Toronto-based Pixar film Bao wins Best Animated Short at Oscars

It’s official: The ultra-adorable Disney Pixar film, based in Toronto, has brought home some hardware from the Oscars.

Directed by Toronto’s Domee Shi, “Bao” won an Oscar Sunday evening for best animated short. The honour was presented by Awkwafina and John Mulaney.

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Not only was this Shi’s first Oscar win, it’s also the first Pixar short film ever directed by a woman.

Grate-full. ❤️ Bao is now an Academy Award-winning short! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/RcJegSvZX0

— Disney•Pixar (@DisneyPixar) February 25, 2019

Shi’s film, “Bao,” is about an ageing Chinese mom suffering from “empty nest syndrome” who gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively dumpling boy.

The eight-minute film is set in Toronto and features a number of the city’s landmarks, including the CN Tower and the city’s beloved streetcars.

The category for best animated short included a few other Canucks: Animal Behaviour by Vancouver’s David Fine and Alison Snowden, and Weekends by Canadian-born director Trevor Jimenez.

“To all the nerdy girls out there who hide behind their sketchbooks, don’t be afraid to tell your stories to the world, said Shi in her acceptance speech.

Well said, Domee pic.twitter.com/rqfXcz2Wy6

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 25, 2019

According to IMDb, Shi was born in China and moved to Toronto when she was two years old. After studying animation at Sheridan College, she earned an internship at Pixar, and soon became the first woman to direct a Pixar short film.