Carl's Date

"So, you’re the Screenslaver?" Warning! This page contains spoilers about Carl's Date

Carl's Date is a Pixar short film that was released on June 16, 2023 alongside Elemental, originally scheduled to premiere on Disney+. It is written and directed by Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins.

Plot[]

Carl Fredricksen trains Dug at home when he gets a phone call and answers it to hear that it is from Ms. Meyers, an elder who lives at the nursing home, and Alpha (now named Beta) who declares his love for his new home. After Dug has a chatty conversation with Beta, Carl speaks with Ms. Meyers again and agrees to something, only to immediately regret it. Carl reveals to Dug that he just agreed to go on a date with her. He is nervous as he has not been with anyone since Ellie passed away and does not know what to do. Dug does not see the big issue and makes suggestions on what to do, most of which involves dog related things. Carl decides to go out and get some things to prepare for his date.

Carl buys numerous boxes of chocolate and tries to get some flowers from his garden. He has Dug dance with him and then has a practice dinner afterwards. Carl dyes his hair black, which Dug outright despises and when Carl continues to panic, Dug tells Carl that he should just go on the date and not worry about anything as Ms. Meyers will understand. Carl relaxes and straightens himself up before speaking to Ellie's photo and telling her that he is going on a new adventure. Carl offers to bring Dug along as backup and he agrees, leaving the house together.

Voice cast[]

• Ed Asner as Carl Fredricksen
• Bob Peterson as Dug and Alpha (now named Beta)

Production[]

On December 19, 2022, it was announced that Dug Days would get a short film titled "Carl's Date", originally set to stream on Disney+ during a montage of content coming in 2023.^[1] Prior to his death on August 29, 2021, Ed Asner recorded his dialogue in the spring of 2021.^[2] At a screening of Carl's Date, ComicBook.com had a chance to speak with Peterson and Collins about the short film during a press day for Elemental at Pixar Animation Studios. Peterson stated, "No one will ever replace Ellie for Carl. This is just friendship. This is just honoring her, Ellie saying 'go have a new adventure.' And this really puts that to the test. Should he do this or not?". He also stated, "For now, I'm thinking of it as a bow on the story. You know, you never say never, things do ebb and get a great idea or whatever it is, but I think this ends up being a terrific way to end this little miniseries."^[3] Ethan Anderton of /Film says, "Carl's Date" is not just a short film, but also a "charming epilogue for Pixar's Up that sends Carl off on a new kind of adventure." Anderton also says, "Like Pixar's best work, the short has a moving emotional core inspired by real life, mixed with some delightful comedy involving everybody's favorite, easily distracted, talking dog Dug." Anderton describes the story "an amusing series of events where Dug tries to help Carl psyche himself to go on a date, something that is particularly daunting since it will be the first date he's gone on since his wife Ellie passed away." Anderton says, "This is a charming, wonderful short that is worthy of playing in theaters, and if you think you're going to get out of this one without shedding some tears, think again. Get those tissues ready!"^[4]

Release[]

On January 17, 2023, it was announced that the short film would premiere on February 10, 2023 on Disney+,^[5].^[6] It was later announced that Carl's Date would premiere in theaters in front of Elemental.^[2]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Carl’s Date - Official Trailer

Trivia[]

• This is the first Pixar short film to be released in U.S. theaters since Bao (2018), which was theatrically released with Incredibles 2 (2018).
  • Outside of the U.S., this is the first Pixar short film to be released in theaters since Burrow (2020), which was theatrically released with Soul (2020).
  • This is the first Pixar short film set in the same world as a feature film to be released theatrically since Party Central (2014).

References[]