Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy is a 2009 American computer-animated comedy short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, written and directed by Peter Sohn in his directorial debut, and featuring a score composed by Michael Giacchino.[1] The six-minute film centers on Gus, a lonely and insecure gray cloud living among cheerful clouds in the stratosphere who sculpts "dangerous" animal babies—such as crocodiles, porcupines, and rams—from clouds, which are then delivered to new parents by his loyal but exasperated stork partner, Peck.[2] Voiced by Tony Fucile as Peck and Lori Richardson as Gus, the story explores themes of friendship and acceptance as Peck struggles with Gus's increasingly rambunctious creations and ultimately finds a way to support his friend.[1] The short premiered on May 16, 2009, at the Los Angeles Film Festival and was theatrically released on May 29, 2009, accompanying Pixar's feature film Up.[3] Produced by Kevin Reher, Partly Cloudy draws inspiration from Sohn's experiences as an immigrant's son, reflecting on feeling like an outsider, with the cloud and stork dynamic symbolizing unconditional friendship.[4] It was shortlisted among ten animated shorts for the 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Animated Short Film category but did not receive a final nomination.[5] Critically acclaimed for its heartfelt storytelling and visual charm, the film holds an 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from over 24,000 user votes and has been praised for its dialogue-free narrative that conveys emotion through expressive animation and Giacchino's whimsical score.[1] Partly Cloudy exemplifies Pixar's tradition of innovative short films that often accompany their features, blending humor with emotional depth to appeal to audiences of all ages.[6]Overview
Synopsis
"Partly Cloudy" is a 6-minute animated short film that unfolds in the stratosphere, where anthropomorphic clouds sculpt babies from cloud material and entrust them to storks for delivery to Earth.[7] The story centers on Gus, a gloomy gray cloud who specializes in crafting mischievous animal babies, such as sharks, porcupines, rams, and alligators, which are adorable yet inherently dangerous.[2] His assigned stork, Peck, dutifully collects these creations but repeatedly suffers comical injuries during transport: a porcupine pricks his tail feathers, an alligator chomps his leg, a shark nips at him, and a ram butts him forcefully, highlighting the visual gags that drive the narrative's humor through slapstick action rather than dialogue.[2] In contrast, the other cheerful, puffy white clouds produce safe, giggling human babies that Peck's fellow storks handle without incident, leading Peck to temporarily abandon Gus for easier assignments. Feeling rejected and isolated, Gus withdraws into solitude, raining tears of sorrow until Peck returns, wearing a football helmet and shoulder pads crafted by another cloud as a symbol of his loyalty and commitment to continue their partnership despite the challenges. This heartwarming gesture resolves the tension, as Peck affirms their enduring friendship by resuming deliveries together, emphasizing the emotional bond forged through shared adversity.[2] Michael Giacchino's score punctuates the comedic mishaps and tender reconciliation with whimsical orchestration.[7]Cast and characters
The voice cast for Partly Cloudy is minimal, reflecting the short film's largely non-verbal storytelling through sound effects and physical animation. Tony Fucile provides the grunts, squawks, and other vocalizations for Peck the stork as well as the thunderous rumbles for Gus the cloud.[8] Lori Richardson voices the female clouds and human mothers with brief, incidental vocalizations such as coos and hums.[8] Sound designers E.J. Holowicki and Chris Scarabosio crafted the characters' unique audio elements, including Gus's rumbling thunder to convey frustration and Peck's pained squawks during deliveries, enhancing the comedic physicality without dialogue.[8]| Character | Voice Actor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gus | Tony Fucile (thunder rumbles) | A stormy gray cloud characterized by insecurity and isolation, who specializes in crafting hazardous animal babies like crocodiles and porcupines from cloud vapor.[9] |
| Peck | Tony Fucile (grunts and squawks) | The loyal yet beleaguered stork serving as Gus's delivery partner, enduring mishaps from the prickly infants with exasperated expressions and weary flights.[9] |
| Sunny clouds (ensemble) | Uncredited (ambient sounds) | A group of cheerful, bright clouds that produce benign human infants, contrasting Gus's output and highlighting his outsider status through their harmonious, sunny dispositions.[6] |
| Female clouds and human mothers | Lori Richardson (brief vocalizations) | Supportive figures who nurture the human babies, adding warmth to the ensemble with soft, maternal sounds.[8] |