Us Again the Disney short film along with Raya and the Last Dragon

Us Again, director Zach Parrish's new vibrant and original cinematic animated short, combining dance, music, emotional storytelling and inspired animation, will debut exclusively in theaters around the world starting March 5. The short film can be seen together with the film Raya and the last dragon dellat Walt Disney Animation Studios. 

The film is Disney Animation's first new cinematic short since the 2016 release of Head or heart (Inner Workings), which accompanied the film Moana (Moana on the big screen. Us Again will debut in streaming in June on Disney +.

Parrish is an 11-year veteran of Disney Animation who served as the head of animation at Big Hero 6 and director of the film Short Circuit puddles, in addition to his many animated credits on feature films for the studio. Award-winning choreographers / dancers Keone & Mari (featured performers on World of dance, and renowned for their collaborations with talents such as Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish) and acclaimed composer Pinar Toprak (Captain Marvel) brought their unique talents to this experimental and musical fantasy. The film is produced by Brad Simonsen (associate producer on Big Hero 6, Zootopia e Ralph breaks the internet) and produced by Jennifer Lee, Chief Creative Officer, WDAS.

"We are thrilled to premiere our first new theatrical short in five years, Back to Us, exclusively on the big screen along with our incredible new feature, Raya and the Last Dragon, ”commented WDAS President Clark Spencer. “Zach drew on elements from his personal life and partnered with the best in the world of dance and music to create this very special film. We are so proud of what they have accomplished and can't wait to share it with movie goers in March and then June on Disney + ".

Lee added: “One of my priorities has been to bring back theatrical animated shorts and give the artists in our studio the opportunity to explore new ideas. Again we have so much wit and energy and pushes the boundaries of our narrative in short form. "

Set in a vibrant city that pulsates with rhythm and movement, an elderly man and his young wife rekindle their youthful passion for life and each other on a magical night. The years fade away as the joy of dancing propels them through the exciting urban landscape of their youth and revives fond memories and ambitions. Us Again is told entirely without dialogue and set to an original funk and soul soundtrack reminiscent of the mid-60s.

"Working with Keone & Mari was the key to making this film work, ”Parrish said. “From the start, I knew I wanted this film to be driven by music. And I have heard that dance is a universal language that can be translated into any culture. I loved that their dance style felt like it was made for animation and that there was this genuine, honest and organic connection between them because they were actually a married couple in real life. The story itself was inspired by my grandparents, who dealt with aging in different ways, along with my physical limitations in playing sports resulting from age and injuries. I started thinking about how someone might look at the world differently as things change and age ".

Simonsen added: “It was fascinating to see the process and close collaboration between the music, the choreography and Zach's vision for the layout and animation. The film has a timeless, life-affirming message and emotional resonance that is extraordinarily entertaining. Zach's love of dance and animation and his willingness to take risks as a director made this a true labor of love. "

Keone observed: "Mari and I have always dreamed of incorporating our own particular style of movement into animation. Our style is very new and young and we were like kids in a candy store working with Zach and the team to capture it and see our movements made through the characters in the movie. ".

"From the first time we saw the storyboards, I was already crying“Mari added. "The characters were easy to relate to and empathize with. As a married couple, we tried to imagine that we were their age and we also thought about our grandparents in bringing the characters to life through dance. ".