Disney Animated Short Film ‘Versa’ Director Talks about Pushing the Limits of Grief Storytelling: “I Felt Like I Got Torn Apart”

After enduring a profound loss, people often find different ways to copesome immerse themselves in community, others search the cosmos for meaning. In the Oscar-qualifying Disney animated short Versa, directed by Malcon Pierce, a celestial couple navigates the depths of sorrow following the loss of their child late in pregnancy. Although the six-minute film contains no dialogue, it conveys a powerful story through stunning visuals, a moving score, and the expressive journey of the unnamed couple across the galaxy, capturing joy, grief, and acceptance.

Pierce shared that the concept of Versa originated years ago while stargazing with his wife and a friend. They observed the Albireo star system, two stars orbiting each other in striking blue and yellow hues, sparking an idea to explore movement and dance in animation. The story was set aside until a personal tragedy during the production of Moana reshaped Pierces perspective. He and his wife lost their son, Cooper, and confronting grief became the foundation for the short.

He described how his wifes approachfacing the loss and cherishing memorieshelped him engage with his own sorrow. Photographs of the nursery and symbolic objects like a star pendant became pivotal in channeling his grief into storytelling. The experience of loss, combined with the eventual birth of their "rainbow baby," inspired Pierce to revisit the celestial narrative he had long envisioned, shaping the core of Versa.

Pierce emphasized that Disney had never depicted pregnancy complications or infant loss before. Drawing inspiration from support groups for parents experiencing similar tragedies, he aimed to create a narrative reflecting real emotions, helping audiences relate and find comfort. With guidance from Jennifer Lee, former Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation, and production designer Paul A. Felix, Pierce developed a visually poetic story that blends cosmic imagery with minimal yet meaningful elements, like a bassinet representing both loss and hope.

The films choreography was another key aspect, with the couples movements inspired by ice dancing. This style allowed expressive, controlled motion that mirrored the emotional flow of grief. Choreographers collaborated with animators to translate the physicality of dance into celestial storytelling, creating a delicate balance of motion and narrative meaning.

Color symbolism and the technique of Kintsugia Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with goldplay central roles in Versa. The couples red and blue hues, along with gold cracks, represent their fractured but resilient selves. Pierce noted that grief splits you open, and the characters visual transformation illustrates how sorrow shapes, but does not erase, identity. The stars themselves symbolize enduring soul and memory, showing that scars from loss can be both visible and beautiful.

The film has already resonated deeply with audiences, particularly parents of rainbow babies, demonstrating the emotional impact of telling stories about grief and healing. Versa showcases Disneys evolving approach to complex, heartfelt storytelling, using minimal dialogue, expressive animation, and symbolic imagery to explore universal experiences of love, loss, and recovery.

Author: Maya Henderson