Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Short Pixar film has silly humor, messages of acceptance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Out
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say that the film is a heartwarming portrayal of acceptance and love, particularly focusing on the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and the challenges of coming out to family. Many reviewers appreciate its cute narrative and positive message, while also acknowledging the mixed reactions, particularly from those with differing views on LGBTQ+ representation in children's media.
- acceptance
- positive message
- heartwarming
- cute narrative
- diverse representation
- educational
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Greg (voiced by Kyle McDaniel) is in a loving relationship with his boyfriend Manuel (Caleb Cabrera), but he isn't yet OUT because he hasn't told his parents he's gay. When his parents drop in for a surprise visit, Greg pushes Manuel out the back door. Then, in a magical turn of events, Greg and his dog Jim swap bodies. Now Greg, in the dog's body, must do everything he can to distract his parents from discovering his secret. Meanwhile, the dog, in Greg's body, wreaks havoc in the house and yard. Will these comic shenanigans end with Greg revealing his secret? Will his parents accept Manuel into their family?
Is It Any Good?
Featuring Pixar's first gay main character, this short film packs lots of humor, action, affirmation, and love into its nine-minute running time. Out announces that it's "Based on a True Story," and -- if you ignore the subplot of a human and dog swapping bodies -- the story of a gay person who's scared to "come out" to their parents certainly echoes lots of true stories. It offers an ideal/tidy ending, in which (spoiler alert) Greg's mom knew all along and his dad welcomes Manuel with a bear hug, but Out is neither preachy nor trite. Written and directed by Steven Clay Hunter, whose previous credits include Toy Story 4, WALL-E , and Finding Nemo, among others, Out is the type of quality film viewers have come to expect from Pixar.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about secrets. Have you ever kept a secret from your parents or family, like the main character in Out? How did it make you feel?
How would you describe the movie's message? Why is it such an important one?
If you could swap bodies with any person or animal, who would it be and why?
Could you imagine this story lasting more than 9 minutes? What else do you think could happen to these characters in a longer movie?
Did the animation in Out remind you of any other films you've watched? If so, which ones?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 22, 2020
- Cast : Bernadette Sullivan , Kyle McDaniel , Caleb Cabrera
- Director : Steven Clay Hunter
- Studio : Pixar Animation Studios
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Animals
- Run time : 9 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild thematic elements
- Last updated : March 18, 2026
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
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