The 2021 animated short film, Blush, is praised for its ability to take audiences on a relatable journey about healing, love, and hope during its 11-minute runtime.
The film also signals the beginning of a series of animated content in a multi-year collaboration between SkyDance Animation and Apple Original Films. John Lasseter, head of animation at SkyDance Animation since 2019, also acts as executive producer to bring Blush to Apple TV+ users. This larger-scale premier comes after a successful run at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The Breathtaking Premier of Blush
The short animated feature told the story of a stranded astronaut who remains hopeful and resourceful. Throughout, he welcomes the company of an alien that lands on the same desolate little planet. As they share their time and resources, the two begin to fall in love.
The astronaut and his pink alien love interest share an intense connection and tell a compelling story about new beginnings, all without words. Masterfully written and directed by the Emmy Award-winning Joe Mateo, the story is both deeply personal to Mateo’s life and relatable to audiences. The vehicle that drives the story along is the animation and score, a harmonious balance achieved through the minds of creative genius, all conveyed in 11 minutes.
John Lasseter and His Team Boast Impressive Careers
The inaugural project features a well-seasoned production team. John Lasseter won an Oscar for his work on the 1998 animated short film Tin Toy. Before leading the animation department’s endeavors at SkyDance Animation, he served as the Chief Creative Officer for Pixar Animation Studios. Lasseter worked on masterpieces like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Toy Story. He won a Special Achievement Award in 1996 at the Academy Awards for his time at Walt Disney Animation Studios. In addition, he has famously written, directed, and produced several memorable classics.
Joe Moteo also has a glowing reputation. He previously worked on films like Big Hero 6, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tangled, and Zootopia. Producer Heather Schmidt Feng Yanu also shares an expansive set of notable projects in her professional background.
Apple TV Sitcom Success Combines With International Animation Powerhouse
Under the direction of John Lasseter, SkyDance Animation merged its animation efforts with an overseas Spanish animation studio. SkyDance Animation acquired the Spanish animation studio in 2019, marking the beginning of an American-European collaboration between the studios.
For SkyDance Animation studios and Apple Original Films, Blush is the beginning of feature-length and short films for Apple users. Their multiple-year-long projects will include several star-studded and expert production teams to continue to make waves in the worlds of cinema and animation.
What Is on the Horizon for John Lasseter and Company?
The animated film Luck is set to be released in February 2022. Whoopi Goldberg and Jane Fonda usher in an era of the new “classics.” The legendary collaborations aim to engage in the art of visual storytelling through captivating and inspirational imagery.
SkyDance Animation and the Apple TV+ have taken on the challenge of speaking to the struggles and triumphs many people have felt around the world in recent years. With Apple reaching users in more than 100 countries, they have the opportunity to inspire empathy for humanity through animation.
