Pixar

Pixar Animation Studios {{nasdaq|PIXR}} is an award-winning computer generated imagery (CGI) animation firm based in Emeryville, California (USA).

Feature films

• Toy Story (1995)
• A Bug's Life (1998)
• Toy Story 2 (1999) (Originally slated as a direct-to-video film, Disney concluded this film did not count towards the '5 picture' contract when it was released in theatres)
• Monsters, Inc. (2001)
• Finding Nemo (2003, Academy Award winner 2004)
• The Incredibles (2004, Academy Award winner 2005)
• Cars (scheduled for release in June 2006)
• Ratatouille (scheduled for release in 2007)

A movie called Ray Gun was rumored to be released by Pixar in 2007, but latest reports indicate that this will be a 2D feature which Pixar has no interest in developing. Currently Warner Brothers owns the rights to develop this film.

Related Topics:
Ray Gun - 2007 - 2D - Warner Brothers

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Traditions

There are several things that Pixar puts in every one of their feature films.

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John Ratzenberger

John Ratzenberger (most commonly known as Cliff Clavin from the television sitcom Cheers) is always a character voice, referred to by the studio as their "good luck charm". The following is a list of his roles in the first seven Pixar movies:

Related Topics:
John Ratzenberger - Cheers

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• Toy Story - Hamm (a piggy bank)
• A Bug's Life - P.T. Flea (the manager of a travelling insect circus)
• Toy Story 2 - Hamm (a piggy bank)
• Monsters, Inc. - The Abominable Snowman (a yeti)
• Finding Nemo - a school of moonfish
• The Incredibles - The Underminer (A Supervillain)
• Cars - a Mack truck named Mack

He also voiced a character in the English dub of Spirited Away, overseen by John Lasseter. Actor Wallace Shawn also aprears in multiple Pixar Films.

Related Topics:
Dub - Spirited Away - Wallace Shawn

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Cameo appearances

Every Pixar film has included cameo appearances of characters or objects from their other movies or short films.

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Examples:

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• Toy Story - During the staff meeting at the beginning of the movie, some of the books on the shelf behind Woody are named after some of Pixar's short films, such as "Tin Toy" and "Knick Knack".
• Toy Story 2 - When Hamm is flipping through the channels, many of Pixar's short films, including Pixar's old logo, were briefly represented. Geri (from the short Geri's Game) appears as the toy cleaner. There are "A Bug's Life" toys in Al's Toy Barn. Also, in that movie when Mr. Potato Head found Mrs. Potato Head's earring, Mrs. was reading "A Bug's Life" book.
• A Bug's Life - A Pizza Planet cup from Toy Story is seen above the bar as Flik enters.
• Monsters Inc. - Boo shows Sulley her Jesse doll (from Toy Story 2) and a Nemo plush toy. Also, the trailer where Randall becomes trapped appears to be the one from "A Bug's Life".
• Finding Nemo - A Buzz Lightyear action figure can be seen in the dentist's waiting room. Also, a patient can be seen reading a Mr. Incredible comic book. Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. can been seen during the end credits swimming through the ocean, a Pizza Planet truck from Toy Story can be seen.

Teaser trailers

The Pixar teaser trailers since Monsters, Inc. consist of footage created specifically for the trailer, spotlighting certain central characters in a comic situation. Though similar scenes and situations may appear, these sequences are not in the films being advertised, but instead are original creations.

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Examples:

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• Monsters, Inc.: Sulley and Mike stumble into the wrong bedroom. Mike and Sulley play charades.
• Finding Nemo: Marlin asks the school of fish for directions and Dory scares them away.
• The Incredibles: An out-of-shape Mr. Incredible struggles to get his belt on.
• Cars: A rusty tow truck talks to Lightning McQueen after the truck hits and kills a baby bumblebee.

A113

Similar to George Lucas' 1138, the letter-number sequence A113 is an animation in-joke which appears in all Pixar films to date, save Monsters, Inc. (see A113 article for more information).

Related Topics:
George Lucas - 1138 - Monsters, Inc.

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Inside References

Harryhausen's

In an homage to Ray Harryhausen, stop motion animation pioneer and designer of countless cinematic monsters, the restaurant in Monsters, Inc. is named "Harryhausen's."

Related Topics:
Ray Harryhausen - Stop motion - Monsters, Inc.

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