Pixar Shorts

In a recent lecture, I learned that the animated shorts created by Pixar were actually tests. Computer animation was brand new, so rather than flopping on the big screen with a major movie budget, they created little five minute shorts to experiment difference scenarios. I never thought that before but it makes sense. As examples, "For the Birds" taught the animators texture with fluffy creatures. The next, Monsters, Inc. hit the theaters.



I really got into the shorts in 2006 with the release of Cars. The movie came with a short called "One Man Band." The short consists to one-man bands competing to get a little girl's money. I believe it taught the animators rapid movement in a small space. The next year, we watch that quick movement in small spaces take place with the cooks of Ratatouille.








With Ratatouille came the short, "Lifted," a funny alien abduction film. It taught the animators scale, especially involving VERY large objects. The next year, we meet WALL-E for the first time.









The recent film Inside Out came with a musical short Lava. I believe it taught how to work with ever changing volcanoes because Moana contains a battle with spirit who lives inside a volcano.

It's really great how far we've from since 1989, with Andre and Wally B., and we continue to create amazing films, like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, WALL-E, Up, and Brave.