Walt Disney Animation Releases First Look at Short Film ‘Versa’

Disney animator Malcon Pierce is bringing a deeply personal story to the screen with his new short film, Versa, which will be shown at Animation In Film this weekend.

The short follows a young couple trying to start a family as they navigate grief, loss, and eventual joy, all told through a visually imaginative and abstract dance of life.

The inspiration for Versa comes from Pierce’s own experience. While working on Moana, he and his wife Keely lost their infant son, Cooper. A crystal star, a gift from Keely’s mother, became a small but meaningful reminder of their child.

“Every morning we’d come downstairs, all these little rainbows would be spread around the house from the little star, and it became a way of remembering Cooper and keeping him close to us,” Pierce said.

Pierce shared the concept with Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee, who encouraged him to explore the characters’ perspectives. Artist Paul Felix then helped develop the visuals, creating seven paintings inspired by Pierce’s ideas. “He brought so much amazing visuals to that early development cycle,” Pierce said.

Versa is largely told through music and dance, including an ice dance sequence. Choreographers Katherine Hill and Ben Agosto worked with the team to make the skating authentic and emotionally expressive.

Pierce explained, “There’s a shot where the dad skates around the mom and puts his head to listen to their baby in the belly and gets kicked… we were starting to uncover these really incredible nuances.” The choreography helped Pierce tell the story of love, loss, and healing without dialogue.

The music, composed by Haim Mazar, features a 69-piece orchestra with a mix of orchestral sounds and ’90s synth to match the characters’ emotional journey. Pierce said multiple passes were needed to get the right emotional timing.

Pierce also drew inspiration from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold, symbolizing healing and finding hope through hardship. “This idea of earning a relationship with grief and finding hope through the hard stuff was something we really worked hard on,” he said.

Cooper’s name also appears in the credits of Moana as a production baby, with a star next to it. “I like to say that that star has been my North Star for all of this, and still to this day,” Pierce shared. Versa is a heartfelt exploration of grief, love, and resilience, showing how animation can convey deep personal emotions.

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