SAN FRANCISCO -- In Pixar's newest short "Loop," all a boy and girl have to do is get in a canoe, paddle around a city lake, and get back. But there's a catch.
He talks a lot, and she doesn't at all. He's neurotypical. She's on the autism spectrum. Neither is thrilled to be paired up. So while they're literally in the same boat, they seem worlds apart when they start their journey.
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"Loop" was directed by Erica Milsom, who was inspired by her work with people with disabilities. Her story features Renee, a girl on the autistic spectrum who uses gestures, tones and a catchy ring tone to communicate. The other main character, Marcus, is a boy who must learn to connect with her despite their differences.
"The thing that I thought was most interesting was that place between two people who don't share a common language, and it's not even a language that you can access. It's a language that you have to feel out and find a means of communicating with each other," Milsom explains. "I felt like giving the world a film that's about that exploration and finding a way to connect would help everyone. It would help kids with disabilities, adults with disabilities, but also those of us who might be neurotypical, but be sometimes lost as to how to make a connection."
To make the short even more authentic, Milsom worked with an actress on the autism spectrum to be the voice of Renee. Watching "Loop," you realize how rarely you see and hear people with autism so prominently and positively featured on the screen.
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"There's so many depictions of autistic people in media on either movies or TV shows or whatever that show the negative side of what that can be," says "Loop" producer Krissy Cababa. "I want people to see 'Loop' and recognize that we are all full human beings with emotions and desires and thoughts and feelings, and to try to understand and bridge that gap with somebody who may not communicate the same way as you or may not look the same way as you."
"Loop" joins other shorts released from Pixar's innovative SparkShorts program, which tapped creators who normally wouldn't write or direct an animated short and gave them a chance to tell a story their way. Pixar gave creators a small budget, about six months to complete the project and more than the usual creative freedom. While each short has a distinct voice, message and look, they still have the creative storytelling and emotional impact one expects from a Pixar production.
"Loop" is available on Disney Plus.
To see the behind-the-scenes video with Erica Milsom inside Pixar, watch the video in the player above.
Pixar is owned by Disney, which is also the parent company of ABC and this station.
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FAQs
This is an absolutely amazing short. My daughter is non-verbal autistic and shares most of the same traits as Renee, the autistic girl in Loop. The film-makers captured the challenges of having non-verbal autism nearly perfect. Brings tears to my eyes every time.
What does the main character from the film on Loop suffer from? ›
Loop features Madison Bandy in the role of Renee, who herself is non-speaking and autistic.
Is Renee from Loop autistic? ›
Renee is a thirteen-year-old girl who is nonverbally autistic. She appears in the Pixar SparkShorts film, Loop. Renne enjoys playing ringtones on her phone and touching interesting textures (like reeds). She communicates by vocalizing, gesturing, and showing people things on her phone.
What disability does the girl in Loop have? ›
"Loop" was directed by Erica Milsom, who was inspired by her work with people with disabilities. Her story features Renee, a girl on the autistic spectrum who uses gestures, tones and a catchy ring tone to communicate.
What is the best autism symbol? ›
The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most enduring and recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Yet, views about the iconic marker are as diverse and wide-ranging as the spectrum it represents.
What is the modern autism symbol? ›
Alternative symbols for autism
Perhaps the most popular alternative to the puzzle piece is the infinity symbol. Keep in mind there are two commonly used infinity symbols: rainbow and gold. The rainbow one is sometimes used to represent neurodivergent people, while the gold one represents autistic people specifically.
What Disney show is about autism? ›
Fans are praising Disney Television Animation for the latest episode of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, which handles the autism diagnosis of main character BeBe Proud.
What is looping in autism? ›
A loop effect can occur in the child's thinking process (i.e., mulls over the comment made by the speaker long after the conversation has ended). Anxiety, agitation and fear increase as the child attempts to analyze the motives of the speaker.
What is the Pixar short Loop about? ›
Pixar just released a new one that should be mandatory viewing for, well, for pretty much everyone. It's called Loop and features Renee, a teenage, non-verbal autistic girl who loves canoeing, and a boy who was unsure and uncomfortable being partnered with Renee on a canoe trip to paddle a loop around an urban lake.
Is Frozen about autism? ›
“Pinning an autism diagnosis on a Disney heroine may seem audacious, but Elsa displays a lot of traits reminiscent of those that clinicians and researchers have highlighted among girls with autism.
Some people with autism are able to speak, but others are not. There are many possible reasons why someone with autism might not speak, including difficulty processing language, anxiety, or lack of interest in communication. Nonverbal communication can be just as important and effective as verbal communication.
Is Leo on GH really autistic? ›
Their child in the show, Leo, is played by Easton Sweda, a young autistic actor. "I understand Easton's anxiety and his behaviors on set, which, you know, I think I can kind of corral his energy, and when he wants to move around so much, I can just put my hands on his shoulders," said Kurth.
Is Lilo autistic? ›
While there appears to be no evidence that creators Chris Sanders and Dean Deblois intentionally made Lilo autistic, it is a widely accepted theory among fans—especially for those who are on the spectrum or believe themselves to be—that her neurodivergence is at least implied, much in the same way that other Disney ...
Are Loop earplugs good for autism? ›
Loop Engage
They offer up to 16 decibels of coverage and are designed to limit the 'occlusion effect. ' Which is that echoey, head-underwater feeling you get with most earplugs. They're the perfect noise-reducing earplugs for autism as they reduce sensory overload without impacting your ability to chat and connect.
Is the Disney making movie centering on the girl who's nonverbal? ›
Disney is set to film a new movie about a girl with cerebral palsy who's nonverbal and uses a wheelchair and her experience seeking out an inclusive education. The movie, which will stream on Disney+, is an adaptation of Sharon M. Draper's novel “Out of My Mind.”
What is an autistic Loop? ›
A loop effect can occur in the child's thinking process (i.e., mulls over the comment made by the speaker long after the conversation has ended). Anxiety, agitation and fear increase as the child attempts to analyze the motives of the speaker.
What image represents autism? ›
THE PUZZLE piece as a symbol for autism was originally used by the National Autism Society in UK in 1963. Time went by and it was used to represent autism by an organisation in America, Autism Speaks.
What is the Neurodivergent symbol for autism? ›
Another symbol is the rainbow-colored infinity symbol, which represents neurodiversity and celebrates the differences and unique strengths of individuals with autism. Some organizations also use a blue heart as a symbol for autism, which conveys love and support for individuals with autism and their families.
Which term should be used to describe autism? ›
ASD: autism spectrum disorder; ASC: autism spectrum condition.
