Carl Fredrickson, the beloved, crotchety old man who won the hearts of millions, is returning to the screen once again.Pixar’s upcoming short titledCarl’s Datefollows Carl as he embarks on yet another adventure. InUp, audiences witnessed Carl embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
He engineered his family home to become a flying vessel, one that he used to journey to tropical South America. There, Carl faced high-stakes conflict as he protected his newfound pseudo-grandson, Russel, his animal friends, Dug and Kevin, and the treasured memory of his late wife.
In later works, audiences witnessed Carl adjusting to suburban, domestic life inDug Days. Carl stepped outside his comfort zone by moving into a close-knit neighborhood and community, ultimately shedding his isolated, lonely lifestyle pre-South America adventure. Carl finally let in his loved ones, and in doing so, he cemented the next phase of his adventure: a loving, fulfilling life with purpose.
Carl’s Datepicks up with Carl frantically, nervously, and—of course—hilariously preparing for an upcoming romantic evening. Carl brought audiences to tears inUpandDug Days. Here’s why he’ll do it again in the upcoming animated short.
Up’s Opening Scene Is a Tearjerker
The opening scene of Pixar’s 2009 filmUpfeatures a heart-wrenching montage. Audiences are let into the endearing world of Carl and Ellie Fredrickson, the founding two (and only two) members of the “grape soda adventure club.” The montage follows a young boy and girlthrough the various stages of their romance—from young children seeking outlandish, pretend adventure to flirting teenagers, and all the way through their wedding.
Carl and Ellie plan their adventure to Paradise Falls, a far-away tropical utopia in South America. However, life gets in the way. The two are busy establishing their lives together as they buy a house, work, plan their family, and deal with the woes of everyday life.
Eventually, it’s too late. Carl and Ellie are too old, and Ellie is too sick. Their ‘adventure’ is left unfinished, and Ellie selflessly urges Carl to continue their dreams after she dies. When Ellie nudges their scrapbook into Carl’s hands, it seems like she’s asking him to continue their adventurous plans (i.e., travel to Paradise Falls).
However, the larger message that Ellie was conveying was that herlifewith Carl was the adventure. It wasn’t the exotic, foreign jungle they had previously discussed, but their quirky, colorful home and perfect routine was the adventure she wanted.This sob-worthy scene sets the stageforUp, and it’s a brilliant way to engage audiences with the heartbreaking story of Carl Fredrickson.
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Carl’s Date is An Adventure
After the opening scene ofUpand the substantial character development that followed, audiences have every reason to root for Carl Fredrickson. He navigateda complex, grief-ridden stage of his lifeby honoring the memory of his late wife. What’s more, he was able to honor the memory of Ellie by finally acknowledging what her message meant.
As Carl parted with his colorful home atop Paradise Falls—the same home he shared with Ellie—it feels like the adventure has concluded. He “completed” the task and finished the “unfinished business” of Ellie’s life. This was the moment that he finally understood.
By bidding farewell to the house, Carl acknowledged that Paradise Falls wasn’t the point. The maps, the travel plans, the balloon-lifted homes, all of the things he became obsessed with in the wake of Ellie’s death—that wasn’t the adventure. The adventure was a life shared with the one that you love.
Carl understood what Ellie tried to tell him years before, and with a deep breath, he embarked on a new adventure with Russell, Dug, anda borderline-excessive amount of dogs. Carl sought another life to share with people he loved (or, more accurately, will eventually love in his own ill-tempered way).
Carl’s Datewill bring audiences to tears by reminding us of both the selflessness of Ellie and the bravery of Carl. Ellie looked out for Carl all those years ago, worried that he might hold back from the next chapter of his life. Now, Carl is anxiously preparing for his first date in decades, bravely facing the unknown world of romance.
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A Brilliant Tribute to Ed Asner
To many, Ed Asner was known as ‘Lou Grant’fromThe Mary Tyler Moore Showor ‘Carl Fredrickson’ fromUp. However, the veteran actor had an extensive career that spanned generations, titles, genres, and even performing mediums. Asner had 411 titles to his name, beginning in 1957 and continuing to this day, with several titles still in post-production.
With seven Emmy Awards for his performances, Asner remains one of the most honored actors in the history of the Primetime Emmy organization. Asner was inducted into the Emmy Hall of Fame in 1996, and he is also the only actor who has won Emmys for playing the same character in a drama and a comedy. While Asner might be known for his performance inUp, he had a highly acclaimed career spanning nearly seven decades.
Ed Asner continued his work through the end of his life. He reprised the role of Carl Fredrickson forDug Days, but the actor passed away in 2021 a mere two days before the premiere. Ahead of the premiere ofCarl’s Date, TheWrapconfirmed whether Asner was involvedin the production before his death.
“At a presentation of the short at Pixar, Peterson [director] said that he thought that “Carl’s Date” was the “bow” on top of the “Up” story and that it would likely be the last material from the world (at least for now). Part of this has to do with the fact that Asner died just a few months after he recorded his dialogue for “Carl’s Date” (he recorded the dialogue in the spring of 2021 and passed away that same August) and part of it has to do with how perfectly the short film ends. It’s elegant and simple and deeply powerful, in a way that the best Pixar films, long or short, usually are.”
Carl’s Datepremiered in theaters on August 01, 2025, ahead of Pixar’s new release,Elemental.
