Pixar Shorts
Partly because I received a lot of comments and emails wondering why I made no mention of Pixar’s spectacular collection of shorts, and partly because I was looking for another excuse to wax poetic about Pixar, today I’m going to discuss their shorts. I’m not going to rank them by preference, but by release date instead, with a few simple sentences spent to sing the praises of each one.
The magic in Pixar’s short films is that they are wonderfully human. With only a couple of exceptions, they are dialogue free affairs, allowing music and emotion to tell a story that lasts far longer than the scant minutes might suggest. I’ve embedded each one for you to enjoy. I really hope you do.
The Adventures of André and Wally B. was Pixar’s first short, made in 1984 a few years before they were even Pixar. Done primarily as a tech demo for the graphics arm of LucasFilm this short was the first computer animated work to display anything close to human emotion.
Luxo Jr. was the first “official” Pixar short and the first one I ever saw. I’ll never forget the day. My parents took my sister and I to the annual animation festival held on the campus of Cal State Long Beach. Luxo Jr. was scheduled. I saw it on the program, read the short description, and wondered how a computer could draw anything. When it finished, I knew I’d seen something special. The thundering applause obviously agreed.
Red’s Dream is from Pixar’s “blue period.” It tells the tale of a lonely unicycle being sold for 50% off. The unicycle dreams of a better life while the sound of a lonely sax wanders through the background. The jump in graphical achievement between Luxo Jr. and Red’s Dream is simply remarkable.
Tin Toy quite clearly sows the seeds of Toy Story. In it, a baby crawls across the floor instilling fear into the hearts of his old toys while terrorizing his newest “tin toy.” Though this short does look a bit dated, it amazing to see how high Pixar was reaching at the time, clearly far beyond the scope of available technology.
Knick Knack is the first to display the undiluted promise of all to come. Six years before Toy Story and the last short film made until the film was ready, Knick Knack tells a simple, beautiful, and wordless tale about reaching for something better. The music is wonderful and the punch line perfect.
Geri’s Game was the Pixar short that kicked off the wonderful tradition of placing a new short before each film. It tells the quiet story of a chess game in the park featuring a man who looks remarkably like my grandfather did in the last few years of his life.
For the Birds played before Monsters Inc. When I first saw it, I was sitting next to a seven month pregnant Cindy who laughed so hard I thought I was going to be a dad two months early.
Mike’s New Car might be my least favorite Pixar short. It isn’t that it isn’t good, it’s just that it didn’t have the same fresh scent as every one that preceded it.
Boundin’ is funny and wonderful, and preaches a lesson that every child and adult should learn once, learn often, and never ever forget. Though this one does use language, the way it is used makes the writer in me adore it all the more.
Jack-Jack Attack is the five or so minutes that were missing from The Incredibles. It works for me in a way the other shorts directly related to their parent films do not. Jack-Jack Attack not only manages to be fully entertaining on its own, it enhances the magic of the original film as well.
One Man Band often competes for my favorite spot. Everything about it is magic. Wow.
Mater and the Ghostlight invokes the exact same feelings for me as Mike’s New Car. It is probably my son’s favorite.
Lifted is for anyone who has ever learned to drive, wondered about the mechanics of alien abduction, or appreciated things that were awesome.
Presto has an old school charm that is rad and a half. Shown before WALL-E, I almost liked this as much as the movie.
Partly Cloudy is the latest Pixar short, shown before UP. Only 30 seconds is available on this one, but GIANT SMILES fill the other few minutes.
I highly recommend getting the Pixar Shorts DVD. The audio commentaries are wonderful, as is the included short documentary. I promise, seeing these shorts in their compressed YouTube format is NOTHING like seeing them in all their perfectly articulated glory.
About Sean Platt
Yes, we love the shorts too! They are all different from one another and very well done. My toddler loves the Incredibles one and asks for the “Hot Baby” when she sees me get the DVD out. That one and the light bouncing on the ball are her two favorite. We skip a couple of them, however, since they tend to bother her (the chess match and the monsters in the car), but my husband and I enjoy those as well!
Yes, we love the shorts too! They are all different from one another and very well done. My toddler loves the Incredibles one and asks for the “Hot Baby” when she sees me get the DVD out. That one and the light bouncing on the ball are her two favorite. We skip a couple of them, however, since they tend to bother her (the chess match and the monsters in the car), but my husband and I enjoy those as well!
Sean, these were absolutely wonderful. What a great way to start my day! Thanks!
Sean, these were absolutely wonderful. What a great way to start my day! Thanks!
Wow, fantastic to have these all in one place and there are quite a few here I haven’t seen before. I think what Pixar did was make it okay for adults to watch animated films, which in theory are for kids. But that’s as much to do with the incredibly tight scripts, which found that wonderful balance and humour.
ps. I love Boundin’. Great storytelling.
Wow, fantastic to have these all in one place and there are quite a few here I haven’t seen before. I think what Pixar did was make it okay for adults to watch animated films, which in theory are for kids. But that’s as much to do with the incredibly tight scripts, which found that wonderful balance and humour.
ps. I love Boundin’. Great storytelling.
Great collection of shorts Writer Dad. I had never seen Boundin’ before nor have I seen One Man Band or Lifted. As always Pixar does amazing work so I’m not surprised the popularity of the shorts.
MY favorite was Jack Jack Attack and I hope they make a sequel to the Incredibles as well.
Great collection of shorts Writer Dad. I had never seen Boundin’ before nor have I seen One Man Band or Lifted. As always Pixar does amazing work so I’m not surprised the popularity of the shorts.
MY favorite was Jack Jack Attack and I hope they make a sequel to the Incredibles as well.
Kimberly: The chess match was the first one I ever fell in love with, but I’m cool if I never see the new car one ever again. LOL on hot baby! That’s what I’m going to start calling it from now on.
Stephen: My pleasure Stephen. Glad to help your Friday start off right.
Iain: Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever found them all in one place before. Well, other than on a DVD. : > ) Boundin’ might be the most unique, but it is just so wonderful as well. I’m glad Pixar made it acceptable for me to while away an evening with a cartoon. I’ve never been happier to be a big kid.
John: Man, I’m already foaming at the mouth for a sequel to the Incredibles! Without any backstory to set up it will be nothing but awesome. They’re all so good, it’s tough to pick a favorite.
Kimberly: The chess match was the first one I ever fell in love with, but I’m cool if I never see the new car one ever again. LOL on hot baby! That’s what I’m going to start calling it from now on.
Stephen: My pleasure Stephen. Glad to help your Friday start off right.
Iain: Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever found them all in one place before. Well, other than on a DVD. : > ) Boundin’ might be the most unique, but it is just so wonderful as well. I’m glad Pixar made it acceptable for me to while away an evening with a cartoon. I’ve never been happier to be a big kid.
John: Man, I’m already foaming at the mouth for a sequel to the Incredibles! Without any backstory to set up it will be nothing but awesome. They’re all so good, it’s tough to pick a favorite.
It’s so funny you mention this. Chris always gets excited about the shorts; he loves them!
It’s so funny you mention this. Chris always gets excited about the shorts; he loves them!
Let’s all genuflect to the greatness that is Pixar. Pure genius and perfection in motion. Life IS happier with their talent in the world. They raise the bar so high it is impossible to see anything that doesn’t tickle your funny bone. Pixar genuinely understands the inner child in all of us. Thanks for the anthology of shorts.
Let’s all genuflect to the greatness that is Pixar. Pure genius and perfection in motion. Life IS happier with their talent in the world. They raise the bar so high it is impossible to see anything that doesn’t tickle your funny bone. Pixar genuinely understands the inner child in all of us. Thanks for the anthology of shorts.
hey. Sean, you made me have attitude adjustment after the way the day began for me! what a treat those shorts were! there were some I had not seen and i abolutely howled at knick-knacks, with its very twisted sound track. it was genius and i think of the hundreds of knick-knacks that i have and what would happen if they developed a life of their own! luv ya, mom
hey. Sean, you made me have attitude adjustment after the way the day began for me! what a treat those shorts were! there were some I had not seen and i abolutely howled at knick-knacks, with its very twisted sound track. it was genius and i think of the hundreds of knick-knacks that i have and what would happen if they developed a life of their own! luv ya, mom
Awesome! Thank you for posting these. I’d only seen a few of them. I love how each one is done in a different style, which carries over to the title card, closing credits, etc… Some have a very old school feel to them, particularly Presto, which might be the funniest Pixar toon I’ve seen yet!
Knick-knacks doesn’t seem to be in the proper spot, with the ufo one appearing there and near the bottom. Not sure if someone changed up a video on YouTube or what.
Thanks again. I look forward to Up coming out on DVD, as I haven’t seen it yet.
Awesome! Thank you for posting these. I’d only seen a few of them. I love how each one is done in a different style, which carries over to the title card, closing credits, etc… Some have a very old school feel to them, particularly Presto, which might be the funniest Pixar toon I’ve seen yet!
Knick-knacks doesn’t seem to be in the proper spot, with the ufo one appearing there and near the bottom. Not sure if someone changed up a video on YouTube or what.
Thanks again. I look forward to Up coming out on DVD, as I haven’t seen it yet.
Hayden: I’m always as genuinely excited to see what short is in store as I am to actually watch the movie! Chris knows a good thing.
Cindy: We’ve seen all the Pixar movies in the theater together, save the first. That’s pretty cool. : > ) They are such an inspiration. Thanks for loving them every bit as much as I do and never tiring of me going on and on. And on.
Mom: You’ve never seen Knick-Knack? It’s awesome for sure. There’s a tonal shift there I think. Dudette, if your knick-knacks came to life the world would probably end.
Dave: Yeah, Presto is super old school and I freaking howled in the theater. You actually have that one on DVD! It’s in the bonuses to WALL-E. Hmmm… I’ll look into Knick-Knack.
Hayden: I’m always as genuinely excited to see what short is in store as I am to actually watch the movie! Chris knows a good thing.
Cindy: We’ve seen all the Pixar movies in the theater together, save the first. That’s pretty cool. : > ) They are such an inspiration. Thanks for loving them every bit as much as I do and never tiring of me going on and on. And on.
Mom: You’ve never seen Knick-Knack? It’s awesome for sure. There’s a tonal shift there I think. Dudette, if your knick-knacks came to life the world would probably end.
Dave: Yeah, Presto is super old school and I freaking howled in the theater. You actually have that one on DVD! It’s in the bonuses to WALL-E. Hmmm… I’ll look into Knick-Knack.
Presto is easily my favorite. When we saw it in the theater for the first time, I remember thinking that I had already gotten my money’s worth even before seeing Wall-E, the main attraction. And I think you’ve got it right. It was definitely the old-school charm that hooked me. Brilliant stuff.
Presto is easily my favorite. When we saw it in the theater for the first time, I remember thinking that I had already gotten my money’s worth even before seeing Wall-E, the main attraction. And I think you’ve got it right. It was definitely the old-school charm that hooked me. Brilliant stuff.
I have to ask, do you remember a short about cute little evil chickens called cheep cheeps. The short begins with a lizard/ alien think singing Respect and no one in the bar is paying attention to him then someone bursts through the bar and yells, “the cheep cheeps are coming and every one but the lizard guy runs or hides….. it ends off that lizard guy befriends the cheep cheeps and uses them to get the bar attenders to “appreciate” his music. I’m sixteen years old so its a more recent one maybe 5-7 years old. i cant find it anywhere, possible legal trouble or something may have removed it from public viewing or im not looking in the right places, anything could help thanks
I have to ask, do you remember a short about cute little evil chickens called cheep cheeps. The short begins with a lizard/ alien think singing Respect and no one in the bar is paying attention to him then someone bursts through the bar and yells, “the cheep cheeps are coming and every one but the lizard guy runs or hides….. it ends off that lizard guy befriends the cheep cheeps and uses them to get the bar attenders to “appreciate” his music. I’m sixteen years old so its a more recent one maybe 5-7 years old. i cant find it anywhere, possible legal trouble or something may have removed it from public viewing or im not looking in the right places, anything could help thanks
I realized after much searching that it wasn’t called the cheep cheeps it was called the chubchubs. also it wasnt a pixar but in fact a very convincing look a like credited to sony, thanks anyways (its worth a look)
I realized after much searching that it wasn’t called the cheep cheeps it was called the chubchubs. also it wasnt a pixar but in fact a very convincing look a like credited to sony, thanks anyways (its worth a look)
Jess, i remember that too! it was played before men in black i think… i'm looking for it too!! i remember it being good!!
Jess it's called “The ChubChubs”!! i just found it! look it up on google!