Disney+ continues to amaze me with its short film collections. First there was SparkShorts, animated films from Pixar artists that produced several films that made me cry. And now we have the Launchpad Collection, which is a series of live action short films from a diverse slate of writers and directors. The Little Prince(ss) is the first film I watched in this collection, and I absolutely loved it. I actually had to hold myself back from burning through the rest of the Launchpad films once the credits started rolling, because stories like this should be savoured.
The Little Prince(ss) is about a little boy named Gabriel who loves ballet. When Gabriel meets a new classmate named Rob, the two boys become fast friends. However, Rob’s father soon worries that Gabriel’s interests are too feminine, leading to a confrontation between the two dads. I wouldn’t say that this scene is particularly subtle, but it definitely made my heart soar watching Gabriel’s dad stand up for his son. If only all parents could be that supportive of their non-conforming children.
In fact, all adults in general could learn a thing or two from this film. Both Rob and Gabriel are perfectly happy with each other and their friendship. It’s not until the expectations of the adults around them start to interfere that things go downhill. The Little Prince(ss) is a wonderful reminder to just let kids be themselves, and for us adults to get out of their way. I never thought a company like Disney would support a film like this, written and directed by an openly queer and non-binary filmmaker, but maybe things really are changing for the better. As slow as that progress feels some days.
Also, it has to be noted that Kalo Moss, the young actor playing Gabriel and pictured above, is quite literally the most adorable child I’ve ever seen onscreen. Seriously. I dare anyone to not fall in love with him from his very first line.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
