Far From the Tree

The 2021 animated short follows a young raccoon learning to navigate the beach while its cautious parent aggressively tries to protect it from perceived dangers. It explores the generational cycle of inherited parental anxiety and the struggle to let children take risks.

Yes, the short made its theatrical debut ahead of Disney's animated feature film "Encanto" in November 2021. It was subsequently released for streaming on Disney+ alongside the main feature.

The short was directed by Natalie Nourigat, who also directed the 2018 Disney short "Exchange Student." Her background in storyboarding and illustration heavily influenced the film's distinct, sketchy visual aesthetic.

The film utilizes a highly stylized 2D animation approach that stands out from Disney's traditional 3D computer-animated features. The hand-drawn, sketch-like aesthetic gives the short a charming, storybook-like quality that perfectly complements its emotional narrative.