‘A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus’ Is Now Streaming on Disney+
Taika Waititi’s long-awaited holiday short, The Boy & The Octopus, has officially been released by Disney.
The four-minute film follows the tale of a young boy who discovers a curious octopus attached to his head during a seaside vacation. After returning home, the boy and the mollusk form an unbreakable friendship as they explore life on land.
Photo: Disney
Together, they are shown “harnessing the power of the Force with his Jedi lightsaber, playing with his Buzz Lightyear action figure, and imagining Santa Claus’ route around the world with the map on his wall — before taking the lovable octopus out into the world to experience the joy of the holidays, hidden under his Mickey Mouse beanie.”
The Latest Timeless Story From Disney
According to Tim Pennoyer, Director of Brand Marketing, the new short was the latest example of Disney’s legacy of creating timeless stories.
“We explored several amazing concepts for this year, but ‘A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus’ had a special kind of magic that stayed with us. It beautifully encapsulates the joy of discovering friendship and warmth in surprising places, which felt so right for a Disney holiday story,” he explained.
Photo: Disney
“‘A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus’ builds on Disney’s tradition of stories that evoke feelings of joy, a belief that anything is possible, and the sense of magic that you feel in your heart and the world around you.”
The Short’s Titular Star
The breakout star of the new short is the adorable octopus, who is enamored and enthralled by everything that he sees around him.
Interestingly, Pennoyer says that Disney was inspired by kittens when creating the new character.
Photo: Disney
“We took inspiration from animals that have that undeniable, heart-melting effect — like kittens with those big, soulful eyes. I even shared a few references of cats with large, black pupils, including a slight nod to my own cat who has that exact charm,” he continued.
“The goal was to create an octopus that could convey curiosity and playfulness, and that hint of kitten-like innocence helped give it an endearing quality audiences could really connect with.”
Taika Waititi’s Influence
The new Disney holiday short is directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi, who, according to Pennoyer, was able to infuse his signature style into the short.
Photo: Variety
“Taika has this incredible ability to bring unique, unexpected relationships to life, which felt like a perfect match for a story about a young boy and his unlikely bond with an octopus. His signature award-winning style captures both the laughter and warmth of an unusual friendship while highlighting the magic of human connection, a theme we knew would resonate deeply during the holiday season,” he said.
“Taika’s vision adds a unique flavor to the story, making it feel fresh, heartfelt, and undeniably Disney.”
Photo: Disney
A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus is streaming now on Disney+ and YouTube.
