WISE Score
IMDb
A Pixar short where a magical body-swap with a dog helps a guy find the courage to come out to his parents.
7.5
Out is a beautiful, bite-sized piece of storytelling that proves Pixar can do 'the talk' better than most humans. It uses a silly body-swap premise to navigate the very real fear of coming out to parents, and it does so without a single ounce of cynicism.
It’s less about the 'secret' and more about the relief of being known. If you have nine minutes and a Disney+ subscription, it’s a must-watch for any family that values honesty over keeping appearances.
Perfect for ages 6 and up. While Common Sense Media suggests 11, that feels conservative for a film that is essentially a G-rated magical comedy about honesty. It’s a great family co-watch.
It is a standard-issue Pixar heart-warmer. The focus is entirely on family acceptance, love, and the anxiety of being honest with the people who raised you.
Uses a whimsical body-swapping trope between a man and his dog to externalize the internal chaos of keeping a secret.
Extremely safe. There is no violence, no foul language, and the conflict is purely emotional and situational. It is a 9-minute Pixar short.
Provides a gentle, accessible entry point for discussing identity, honesty, and the fact that most parents just want to be part of their kids' real lives.
Out arrived as part of Pixar’s SparkShorts program, which was designed to let creators within the studio tell more personal, experimental stories on a smaller budget. You can feel that intimacy here. Unlike the big-budget theatrical shorts that often rely on slapstick, Out feels like a personal letter.
By using the 'Freaky Friday' mechanic with the dog, the film avoids becoming a heavy-handed 'issue' movie. It keeps the tone light and humorous, which actually makes the emotional payoff at the end hit harder. When Greg’s mom speaks to the 'dog' (who is actually Greg), she voices the universal parental desire to simply be close to her child. It’s a sophisticated emotional beat that Pixar handles with its signature grace.
You might notice the audience score on some sites is lower than the critic sentiment. In 2020, this was Pixar's first time featuring a gay protagonist, and like many milestones in representation, it attracted some 'review bombing' from people who weren't actually evaluating the film's quality. Ignore the noise—the animation is vibrant, the story is tight, and the message is universal.
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