The recently released Disney Pixar film based in Toronto has been shortlisted for an Oscar.

The short film “Bao” is directed by Toronto’s Domee Shi, and has been viewed almost three million times in two days.

The Oscars shortlist was revealed this week, and ten films advanced in the Animated Short Film category for the 91st Academy Awards. In total, 81 films had originally qualified in the category.

Nominations for the Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 22, and the event will be held on February 24.

Announcing the #Oscars shortlists! What movies will you be adding to your watchlist this season? https://t.co/q8xa1SQsTx pic.twitter.com/QmwipxEz1e — The Academy (@TheAcademy) December 17, 2018

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.

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.

Pixar describes the film as the exploration of “the ups and downs of the parent-child relationship through the colourful, rich, and tasty lens of the Chinese immigrant community in Canada.”

And to make it that much better, parts of Toronto are showcased in the short film, from the CN Tower to our beloved streetcars.

We love seeing hints of Toronto in #Bao. Congratulations to director and @sheridancollege grad Domee Shi on making the #Oscars shortlist!

MT @DisneyPixar: Steams become reality! Our latest short, “Bao,” is streaming online for one week only. Watch it now: https://t.co/wbn2QLVvZF pic.twitter.com/sijZEKRB0e — Canada (@Canada) December 19, 2018

The full film is below:

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