“ Walt Disney Animation Studios: Short Circuit” Program Returns With “Maddie & The Test” Which Combines CGI Animation And Hand-Drawn Animation In Adorable Short About Dyslexia.

“Walt Disney Animation Studios: Short Circuit” brings an mixture of hand-drawn animation and CGI with “Maddie & The Test” an original short film about dyslexia, the short will drop Wednesday, March 18 on Disney+.

Laughing Place gave details on the synopsis of the short as well the crew members.

“ Maddie & the Test” plays like a classic Disney short from the start. Colorful and kid-focused, it follows ten-year-old Maddie as she sits down for a dreaded school test. The visual language of the film does something clever and imaginative: the letters of Maddie’s name on the test page scramble together and come to life as a hand-drawn character, a helpful little companion trying to put jumbled words back in order. The lighting design does equally smart work, dimming when Maddie is struggling and brightening as things become clear — a simple but effective way of externalizing what it feels like to have dyslexia.

“ Maddie & The Test” is directed byHeather Roberts Russell ( “Zootopia 2”, “Wish”, “Frozen 2”) and spent considerable time getting the portrayal of dyslexia right interviewing her family members who have the condition and consulting with Maryanne Wolf at UCLA’s Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners and Social Justice, and holding roundtable discussions with Disney Animation artists who identify as dyslexic.

The hand-drawn animation for “** Maddie & The Test**” was done by legendary animator Mark Henn ( “Beauty and the Beast”, “Aladdin”, “The Lion King”, “Lilo & Stitch”). Lauren Harrold brings a beautiful Jazz score that was recorded live.