Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Everyone knows that the stork delivers babies, but where do the storks get the babies from? The answer lies up in the stratosphere, where cloud people sculpt babies from clouds and bring them to life. Gus, a lonely and insecure grey cloud, is a master at creating "dangerous" babies. Crocodiles, porcupines, rams and more - Gus's beloved creations are works of art, but more than a handful for his loyal delivery stork partner, Peck. As Gus's creations become more and more rambunctious, Peck's job gets harder and harder. How will Peck manage to handle both his hazardous cargo and his friend's fiery temperament?
Partly Cloudy is a charming Pixar short with a genuinely inventive premise — reframing the stork myth through cloud sculptors adds a clever, whimsical layer rarely seen. The cinematography is gorgeous, with expressive cloud formations and warm golden-hour lighting that showcases Pixar's technical artistry at its peak for a short. The plot is simple but effective for its runtime, delivering solid emotional beats. Acting (voice/performance) is minimal as a nearly dialogue-free short, relying on physical comedy and expression — competently done but unremarkable. The ending, while sweet, leans on a slight misdirect gag that feels a touch predictable once set up. Novelty stands out as the film's strongest suit — its specific conceit and visual execution feel singular.