Taika Waititi Teams Up with Disney for Heartwarming Holiday Short, The Boy & The Octopus

This holiday season, Disney continues its tradition of inspiring wonder and joy with a heartwarming new short film, A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus, directed by Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi. Today, the charming new short makes its premiere on YouTube and invites audiences into the magical world of Disney storytelling, imbued with holiday cheer and an unforgettable sense of adventure.

A Holiday Classic in the Making

“For decades, Disney has been a part of our holiday tradition for families all around the world, and this short is part of the deep love many generations of families have shared with Disney during that special time of year,” said Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “We’re so excited to team up with Taika Waititi on this timeless story about childhood friendship set against the backdrop of this magical time of year.”

This short follows the magical journey of a young boy who, while on holiday at the seaside, makes an unexpected friend-an octopus. Upon returning home, the child finds the inquisitive creature, now attached to his head, is more than a simple plaything but a friend with an insatiable desire to see the world. As the boy educates his new friend in all the wonders of childhood, including Jedi lightsabers, Buzz Lightyear action figures, and holiday traditions like watching The Santa Clause, he comes to understand the octopus’s yearning to explore everything life has to offer. With an octopus playing in the most delightful of ways, the magical world of holidays greets him, hidden under a Mickey Mouse beanie.

This tale of unlikely friendship celebrates not only the everyday joys of being a child but also gives a sense of giving, exploration, and connection that makes the holiday season so grand. Delights for any Disney fan include Easter eggs galore, with nods to other modern classics like Moana 2016, Lilo & Stitch 2002, and Toy Story 1995.

The Power of Friendship and Discovery

Poignancy and humor come together in equal measure in The Boy & The Octopus, as Taika Waititi constructs a film sure to resonate among the childhood and adult sense alike. As Waititi himself explained, the emotions of the holiday season-joy and goodwill, the warmth of togetherness-are perfectly in sync with the themes of discovery and wonder found in Disney’s timelessly magical films.

The story manages to connect the feelings that you get around the holidays, and the joy, the goodwill and everything, with those same emotions and those same sensibilities you get from Disney films,” Waititi said. “I think they go hand in hand and it’s the perfect match – and only Disney could have made something like this… with me.

Waititi brings an equal amount of playfulness and offbeat humor to the creative direction, respectively tempered with the magic of Disney needed for this perfect fit. With a directorial portfolio that includes Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and Jojo Rabbit (2019), not to mention his work on Reservation Dogs and What We Do in the Shadows, his storytelling style is whimsical yet deeply human, evidenced even in this short.

A Melodic Salute to Disney’s Musical Legacy

One of the most charming aspects of the short is certainly its musical score, with the stunning Part of Your World from Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989). This iconic song, performed live by a 60-piece orchestra, evokes the octopus’s longing for a world above the sea. The orchestration was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, giving the film an added layer of grandeur to the emotional depth.

The melodic, orchestral arrangement is an ode to the Disney legacy, but it is also a tribute to the universality of wonder and exploration. It absolutely perfectly encapsulates the longing for adventure that both the boy and the octopus are going through; it’s almost like the central storytelling piece in the short.

A Perfect Holiday Gift for Disney Fans

A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus is more than just a film; actually, it is a toast to what Disney does best: weave magic in stories that endure over generations. In the full season of holiday cheer, this short represents a perfect blend of nostalgia, warmth, and timeless Disney magic.

In addition to the short, Disney fans can continue to experience holiday magic through special experiences at Disney Parks around the globe, as well as through holiday products that bring beloved Disney stories to life. But if it’s classic Disney films filled with holiday cheer you desire, have no fear: plenty of holiday classics are available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, including the heartwarming The Santa Clause (1994). Meanwhile, through the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive, in-need kids get a reason to smile during this time of the year as proof that Disney’s commitment to giving back is in full bloom.

A New Holiday Tradition

Whether one has grown up steeped in the magic of Disney or is just coming into it, A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus surely will be a new favorite for the holiday. This short carries a message of friendship, adventure, and simple childhood joys that speak to the best of the holiday spirit, but really show the storytelling prowess that has positioned Disney as a name loved through generations.

Be sure not to miss this new addition to the Disney holiday tradition: The Boy & The Octopus, streaming now on YouTube, ready to bring just a bit more joy and magic into your festive season.