Parents' Guide to

A Spark Story

By Sabrina McFarland, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Aspiring directors share their diverse views to make movies.

Movie NR 2021 87 minutes
A Spark Story Poster Image

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What's the Story?

A SPARK STORY is a behind-the-scenes look at BIPOC story artists Aphton Corbin and Louis Gonzales at Pixar Animation Studios. The two employees are chosen for SparkShorts, Pixar's project initiative to bring a more diverse storytelling lens to the company's movies. During the six-month program, Aphton and Louis take on the role as director of animated short films that not only showcase their voice, but also their skills in the craft of filmmaking.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This career-inspiring documentary offers sound vocational advice for opportunities to make movies. "We started the SparkShorts program because we didn't know what kind of talents we were skipping over by not giving people a chance to tell their story," notes A Spark Story's Pete Docter, Pixar Chief Creative Officer and director of the Oscar-winning animated film Soul.

Pixar BIPOC story artists Aphton Corbin (Soul) and Louis Gonzales (The Incredibles) take part in the program with the chance to become directors. "Growing up, I always loved animation and cartoons, especially Disney cartoons," says Aphton, who enrolled in a high school animation class. "Seeing drawing come to life grabbed me." For Louis, "stories honor life. They honor people. When I tell stories, I'm honoring my family and friends. That's something that I love." The priceless portraits of passion shared by the gifted filmmakers in A Spark Story make this film a valuable viewing session for kids and parents alike.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the perseverance demonstrated by Aphton Corbin and Louis Gonzales in A Spark Story. How do they also demonstrate communication, courage, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

  • As a kid, why is Aphton challenged by her family about the types of characters that she illustrates? What leads her to draw diverse characters?

  • Why does Louis appear to show ambivalence in becoming a director? What factors may contribute to his feelings about his abilities in this role?

  • Why do we need diverse storytellers in movies? What could be the possible results?

  • What type of career or job would you like to have and why? How would you go about getting it?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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