May 28, 2021

Russia warns Disney against short "out" distribution of Pixar

The government of Russia has warned the Walt Disney Company against distributing one of Pixar's shorts films in the country, noting that the film violates Russian law.

The short in question, Out, directed by Steven Clay Hunter and produced by Max Sachar, was released on Disney+ last year as part of Pixar's Sparkshorts series. It features a lead character who is gay.

Russia's internet and communications regulator Roskomnadzor wrote in a letter to Disney that the film was harmful the country's children because it “denies family values and promotes non-traditional sexual relationships.”

While same-sex relationships are legal in Russia, the country enacted a controversial law in 2013 that prohibits the distribution of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” among minors.

Disney+ is not currently available in Russia, so it's not exactly clear what prompted the warning from the Russian government or how the company may have intended to distribute the film in Russia. Disney did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters, which first reported the story.

Out was one of ten animated films that was shortlisted for an Oscar this year. Cartoon Brew's editorial team discussed Out at length in our roundtable discussion of Oscar-shortlisted films.