Bambino gets trapped between two generations in the little animated masterpiece La Luna

Devotees of Pixar’s films know that being in the theater well before the feature starts is a wise idea. This time around, they won’t be disappointed when they’ll be treated to the little animated masterpiece La Luna.

For those familiar with Pixar shorts, La Luna was nominated for an Oscar in the animated shorts category earlier this year. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore ended up taking the trophy home that night, but that didn’t diminish what a wonderful film La Luna truly is. It premiered on June 6, 2011 at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France, and screened at other film festivals afterwards. This made it qualify for the 2011 Oscar category.

La Luna tells the magical tale of Bambino, a young child who is being taken out on a midnight sailing journey with his father and grandfather for the first time. The three park their boat in the middle of the sea, and after a brief argument they watch a magnificent white moon rise into the sky. A big surprise awaits Bambino as he discovers his family’s most unusual line of work. I’ll stop there, as I don’t want to give anything away.

The pacing of the film fits perfectly with the spirit of the story. It never feels rushed or skips over simple exposition to get the plot moving. The careful character studies and thoughtful animation allow you to take in the wonder of the child being on the sea for the first time.

I’m not fluent in Italian, but the words sounded nonsensical to me. However, you won’t need to understand what’s being said on screen to enjoy the beauty of the story.

The 3D effects are also some of Pixar’s best yet, enhancing an incredibly beautiful film. It’s seven minutes of pure Pixar joy.

If you want to see La Luna, you’ll have your chance at a movie theater this weekend when Brave opens June 22, 2012.

The voice cast includes Krista Sheffler as Bambino (Kid), Tony Fucile as Papa (Dad) and Phil Sheridan as Nonno (Grandpa). The film was written and directed by Enrico Casarosa.