Far from the Tree (2021) User Reviews

Generational scars dissected in 7 minutes

[josiahliljequist · 8/10 · 24 November 2021]

So this short film was deep. I think I learned more about how to and how not to parent from this short film than from any educational book or video.

Generational trauma and how it is passed down (and how it can be avoided) is explored in a Disney short- you heard that right- and all of it is explored and felt without any dialogue! It's only 7 minutes so won't go into detail about plot, but it starts out with two raccoons who go foraging by the sea.

Gorgeous hand drawn animation, and beautiful, emotional story. Wouldn't be surprised if it wins best short. (And though Encanto, the movie it precedes, is enchanting, this short exemplifies and expresses Encanto's theme more effectively than Encanto!)

Very short, and very important

[Trey_Trebuchet · 9/10 · 1 December 2021]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Disney production of any sort that touched on parental abuse, short film or not. I was very caught off guard, but also very touched. I didn't cry but I almost did! What the heck Disney?!

Very cute, well animated, and very to the point without getting too scary for younger kids.

Disney mom redemption

[dhkbhjntwm · 9/10 · 26 November 2021]

Disney has a lot to answer for in its treatment of mothers (dead or absent), but Bao and now Far from the Tree help to make up for it. This beautiful, moving short film, like Bao before it, manages to show the challenges and love of motherhood in only a few minutes and without dialogue. The classic animation is exquisite, with a distinctive color palette. The story, about two raccoons foraging by the sea, shows how parents, with the best intentions, can pass on hurt to their children but can also learn to do better. (Yes we get this in five minutes with silent raccoons.)

A master class in narrative and how you don't need flash or even words to convey real human truths.

Heartstrings plucked? More like torn out!

[rachelgallit · 10/10 · 27 November 2021]

Raccoons resolving intergenerational trauam and ending cycles of disfunction. What more could one want!? I was crying by the end: both because I am a generally emotional person, and because the emotional impact was so well executed.

Amazing short!

[jp_91 · 10/10 · 28 November 2021]

"Far From the Three" is a great animated short with an excellent script about the relationship between parents and children represented by two generations of raccoons. The animation is old school with a great realistic touch. The short film is shown in theaters before the start of the movie "Encanto". "Far From the Three" is incredible, it deserves to be a full-length film, although I liked "Encanto", this short film is much better than the film that precedes it.

Warm and Cute

[Neon_Gold · 7/10 · 28 December 2021]

Charming and sweet. It perfectly gets across its message in the small amount of time it has. The animation style looks really nice. It's an older style but looks really fresh.

It was a warm, cute short.

Cyclical parenting.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 18 January 2022]

'Far From The Tree (2021)' is an animated short released alongside 'Encanto (2021)'. It tells the tale of a raccoon whose curiosity causes her to clash with her harsh yet protective father; years later, as she raises her own son, she comes to empathise with her father and the position her innocent outlook put him in. The short is generally a light and bubbly affair, but it also has moments of danger and darkness. It also makes some relatively keen points about parenthood, the suppression of curiosity and the cyclical nature of less-than-ideal upbringings. It's quite poignant and it often does things you don't really expect it to, using the non-speaking nature of its characters to convey just how intangible and difficult to discuss its themes truly are. The racoons are all really expressive and the piece does a good job when it comes to getting you to care about them. It also makes each of their outlooks seem crystal clear, allowing us to empathise with even the least conventionally likeable of them. The short is a mixture of 2D and 3D animation. From what I can tell, the characters are actually 3D models rendered to look like 2D drawings. I'm guessing that some of the background elements make use of traditional cel animation. Either way, the aesthetic is beautiful in a rather rustic sort of way. The animation is simple but effective, as is the sound design and music. Overall, this is a great little short. 7/10.

Classic 2D Animated Short!

[jeffmvines · 10/10 · 30 December 2021]

Referring to "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" saying, it's a simple message for parents NOT to repeat the mistakes of their parents. Communication is king. Tastefully done in a warm, fuzzy, Disney way without being too preachy. Also it's great to see Disney pumping out some 2D character animation ... even though it's only a short.

Cute

[boblipton · 6/10 · 27 November 2021]

A raccoon takes her youngster with her to the shore, so she can feed them on shell fish. The kit, however, is so fascinated by the novelty of it all, he keeps coming out of hiding, which gets the elder animal angry and terrified. In the end, they bond over their care for each other.

It's hand-drawn in an impressionist style, and very cute.

No words needed

[That_Movie_Watcher · 10/10 · 29 December 2021]

I've never been so emotionally moved by a short before, but this one got my eyes all misty. This was an amazingly simple, yet powerful short that conveyed so much emotion without a single word, and nearly everyone can relate to this shorts central message. Truly one of Disney's best!

For the parents

[ray115 · 7/10 · 16 January 2022]

A short movie before Encanto in the cinemas. Known topics to all parents how protective you are about your children and how to improve it. The idea is well communicated without conversation.

Antiquated Animation

[kwobrien-88181 · 4/10 · 5 December 2021]

Though released in 2021, I felt as though the under-developed animation of this film pre-dated itself by 30 years. While the storyline conclusion was cute, I was preoccupied by what I considered inferior craftmanship.

Therapeutic and very well made.

[skyline_w · 10/10 · 2 January 2022]

The animation is perfect and the story is great, specially if you're an adult. It even has a therapeutic effect. I wish Disney still made 2D films sometimes. 10/10.

classic Disney

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 3 April 2022]

A raccoon family lives near the beach in the relative safety of the rocks and trees. The baby raccoon keeps getting distracted and wonders onto the dangerous beach.

This is a Disney cartoon short that came with Encanto. The animation style is old school. In many ways, this is an old school Disney cartoon short. Animals are given human characteristics. It is the classic Disney ways.

Tender short with a great story! :-)

[stevebondi · 8/10 · 25 December 2021]

No words, but all the emotion of an awesome piece of work! :-) The animation is a little simplistic but still looks very nice and well done, conveying all the emotion and fear required by the short.

Okay,

[hadutom · 7/10 · 25 February 2022]

This short played before encanto when i was going to see it cause in croatia disney plus movies are on the Big screen. I remember coming in and thinking i was in a different room. Anyways cute short that made me happy. But cmon nothing can beat the incredibles 2 short!

The tree from afar.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 12 December 2021]

Planning to visit the Odeon on New Street (opened in 1937) in Birmingham for the first time and watch Encanto (2021-also reviewed) Taking a look online the day before the screening to see if Encanto had a post-credit scene,it had not crossed my mind that Encanto might have a opening short movie, which led to a welcomed surprised, when this tree appeared.

View on the film:

Brushing aside memories of the raccoon Disney sidekick from Pocahontas (1995), Writer/director Natalie Nourigat follows the raccoons with lush 2D computer-cel animation spinning along refine panning shots beaming with lush colours bursting from the elegance of hand-drawn animation being wonderfully blended with the smoothness of CGI.

Detailing in an interview that the movie was inspired by her childhood growing up in Oregon, the dialogue-free screenplay by Nourigat brilliantly draws in 7 minutes the family dynamic between the mum and the child with a touching poignant quality, as the mum raccoon learns from her initial over- protectiveness the need to give her child space to grow,and explore far from the tree.

Went to see encanto and...?

[Ibrahimrealibrahim · 1/10 · 1 January 2022]

I went to see Encanto the other day... and this short film wasted my time. I'm not complaining about the film I'm complaining about how boring this is!

Okay 10/10 for the animation. BRILLIANT! But where's the story? What am i missing here? There's nothing inspirational nor motivational about this just wasting 7 minutes of my life...

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree - or does it

[juliancamilleri-61595 · 10/10 · 5 March 2022]

What a lesson; teaches you the beauty of showing affection and care can break vicious cycles in parenting, by learning from others mistakes, you can make sure the apple does fall far from the tree. A masterpiece.

Super cute!

[xconwombats · 10/10 · 5 February 2022]

This movie is so cute and it's animated so nicely!

I wasn't expecting something this great when I read the title initially. In fact, I was expecting something along the lines of Meeko from Pocahontas on an adventure.

It wasn't that at all! It's an amazing tale that matches with the tone of the feature film attached to it -- Encanto.

I cried for 5 min in this 8 min short!!!

[tlackerz · 10/10 · 14 March 2022]

So moving, so deep, a short but critical lesson for all parents. It made me think of the under previliaged families first, how the society is so harsh on them, how they're trying their best to protect and guide their young but their hands are tied so much, ending up not able to protect them rather pushing them away from you. Just like my mom and I, yet she has died 2 years ago. And all I can do now is to feel for her, yet will never be able to share it with her and told her: I understand you now, I shouldn't hate you, you did your best!

A beautiful masterpiece about the parental role

[Elvis-Del-Valle · 10/10 · 4 December 2023]

Returning to the traditional animation style, Disney offers this animated short film that is a beautiful masterpiece in several aspects. With spectacular animation and adorable animal characters, the short film is a very short story with a lesson about the parental role. The little raccoon, who at first is a daughter and then becomes a mother, is a transitory vehicle about the way in which one is raised and how she must play that role in her adult stage. What the short film tries to convey is that the care and affection that can be given to a child without having to resort to overprotection due to the psychological consequences that this method can leave. The raccoon in this story is a clear reflection on what it is like to be raised this way and how one must play their role as a father or mother in the appropriate way. Far From The Tree is undoubtedly one of Disney's best animated short films and a beautiful story about the balance that must be maintained between care and love for a child. My final rating for this short film is a 10/10.

Beautiful.

[shrubsnout · 9/10 · 26 August 2022]

The animation is simply put, beautiful.

It is the story of a racoon and it's parent. This actually a little more vague than you think.

It's an extremely symbolic short involving what seems like abuse of sorts, only to wind up with estrangement. Then, the future and a lesson to not repeat the past.

The scars. Feel my scars.

In a ways, people always blame their parents. You know what? I don't completely blame my parents. The way I was, was a factor in how they acted. I could've been a better child, you know. People without kids will never understand the frustrations from those with kids. Estrangement after getting yourself hurt because "you didn't listen", perfectly understandable.

There are thousands of meanings in just 7 minutes. You can read in many things, and they'll be true all the same.

Repeating past mistakes, however, is the main lesson above all else. There will always be a point where you can repeat history, or you can decide to change it.

A big disappointment

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 4 January 2022]

"Far from the Tree" is the short film that was aired with the theatrical release of "Encanto". As for me, I saw it on Disney+ and not with the film...though I imagined many folks were disappointed in the short.

The plot is involves a baby raccoon wanting to play and explore...and its overprotective mother constantly scolding him and trying to keep it from being eaten by a coyote.

The short is told without words and features the baby raccoon and its mother in a setting such as Newfoundland or Maine. This story is similar to another Disney short, "Piper"....at least superficially. However, "Piper" is exquisitely animated and fun...whereas "Far from the Tree" has an animation style best described as disappointing and the story itself not especially fun!