For the Birds

The reading this week focused mostly on Pixar's ability to not only use technology to share a story but their ability to tell stories well. It is easy to see through the shorts, such as "For the Birds," that Pixar can tell a story but also include new technologies to captivate an audience. The birds tell us the story by their actions that are almost human while also living as birds. The birds act like normal birds on a wire being very chattery but they act human once the larger bird shows up. The larger bird, almost being naive, tries to befriend the other birds only to be mocked and treated poorly. But as the film progresses, the bird has a sense of humor and isn't hurt, while the other birds constantly treat the larger bird poorly. Simultaneously Pixar is showing textures and feathers, new techniques that are shown well and often, but is second to the story of the birds. In the end, the larger bird "gets the last laugh" for the treatment he received, but Pixar also does, as their technology is constantly received well and they improve technology within the bounds and constraints of telling a story well.