2011 is the 25th Anniversary of PIXAR. Over the course of the next few months we will have lots of exclusive pictures, games and prizes to offer (yes prizes). Kicking off, we have a behind the scenes feature about Pixar
PIXAR SHORTS
In 1986, Pixar’s first-ever short, “Luxo Jr.,” launched a new direction in animated filmmaking, using three-dimensional computer animation to tell a story. Since then, nearly every feature film that Pixar has released has included a short beforehand, bringing back a tradition that was once an expected pleasure for filmgoers.
Pixar’s shorts have helped foster and develop technologies and talent at the studio, but they are mostly made for one simple reason: love of the art form. From the toy-tormenting baby in “Tin Toy” (1989) to the adorable storks in “Partly Cloudy” (2009), Pixar’s shorts have delighted audiences and earned critical praise, garnering 10 Academy-Award® nominations and three Best Animated Short Film Academy Awards. “Day & Night,” the studio’s most recent Oscar®-nominated short, debuted in theaters with “Toy Story 3.”
PIXAR MOVIES
On November 22, 1995, Pixar Animation Studios forever impacted the future of filmmaking, storytelling and the medium of animation with the release of its first feature film, “Toy Story.” Released nine years after the founding of Pixar, “Toy Story” exhibited years of creative and technical achievements from a small group of passionate computer scientists and animators, led by present day President Ed Catmull and Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter. The film, marking the birth of the new medium of computer animation, went on to become the highest grossing film of 1995 with $362 million in worldwide box-office receipts. Lasseter, director of “Toy Story,” was honored with a Special Achievement Academy Award for his “inspired leadership of the Pixar ‘Toy Story’ team resulting in the first feature-length computer animated film.”
Since the release of “Toy Story” in 1995, Pixar has also created and produced “A Bug’s Life” (1998), “Toy Story 2” (1999), “Monsters, Inc.” (2001), “Finding Nemo” (2003), “The Incredibles” (2004), “Cars” (2006), “Ratatouille” (2007), “WALL-E” (2008), “Up” (2009) and most recently “Toy Story 3” (2010). The films have resulted in an unprecedented streak of both critical and box-office successes, and combined to gross more than $6.5 billion at the worldwide box office. The feature films, through “Toy Story 3,” have garnered 40 Academy Award® nominations, nine Oscars®, seven Golden Globes® and numerous other accolades. “Cars 2” speeds into theaters this summer.
PIZZA PLANET TRUCK
The Pizza Planet Truck, which first made an appearance in “Toy Story,” has made a cameo in nearly every Pixar film to date.
1/ Pizza Planet originated with “Toy Story” as the pizza restaurant that Andy, his sister Molly and Mom go to for dinner one night. When Buzz and Woody are accidentally left at the Dinoco gas station by Andy on his way to Pizza Planet, they hitch a ride back to Andy on a Pizza Planet delivery truck.
2/ In “A Bug’s Life” the Pizza Planet truck is parked out in front of the mobile home shown before Flick enters Bug City.
3/ In “Toy Story 2,” Buzz and the gang use the idling Pizza Planet truck outside of Al McWhiggin’s apartment building to race to the airport to save Woody before he’s put on an airplane to Tokyo.
4/ In “Monsters, Inc.” the truck is parked in front of the same mobile home used in “A Bug’s Life” when Sulley, Mike and Boo are jumping through doors in the scare factory. Randall goes in this door by mistake and is attacked by the occupants inside.
5/ In “Finding Nemo,” the truck drives by on the street when the tank gang is escaping the dentist’s office in plastic bags.
6/ The Pizza Planet truck does not make an appearance in “The Incredibles.”
7/ The Pizza Planet truck makes two appearances in “Cars.” You can spot the truck on the highway during the “Life is a Highway” montage and again in the speedway during the final race.
8/ In “Ratatouille,” the truck is seen in the distance on a bridge over the Seine when Skinner is chasing Remy.
9/ In “WALL•E” when EVE first arrives on Earth and is searching for the plant, she scans the Pizza Planet truck and slams down the hood.
10/ In “Up,” the Pizza Planet truck can be seen at an intersection when Carl’s house flies over the town. The truck makes a second appearance in the Fentons Creamery parking lot at the end of the film.
11/ In “Toy Story 3,” Lotso, Big Baby and Chuckles ride on the Pizza Planet truck bumper in Lotso’s backstory.
John Ratzenberger
Now widely known as Pixar’s good luck charm, John Ratzenberger is the only actor to voice a role in all 12 of the Disney/Pixar films. Ratzenberger is the voice of Hamm, the know-it-all piggybank, in the three “Toy Story” films. He also was in “A Bug’s Life,” as P.T. Flea; “Monsters, Inc.,” as Yeti the snow monster; “Finding Nemo,” as the Fish School; “The Incredibles” as the Underminer; “Cars,” as Mack the truck; “Ratatouille,” as Mustafa, the head waiter; “WALL-E,” as John, a human living aboard the spaceship Axiom; and Construction Foreman Tom in “Up.” Ratzenberger will reprise his role as Mack in the upcoming “Cars 2.”
Click here to read our interview with John Ratzenberger.
A113
The number A113, which refers to John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Pete Docter and Andrew Stanton’s former classroom at CalArts, makes an appearance in every Pixar film.
1/ In “Toy Story” A113 is the license plate number on Andy’s Mom’s minivan.
2/ In “A Bug’s Life” A113 is the code on a cereal box as Flik enters Bug City.
3/ In “Toy Story 2,” A113 repeats on Andy’s Mom’s license plate and can be heard in an airport announcement for “LassetAir Flight A113”, which also is a reference to the film’s director John Lasseter.
4/ In “Monsters, Inc.” A113 is seen on the sign in the background when Sulley sees Smitty and Needleman loading the trash compactor.
5/ In “Finding Nemo,” A113 is the model number on the underwater camera used by the dentist to photograph Nemo before capturing him.
6/ In “The Incredibles,” A113 is the room number of the conference room in Syndrome’s lair where Bob is supposed to meet Mirage. Also, the prison level where Mr. Incredible is held is “Level A1” in Cell #13: A1+13.
7/ In “Ratatouille,” A113 is on the side of the train in the black-and-white movie that is playing on the TV in Linguini’s Apartment when he first brings Remy home.
8/ In “WALL•E” A113 is the mutiny directive given by Auto to detain the Captain.
9/ In “Up,” A113 is the number on the courtroom when Carl goes to plead his case.
10/ Despite the years that have passed, Andy’s mum hasn’t changed her license plate, which still reads A113 in “Toy Story 3.” In the third film, however, Andy’s mom has a new license plate frame that reads “Tiger Pride,” which is a reference to director Lee Unkrich’s hometown of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and his high school mascot, the Tigers.
In the below video John Lasseter explains the history of A113.