Growing Fangs (2021)

Disney+ recently released six short films entitled the “Launchpad” collection in which diverse directors tell diverse stories. These shorts are exactly the kind of films we here at Incluvie want to see more of. These are stories of intersectionality, inclusion, and diversity. And every short stars a cluvie! Here is a general summary and review of each of them.

This "Launchpad" short follows Xiaoyu, a Chinese student at an elite American boarding high school. Xiaoyu is one of the few Chinese students at Westmoreland and longs to be recognized as excellent. Xiaoyu decides to try out for maître d', a position no international student has held before. But trying to become a part of the school’s leadership puts distance between Xiaoyu and his friends, and it requires a lot of work on his part, especially with English pronunciations. Some support him, others don’t. And after a major plot twist, Xiaoyu learns his efforts might not win him the kind of recognition he desires.