Shot-to-Dot

Shot-to-Dot is a 2009 American traditionally-animated short film directed by Bret Haaland, starring Dash and Dot, the mascots of PBS Kids from 1999 up until 2013. Taking place after the events of the 2009 animated film Dash and Dot's Wild Ride, the short centers around Dot as she tries to deal with her fear of needles during a visit to the doctor.

Produced by Imagine Entertainment, PBS and Universal Animation Studios, the short was released on December 25, 2009 as a bonus feature on the DVD release of Dash and Dot's Wild Ride, and on its Blu-ray release on September 6, 2019.

Plot
Dash and Dot wake up after a good night’s sleep and head down to the dining room to have breakfast. As they eat, their mother Denise checks the calendar and realizes that today is her children’s checkup day, so after breakfast is done, she and her husband Denise escort the kids into the car and drive off to the hospital. During the long car ride, Dot starts feeling anxious and explains to Dash that she does not want to go to the doctor because she has to receive a shot, an experience she describes to be “the most awful thing to happen to a kid”. Dash comforts Dot and assures her that he used to be afraid of getting his shot too until he managed to grow out of it as he grew older.

Eventually, the family arrives at the hospital and heads in to the office of Dr. Rogers. Dr. Rogers monitors Dash’s heartbeat through his stethoscope, checks his mouth for cavities, checks his blood pressure through his arm, and tests his reflexes through his knee. Finally, he prepares a syringe and vaccinates Dash with it, who is able to hold in the pain.

After Dash’s checkup is complete, Dot is then called into Dr. Rogers’ office, where the same process is repeated. However, when Dr. Rogers prepares the syringe to vaccinate Dot, her trypanophobia kicks in as she runs out of the office screaming. Running as fast as she can through the hospital, Dot inevitably finds situations involving people being injected with needles wherever she goes, before eventually being reduced to a shivering wreck and sitting against a corner, unable to move out of fear before Dash, Dennis, Denise and Dr. Rogers eventually find her.

Dash takes pity on his younger sister and helps her up onto her feet to comfort her, agreeing to help her face her fear as the family and Dr. Rogers head back into the latter’s office. Making good on his promise, Dash effectively distracts Dot from the pain of the shot by tickling her stomach and sending her into a laughing fit, allowing Dr. Rogers to successfully vaccinate her. Dot is relieved after being told by Dr. Rogers that she received the shot and is allowed to choose from three different types of candy as a reward, but being unable to decide which one is good enough, Dot decides to take all three of them. The short ends with the family driving back home as Dot shares some of her candy with Dash in the back seat.

Cast

 * Colin Ford as Dash
 * Grace Rolek as Dot
 * Chris Parnell as Dennis
 * Allison Janney as Denise
 * Kevin Dillon as Dr. Rogers

Production
The short was conceived during the animation production of Dash and Dot's Wild Ride, in 2008. Bret Haaland was set to direct. Long time Blue Sky Studios screenwriters Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio wrote the short film, and Brian Grazer produced it. The animation was produced at Rough Draft Studios, Wang Film Productions, and TMS Entertainment. CGI animation was provided by Reel FX Creative Studios while visual effects, compositing, and ink & paint services were handled by Mercury Filmworks. The music was composed by James Newton Howard, who also made the music for the film.

Release
Shot-to-Dot was released on December 25, 2009 as part of the bonus features on the Dash and Dot's Wild Ride DVD release, and was later released on September 6, 2019 on Blu-ray, additionally to coincide with the 20th anniversary of PBS Kids. The short was rated G for General Audiences by the MPAA.