of the son leaving home.
      • Crazy credits
        Instead of the usual Pixar credit for "production babies" - babies born to people who worked on a given film during its production - there is a credit for "production baos".
      • Connections
        Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Death of DisneyToon Studios (2018)

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • June 15, 2018 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Official site
        • Official site
      • Language
        • None
      • Also known as
        • Бао
      • Production companies
        • Pixar Animation Studios
        • Walt Disney Pictures
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        8 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby Digital
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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