In Pixar’s short “Nona,” the grandmother participates in lucha libre, the theatrical Mexican style of professional wrestling.
Nona is a wrestling-loving grandmother whose favorite television program is E.W.W. Smashdown Wrestling. The film uses masked-wrestler imagery, exaggerated moves, and a colorful arena fantasy to evoke the spectacle associated with lucha libre. When her granddaughter Renee interrupts her viewing, the conflict eventually becomes a playful wrestling encounter that lets the two characters bond.
The short was inspired by director Louis Gonzales’s own relationship with his grandmother, who shared his enthusiasm for wrestling. Gonzales described the story as being about a grandmother and grandchild connecting through that passion. “Lucha libre” is sometimes confused with the broader English term “professional wrestling,” but it specifically points to the Mexican tradition, known for high-flying action, distinctive masks, dramatic personas, and expressive storytelling. Nona premiered on Disney+ on September 17, 2021, as the tenth Pixar SparkShort.