Kitbull (2019) (Shorts)

January 18, 2019 (El Capitan Theatre)February 18, 2019 (YouTube)

January 18, 2019 (El Capitan Theatre)
February 18, 2019 (YouTube)

Kitbull is a 2019 American animated buddy-drama short film and viral video written and directed by Rosana Sullivan, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the third film in Pixar's SparkShorts program, and focuses on a fiercely independent stray kitten and an abused pit bull, who form an unlikely friendship. The short premiered at El Capitan Theatre on January 18, 2019, before being released on YouTube on February 18, 2019, and has received over 100 million views as of August 2023. The short was also released on Disney+ on November 12, 2019 and was later released in theaters on February 9, 2024 ahead of Turning Red.

Sullivan said that the creation of the short had originated from her enjoyment of viewing cat videos, and Hendrickson stated that the traditional animation had proved to be challenging in the beginning. Critical reception of the short has been generally positive, with critics praising its story, emotional tone, themes, characterization, and animation. The short was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Storyline

A kitten lives in the garbage cans behind a building in San Francisco's Mission District. While foraging for food on the streets, the kitten is offered food by a passerby but runs away. He sleeps in a cardboard box in a dilapidated building's garbage heap, nuzzling a stuffed animal. Later, a fighting pit bull is moved to a doghouse behind the building, and chained to a cinder block. Though the kitten is initially very scared of the dog, the two somewhat bond while playing with a bottlecap.

One night, after the pit bull is taken inside the building, he ends up getting heavily injured in a fight and is thrown back outside. The pit bull then goes to help the kitten, who is trapped in plastic pack rings after being scared by a storm, but the frightened kitten scratches the dog upon seeing his fangs. Saddened, the pit bull retreats to his doghouse, where he is later hesitantly joined by the kitten. The next day, the two escape the backyard just before the yard's owner can find them. Some time later, the kitten and the pit bull are playing out on the street when the kitten is found by the passerby from before. The woman is startled when the pit bull appears, but after the kitten shows its affection for the dog, she and her husband adopt both of them. After some time, the two animals play happily on top of a hill and join their new family to see a view of the city.

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