studioAT
Well if 'Inside Out' wasn't a good enough film to begin with the short that accompanies it is just as good.Well done to Pixar, who consistently produce these lovely little films before the main feature, and also make them to such a high standard.This one has all the qualities that Pixar strive for within their feature films. Heart, warmth, and crucially strong storytelling. In an age where the biggest explosion or most graphic sex/violence wins, it is refreshing to see a quality piece of film.I think this can be found on the 'Inside Out' DVD if you're interested. It's well worth your while.
Stompgal_87
I saw this film at the cinema when it was shown right before Inside Out and I found it surprising since I forgot about it for a while.The song is lovely and it impeccably tells the story of the cleverly-named Uku and Lele, the two volcanoes who find love. The story itself is straightforward that starts off as quite heartbreaking but becomes happier towards the end due to the volcanoes finally meeting. While the animation is simple for a Pixar short the area surrounding the volcanoes is lush and vibrant. Uku is rich in detail while Lele is beautiful and although this short has received criticism for somehow depicting a relationship between an older man and a younger girl the relationship between these characters is sweet if basic and purposefully doesn't catch on until the end.Overall this is a lovely Pixar short that isn't on par with Day and Night and One Man Band but the relationship between the volcanoes is adorable and the song is its most memorable feature. 8/10.
LSuhr
This was an amazing short. This is one of those Pixar's done it again shorts for me, where you paid to see the movie and you're happy leaving after just watching the short because nothing could possibly be better than that. It's a beautiful animated ukulele love song. Him + her = the island of "Aloha" (love). I cried. I definitely cried. I will remember this short forever. <3 My criticism is strictly due to looking this up on IMDb. In the actual short they don't use the names of the volcanoes but looking at the IMDb I see they have names "uku" and "lele". I had to research to see what the words meant because I just love symbolism and I was disappointed by this because in Hawaiian "uku" means "flea" or "head lice", "lele" means "a fly" or "to fly", and "uku lele" means "flea" (head lice that fly, right?). I get what they were going for with the musical instrument but I just wish they would have researched the meanings better because even a quick Google search tells me this was a bad idea.It would have been nicer if her name was "Pele". (Pele: Pronounced "peh-leh." Meaning 'lava.' Pele is the name of the Volcano Goddess).His name could have been something like "Oha" (welcome, love, greet, fondness, affection), "Oli" (a chant), or even better yet "Mele" (to produce harmonious sounds with one's voice; to sing).I like the idea of bringing new Hawaiian vocabulary to people as well. Mele & Pele. It writes itself.
bbewnylorac
This exquisite short musical animation appeared before a screening of the full length animation Inside Out and it blew me away. It made me laugh and cry at the same time. It's the simple fable of how a tiny volcanic island was formed. A big old male volcano longs for love and sings his feelings but almost becomes extinct, trying to keep his hope alive in his isolation. Unbeknownst to him, a beautiful female volcano submerged in the sea nearby falls in love with his voice and his story. She fires up, and emerges, singing, from the sea as an island, which in turn fires up the male volcano to emerge from where he's sunk into the sea. The two volcanoes finish up leaning on each other, happy and singing, forming a new, united, island volcano. It's a creation story, told as though you're sitting around a Hawaiian campfire, with a lovely, operatic ukelele soundtrack. I loved it..
AD
