Submissions for Launchpad began in June 2019 and the final round of filmmakers were selected by Disney in December 2019, from a pool of 1,000 applicants.[1] Disney financed the films and allowed the filmmakers to mentor with creative executives from various Walt Disney Studios film divisions, as well as the opportunity to receive educational classes provided by the American Film Institute.[1] The first season was centered on the theme of "discover", which the participants were instructed to create stories around.[2] Development process began in February 2020, but production on the first season of films was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
American Eid, Dinner Is Served, Growing Fangs, The Last of the Chupacabras, Let’s Be Tigers, and The Little Prince(ss), the six films of the first season of Launchpad, were released on Disney+ on May 28, 2021.[4] The series has received praise for showcasing diversity and themes of inclusivity not typically addressed in mainstream Hollywood productions.[2] A second season, focusing on the theme of "connection", was released on Disney+ on September 29, 2023, containing the films Beautiful, FL, Black Belts, Maxine, Project CC, The Ghost and The Roof. Some of the films from both seasons also screened at film festivals such as the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Asian American International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and HollyShorts Film Festival prior to being released to the public on the platform.[3][5]
Films
Season 1 (2021)
Film
Release date
Director(s)
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Executive producer(s)
Editor(s)
Composer(s)
Screenplay
Story
American Eid
May 28, 2021 (2021-05-28)
Aqsa Altaf
Leslie Owen, Steak House
Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Mary Coleman,
Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Sarah Shepard,
Karen Chau
Shayar Bhansali
Robert Ouyang Rusli
American Eid
Sisters Ameena and Zainab, two Muslim Pakistani immigrants, process the difficulties of living in a new place, including the lack of awareness their school has for their holiday of Eid.
Dinner Is Served
A Chinese student attending an American boarding school tries out for a leadership position never attained by an international student.
Growing Fangs
Val Garcia, a Mexican-American teen who is half human/half vampire, maintains her identity a secret from both worlds, until her human best friend shows up at her monster-infested school.
The Last of the Chupacabras
A lonely Mexican-American woman struggling to carry on her traditions unknowingly summons a dark and ancient creature known as a chupacabra.
Let’s Be Tigers
Avalon, a grief-stricken young woman who has recently lost her mother, is tasked to babysit a young boy named Noah for an evening.
The Little Prince(ss)
Two young Chinese boys, Gabriel and Rob, befriend each other. Rob's father becomes suspicious about Gabriel’s feminine behavior and love of ballet and decides to intervene.
Teen girl Omara (Dariana Alvarez) scrambles to get spare parts from her eclectic trailer park neighbors and fix the family RV in time to share her tia abuela's special flavor in the Annual Beautiful, FL Ice Cream Competition.
Black Belts
KJ is an offbeat middle schooler and martial arts movie nerd from Compton, when he challenges the top dojos in South LA and wears his Uncle's old Black Belt, his former fighter Dad gets too involved and both learn there’s more to life than keeping your guard up.
The Ghost
12-year-old Clarice Cheung feels like she's invisible in her family - especially next to her older sister Naomi. But when a powerful ghost appears in their house, the estranged sisters will have to team up and stop it before their family is torn apart forever.
Maxine
Anxious about introducing her first girlfriend to her family, a queer Asian American teen gets help from the spirit of her long-lost relative during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Project CC
When tragedy strikes, a young scientist decides to clone her best friend, but accidentally clones the family dog instead. Now, with the help of her older sister, the girls must turn several dogs back into one before their parents come home.
The Roof
After being sent to stay with his great-grandfather, a Cheyenne teen uncovers a connection to his family and community in a way he never thought possible.
The Little Prince(ss) (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Robert Ouyang Rusli
Season 2 (2023)
Reception
Critical reception
Kristen Yoonsoo Kim of The New York Times praised the series for approaching underrepresented groups of people across short films that are also made by minority filmmakers, found some of the shorts to be charming and sincere, while complimenting the dark tone of other films, stating they engage with somber stories and do not provide a predictable happy ending.[7] Jade Budowski of Decider found the short film Dinner Is Served impressively moving and praised the performances of the cast members, while stating the other films still manage to provide stories that are delightful and essential from fresh perspectives.[8]
Ashley Moulton of Common Sense Media rated the series 4 out of 5 stars, acclaimed the presence of positives messages, citing self-authenticity and pride, and praised the presence of role models, stating the series highlights underrepresented groups, while complimenting the educational value for its depiction of different cultures.[9] Josh Spiegel of SlashFilm rated the anthology series 8 out of 10, found that each short manages to have a distinct identity across the series, complimented the filmmakers for providing thoughtful and dark stories, and hoped the series to get a second season with new stories that stays both different and unexpected.[10]
