A Billion Pixels and None of Them Wasted

Written by Writer Dad on August 6, 2008 - View Comments
Categories: Movies

 
I think its the most extraordinary studio around. I would love to do my next project with Pixar.

Brad Bird, Director of the Incredibles and Ratatouille

 

Brad Bird made the above statement a few years after he had written and directed the sadly underrated Iron Giant, about a decade after he’d penned some of the finest episodes of the Simpsons to ever tickle the funny bone, but before he nailed one masterpiece after the other by getting his wish and making his move to Pixar.

This past Friday, one of our clients offered us movie passes that had to be used by the following day.  We looked at our schedule, frowned, decided rest time wasn’t all that important, then headed to the theater.  While we would’ve loved to have seen something that we had never seen before, we were grateful that we had tickets we could use at a theater that was close enough to walk to.  

Daisy: “Let’s see what’s playing.”

Me: “Kung Fu Panda’s gone.  The only thing we can all see together is WALL-E, again.”  

“Writer Dad,” she said, “I’d rather see something by Pixar twice than just about any other movie once.”

So WALL-E it was.

I’ve been thinking about WALL-E ever since we saw it on opening weekend.  Back then, I didn’t have the blog.  Now, I do.  So sitting there staring at the screen during the second run through, I started looking at the screen a bit more critically, as the sentences started to click together in my head like shapes tumbling to the bottom of the screen in a game of Tetris.  

But what could I possibly say that hadn’t already been said better in the weeks leading up to the film’s release, or in the glowing aftermath since?  WALL-E’s Rotten Tomatoes score stands at 96%, and of the four percent of those critics who didn’t like it, one has to wonder who slipped rancid butter in their popcorn.  

WALL-E has some of the most breathtaking shots I’ve ever seen in a science fiction film, let alone a children’s movie, and a strong message that is stated with surprising elegance.

What Daisy said is true, and I couldn’t agree more.  Those grown up children at Pixar have the finest batting average of any filmmakers in history.  

Ever.  

They’ve never come anywhere close to a bad film, and I’d be surprised if they ever did.  There aren’t too many filmmakers, including our most celebrated directors, who could hope to claim the same.  Spielberg might be the most successful director to ever live, if you were to balance receipts against statues, but he still made 1942, Hook, and the Lost World.  

In my estimation, Cars was Pixar’s weakest moment, and there isn’t another film my four year old son would rather watch, and every one of his friends would line up to agree.

Pixar didn’t get there by accident.  No one handed them anything.  They invented a genre, did it well before it was trendy (or even financially sound), and did it while rising from the ashes of a small division, making visual demos inside a hardware company.  Their storytelling is impeccable, and their characters instant classics.  They put mountains of time and thought into each pixel in every frame, without ever reducing themselves to the hurry up and render slapdash cash grab of Dreamworks (cough, Madagascar, cough).  

Pixar always lend their stories a perfect ear for dialogue, comfortably nestled in between child and adult, but without the awkwardness of adolescence.  

I’m going to stop right now.  I fear if I continue, I’ll end up rolling into unbridled hyperbole, and you guys might think me geeky.

Sorry, Writer Dad.  Too late.

Like any lover of films, I have my favorites.  I know what to spin if I want cheap entertainment, something provoking, or simply to laugh.  But if I want to be inspired; if I want to see the fruit of timeless creativity, then my choice is almost always Pixar.

Writer Dad

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  • I always heard that Pixar had two different divisions: their computer graphics research branch and then their art/story branch. I'm a CS Masters and I have a background in graphics, but some of that stuff is tough and I'll admit still over my head, but it's a lot of continual learning. I have actually built my own raytracer though! :)

    I learned something interesting from a couple of artist friends who were talking about getting work at Pixar. One of the key reasons that Pixar is so good is because they have a dedicated staff of story artists. They take story concepts and make concept art to explore all the possibilities of the original idea. I also hear from my friends that Pixar tends to look for artists with unique and interesting art styles.

    Glenns last blog post..Frakkin’ Spammers
  • Writer Dad
    iWally: Sorry I missed this comment. I'm really sorry you didn't get the job at Pixar. That would've been awesome. When my wife and I collaborate on projects, we talk about Pixar as a model. They obviously take no short cuts, and craft everything to perfection. If everyone followed their work ethic, the world would be an amazing place.
  • First time here. Being a writer and a Dad, I had an immediate connection to this site. And then I stumbled across the Wall-E post. How can I explain? Well, I started with Laser Discs containing computer animations of "Andre & Wally B", "Luxo Jr.", "Red's Dream", and "Tin Toy" (the precursor to Toy Story). PIXAR is that rare company that could release a movie with zero advertising and I would be there opening night. I now have every Pixar DVD released, Wall-E on my iPhone, wallpapers on Flickr, you name it - I am the quintessential Pixar fanboy!

    Regarding merchandising, I am completely disappointed. Every other Pixar film has shelves of product available, but the handful of items available for Wall-E makes for a very short list. Since I share the star of the films name, I was hoping for an offering the likes of Cars. And I'll agree that Cars was Pixar's weakest movie. Toy Story 2 almost was, but Lasseter rescued it in the eleventh hour and it almost cost him his marriage. Still, Cars has nearly ten feet of shelf space and Wall-E merchandise barely fills an end cap.

    I'll close with my brush with Pixar greatness. I was an arrogant high school senior sitting at my Amiga watching Lightwave render animation frames one, slow, painful row at a time. I sent a demo reel to Pixar (doesn't everyone start with bouncing chrome balls and teapots?) and waited for the call. After a few weeks, I called Pixar and asked for a job, any job, the janitor and potty wand duty will be just fine, thank you. I was put through to Deirdre Warin who basically told me I needed a graphics art degree *and* a computer science degree to get a job at Pixar. I was crushed. Partly because I was struggling to pay my way just through community college. I hold no hard feelings, though. That's how Pixar got to where they are - by hiring the best of the best. They are the Top Gun school of film making. Maybe my path will cross with Pixar's in the future. One can always dream in RGB.

    iWallys last blog post..Adobe CS4: It’s Going To Be Brilliant
  • Writer Dad
    J Noronha: It took me so long to respond, I'm sure you've already seen it. I hope you like it, and I'm sorry.

    Glenn: I totally see what you're saying about WALL-E and the human design, but some of the stuff on Earth, and in space, was just beautiful. Studio Ghibli is amazing; I've never seen anything from Miyazaki that was anything less than wonderful. From what I understand, Up, Pixar's next, draws from that particular well.
  • hello there, thanks for sharing! =)

    kenwoois last blog post..Movie: WALL-E
  • I liked Wall-E quite a bit myself, but I think Ratatouille is still my favorite Pixar movie. It was a great story, well shot and animated. It's just a joy to watch the characters move and emote. My problem with Wall-E was that there was no diversity amongst the human characters and it seemed to be a step backwards for Pixar's animation. In Ratatouille you can definitely see the attention to facial expressions and subtle movements, especially the restaurant diners.

    If you're into the great storytelling that Pixar offers, I'd suggest to you films from Studio Ghibli. They make movies like Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Totoro, and Nausicaa. John Lasseter got these films imported to the States, and the creator of these films, Hayao Miyazaki, is often considered the Walt Disney of Japan.

    Glenns last blog post..Frakkin’ Spammers
  • I think I watched every Pixar movie ever made and couldn't agree more. Didn't watch Wall-e yet, but it's in the top of my to do list, much more now that I read your post.

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  • Writer Dad
    Sal: I hear what you're saying, but really, wasn't that speech by Anton Ego at the end alone worth the price of admission?

    Andy: When Daisy and I collaborate on creative projects, we always wonder what it would be like to work at Pixar. I think even with whatever corporate structure they have to maintain, it would still have to be a creative nirvana.

    Matthew Dryden: Gerri's game. My favorite short. Gerri reminds me so much of my Papí.

    Writer Dads last blog post..**Warning .. http:/ is a known spammer . delete this message
  • PIXAR and I became lovers after that amusing chess game for control over the false teeth.

    Toy Story is still my favorite. I have to see Wall-E.
  • There is something floating around the internet that is a guided walkthrough of the Pixar campus and MAN! does it look like a cool place to work.

    And WALL-E...oh my effing goodness, my fiance is the Queen of randomly bringing up scenes from that movie: In the car, while eating breakfast, right before we fall asleep, etc. She honestly cannot stop thinking about that movie! She loves it! And rightfully so!

    Andy @ bloginyourface.coms last blog post..Some great Home Remedies and Tip ‘n Tricks!
  • Sal
    @Urban Panther: I am in no way discrediting the visual skills and talents of Pixar, all I am saying is that the storyline was a bit lacking. There were a couple of times when I thought the storyline was coming to an end, but it kept on going.

    Sals last blog post..aMUSEing Inspiration for beginners
  • Writer Dad
    Sal: Thanks for the two thumbs up. Much appreciated.

    Alex: You're absolutely right. The merchandising for Cars alone could probably have filled one of WALL-E's skyscrapers.

    Vered: I finally got around to answering your question about whether or not I saw WALL-E. Sorry it took me so long.

    Ian: Great connection about "Idiocracy."

    Tara: Monsters Inc. was the only one I was ho-hum about when I left the theater.... and I have no idea why. It has subsequently emerged as one of my favorites. Maybe someone put rancid butter in MY corn that day.

    Urban Panther: I can't jump on board the pet rat boat, but I do think that Ratatouille was a masterpiece, in large part because there was nothing "cute" about the rat. He was filthy, yet human. Perfect.

    Marelisa: Rats in a kitchen are definitely pretty filthy, BUT... beautiful music, scenic paris, fantastic animation, and a meaningful message. Sigh, that's enough for me.

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  • I agree with Sal that "Ratatouille" was Pixar´s low point (sorry Urban Panther) I hate rats, and rats in a kitchen, gross! I love all of their other movies though, but I haven't seen Wall-E. I've heard great things about Wall-E, though.

    I love how you mention that they started making these films before they were popular and before it was a financially sound things to do. Goes to show that the visionary is the one that wins.

    Marelisas last blog post..How to Be Happy
  • We were just talking about Pixar at the party on the weekend. Hands down my favourite production company of all times. Pure genius. Even their shorts fill me with delight!

    @Sal - as someone who has owned pet rats all her life, Ratouille was brilliant! They completely nailed the rats' movements and mannerisms. And I read that this is all due to Brad Bird. He came into the production I believe a year or two into it. All the base animation for the rats was complete. He made them go back and do it all again from scratch to make the rats rat-like, not human-like. Genius! Pure genius!!

    Urban Panthers last blog post..Please don't make me eat that
  • Hey Writer Dad. Am 'saving up' going to see the film when I am off work in a couple of weeks because Pixar movies have become a bit of an event in this family. My 5-year-old son absolutely adores everything they have done and is so excited about the new film. He's not the slightest bit bothered about a Wall-e pen or a Wall-e backpack, he's just enthralled by the storytelling. His fav so far is Monsters Inc.
    But I am SOOOO with you on Iron Giant, one of our very very fav films (we actually watched it just yesterday!) and the one animated film I urge everyone and anyone I know with children to buy. That bit where he's off into space and says to himself "Superman", well, fair brings a tea to my eye every time!

    Tara@From Dawn Till Rusks last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Summer
  • I loved that movie.

    Wall-E was quite possibly Pixar's best.

    The message was loud and clear, to be sure, but wrapped in a lovely envelope of animation genius. It pulled the concept of "Idiocracy" into a movie that had greater reach.

    @Alex Fayle: Very good point about the proliferation of junk. So maybe everybody didn't get the message. Sometimes it's all about the dollar, and sometimes management takes advantage of the artist's vision. Of course, Bird's masterpiece might not have made it to the screen if it weren't for the corporate beast. It's a game of give and take. Hopefully we'll never have the need to make such robots.

    Ian Parkers last blog post..Microsoft-Free Desktop Planned
  • To me, Wall-E was important because of the social messages. The warnings about where our planet, where our society are headed if we're not careful. I would definitely see it again.

    Vereds last blog post..Cooking? That’s What Wives Are For! (Wordless Wednesday)
  • Sal
    @Alex: That brings up another great question. You were talking about merchandising, here is what came to my mind. The previews before the movie, how much do you think they pay Pixar to get inserted before a movie of that Calibur. I heard once that the commercials that air during Opra's show cost almost a million dollars for a 30 second segment.

    Everyone knows that tons of people will flood to the theaters, much like that of the animals to Noah's ark, to see the movie. If you were a movie maker, how much would you pay to get your movie infront of that same audience?

    Sals last blog post..aMUSEing Inspiration for beginners
  • WALL-E premiers in Spain this Friday and I'm so going to go see it.

    The one thing I find kind of funny is the amount of merchandising that goes with a film like this when it's about a robot who's cleaning up the junk we've covered the planet with...
  • Sal
    I couldn't agree with you more. I think that even before my wife and I had kids, we still were largely into the Pixar niche. It all started with that one lamp, boy that was a wierd intro to a movie, but now the little lamp bouncing on the "I", you can just hear everyone bust out laughing everytime.

    I know for a fact that our movie collection, between the shoot-em-up's that I enjoy occasionally and the romantic comedy my wife loves to watch, is far out numbered by the Pixar classics.

    I would have to disagree with you a touch on the lowest moment though. I thought cars was well put together, Ratatouille on the other hand, I would have to say was the biggest let down. I was hoping for so much more, but I guess that is just because I love to cook. I kept looking at my watch wondering if it was going to be over soon. But, to each his own.

    Everyday Thoughts gives this blog a "two thumbs up" review!

    Sals last blog post..aMUSEing Inspiration for beginners
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