The Tao of Bao

ceremony, director and illustrator Domee Shi made her way onstage to accept an Oscar for Pixar’s first short film directed by a woman. “To all of the nerdy girls who hide behind their sketchbooks,” Shi told the crowd, “don’t be afraid to tell your stories to the world.” Her win was a breath of fresh air for the studio, which had just endured the sexual-misconduct-related departure of former creative head John Lasseter, and a triumphant moment for Shi—especially since she once considered leaving out the story’s pivotal plot twist because she feared it would prove too upsetting (or unappetizing) to fans. Indeed, after the animated short first screened for audiences watching in June 2018, it