Disney released a behind-the-scenes look at the making of A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus. Award-winning director Taika Waititi provides exclusive commentary, offering insight into his goals for casting, filming locations and the emotional connection he wanted audiences to form with this story.

Since its release last month on a variety of platforms, including YouTube and Disney+, The Boy & The Octopus has received over 75 million views worldwide and an overwhelmingly positive response from viewers celebrating the incredible storytelling.

“I was struck by just how magical and beautiful the story was. It’s a simple tale of a boy on holiday and he goes swimming and then meets an unexpected friend in the least expected place. I love the idea of these two characters from completely different worlds who are looking for connection,” said Waititi.

While the short was filmed in live-action, there was an incredible level of detail required of the VFX work to capture intricate movements and transformations to create an octopus character (unofficially dubbed “Blub Blub” by Waititi and the production team) that felt both realistic and emotionally expressive with eight tentacles that could move independently, shapeshift, and even change colors.

“Anytime that we’re making a character there’s always challenges. Aside from having eight tentacles, octopuses can shape shift, they can change color on their skin. We built in all sorts of crazy things,” said Adam Droy from Untold Studios, the VFX creative agency for this short.

The film follows the journey of a child who discovers a curious octopus has attached to his head during a seaside vacation. After returning home, the boy forms a true friendship with the octopus by introducing his new companion to his life on land – harnessing the power of the Force with his Jedi lightsaber, playing with his Buzz Lightyear action figure, and imagining Santa Claus’ route around the world with the map on his wall – before taking the lovable octopus out into the world to experience the joy of the holidays, hidden under his Mickey Mouse beanie.