
In a world where self-criticism and perfectionism reign,
take a moment to silence the racing thoughts and rediscover the joy that once filled you
Trailer for an animated short film "Little t" by Masha Ellsworth
little t
Release Date: February 2025
After failing to get her dream job, Alexis questions her inner critic and unravels the origins of her comfort food
Director-writer/Producer: Masha Ellsworth
Run time: 7 min 45 serc
Countries of production: USA/Japan/Ukraine
What is “Little t“?
"Little t" trauma, also known as small "t" trauma, refers to traumatic experiences that are more common and less severe than those typically associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These types of traumas may not necessarily involve physical harm or danger but can still have a significant impact on a person's psychological and emotional well-being. Examples of "little t" traumas include emotional neglect or abuse, parental divorce, bullying, discrimination, and other experiences that may be distressing or traumatic. While these traumas may not necessarily result in PTSD, they can still have long-lasting effects on a person's mental health and well-being.
Director’s statement
by Masha Ellsworth
As the director of our short film about little t, I wanted to explore the often-overlooked impacts of everyday forms of trauma on individuals' lives. While we often associate trauma with major events such as accidents or violent crimes, the reality is that many people experience ongoing stress, emotional abuse, or neglect in their daily lives that can have long-lasting effects on their mental health and well-being.
Through our film, we aim to shed light on the experiences of those who have been affected by little t traumas, and to encourage empathy and understanding for those who may be struggling with these types of issues. We hope to create a space for viewers to reflect on their own experiences and to recognize the impact that these seemingly small incidents can have on their lives.
Our film explores the ways in which little t traumas can shape an individual's perception of themselves, their relationships, and the world around them. We delve into the nuances of these experiences, examining the often-subtle ways in which they can manifest in a person's thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
Why Make a short?
A few years ago, I hit a career plateau and found myself searching for a new challenge. However, I struggled with doubt and the fear of failure, which left me feeling paralyzed. It wasn't until I stumbled upon a message inside a fortune cookie from a local fast food joint that read, 'Silence the critic within,' that I realized what was holding me back. I had heard of the 'inner critic' before, but it wasn't until then that I decided to dive deep into understanding where it came from, why I had it, and how to overcome it.
As I embarked on this journey of self-discovery, I knew that I wanted to share my findings through film. 'Little t' became the challenge I had been seeking, and I am excited to present it to you.
-Masha Ellsworth


-
masha ellsworth, writer-director, producer
Masha Ellsworth is a lead technical director in the characters department at Pixar Animation Studios. She started her career in animation in 2007 when she became an intern on “Ratatouille” working in sets and lighting departments. Later, she transitioned into characters, working on feature films like “Up”, “Toy Story 3”, “Brave”, “Cars 2”, “Inside Out”, “ Finding Dory”, “Cars 3”, “Good Dinosaur”, “Coco”, “Incredibles 2”, “Onward”, and “Turning Red”. Masha was born and raised in Northern Ukraine and graduated from Bringham Young University in Provo, Utah with a double degree in Computer Science and Visual Art.
“Little t” is Masha’s directorial debut!
-
Diana Flores, Editor
Diana Flores is a Northern California native who has always had a deep passion for animation and storytelling. She studied at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Film and Digital Media, concentrating in production. After graduating, Diana was a Production Assistant on the documentary “Fruits of Labor” and later began her editing journey as an Assistant Editor on the preschool series “Go! Go! Cory Carson.” She then went on to work as an Assistant Editor at Pixar Animation Studios where she is currently working on an unannounced project. In her spare time, Diana enjoys exploring new places, visits to theme parks, and spending time with her friends and family.
-
jennifer rowekamp, composer
Jennifer Rowekamp is a composer and music editor based in San Francisco, CA. She is currently working as a Music Editor at Pixar Animation Studios where she has worked on such projects as “Turning Red” and Nona”. Jennifer is also a freelance music editor and composer for screen and podcasts. Her composition credits include the podcasts “Tomorrow” and the Peabody-and Ambie-nominated “Treasure Island 2020”.
-
Cassandra Rodriguez, Post Production supervisor
Cassandra Rodriguez is a part of the Post Production family at Pixar Animation Studios. In her current role as Mastering Coordinator she supports the creation and QC of the studio’s final film masters as well as providing editorial support across all projects, her most recent films being “Turning Red”, “Lightyear”, and “Elemental”. Cassandra began her career in film in 2012, having first worked in development & entertainment partnerships for studios such as Universal Pictures, 21st Century Fox, and Paramount Pictures. She has recently been accepted into the Hollywood Professional Association as one of this year’s Young Entertainment Professionals.
-
Alex Pimwong, Story Artist
Alex Pimwong worked as a Story Artist for “Little t”,. He started as an intern at Pixar Animation Studios in 2019 and went on to become a full time Story Artist working on projects including “Dug Days” and other unannounced projects. He resides in the Bay Area with his wife and dog, Quinee.
-
Jared Fong, Character Supervisor
Jared Fong is a Character Modeling and Rigging TD at Pixar Animation Studios. He hails from Salt Like City but now considers California his home. Throughout his tenure at Pixar, Jared has contributed to numerous films and shorts, starting with “Toy Story 3” and extending to the most recent release, “Elemental”.
-
Max Rodriguez, Animator/Story Artist
Max is a technical artist at Pixar, previously at PDI/Dreamworks and other small VFX studios. He is always taking expensive animation classes because he enjoys getting his art/heart ripped apart.
enjoy his bad dad jokes/cartoons @maddogdraws on instagram. -
Arisa Nakahara, Production Designer
Arisa Nakahara was born in Okinawa and completed a master degree in Japanese Style Painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts. Most of her works are portraits of women with vivid color contrast combining boldness and delicacy which have certain loveliness. She was one of the Production Designers for “Little t“, and worked on Mira.
-
Kyle Roldan, Modeling and Rigging TD
Kyle Roldan worked as a Rigging artist on Little T. Kyle is an aspiring artist, getting his start on the Facility Operations team at Pixar. Any time he sees projects to hone his skills, Kyle will jump at the opportunity to help. Kyle is continuing his pursuit to be a Sets artist at Pixar, working on other Co-Op projects, and personal video game projects at home. Kyle also enjoys music and music production, playing drums and DJ’ing. I am a San Jose, California native, and currently reside in the East Bay,
-
Airton Dittz, Director Of Photography
Airton Ditz is the Director of Photography for "Little t," who has already dedicated 22 years of his career to contributing to the magic of Pixar. He embarked on this journey with the company in 2001, holding various roles within the lighting department, including starting with the iconic film "Monster's Inc." Airton holds an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from a university in Brazil and later pursued his passion for the arts, earning a master's degree from the Academy of Arts College in San Francisco.
-
Uma Havaligi, Tailoring/Simulation Supervisor
Uma Havaligi Tailoring/Simulation Supervisor for “Little t”; Uma grew up in India dreaming of making animated movies. Her dream came true and she has worked as a tailoring and simulation artist on features and shorts like Megamind, Boss Baby, Incredibles 2, Soul, Float, Little t and others.
-
Jenny Horn, Graphics Artist
I'm Jenny, technical trainer for Pixar's in-house education department, Pixar University. My passions include art, technology, music (especially jazz saxophone), exploring, teaching, and learning -- fortunately, I will never have to stop learning new things! And that's a big part of why it was so much fun to work with Masha on the opening title image and credits for her beautiful film: because I learned a ton along the way!