Pixar Will Always Hold A Special Place In My Heart
Last week, upon the viewing of Toy Story 3, I came to a revelation. A cinematic discovery that shook the very foundation on which I had built my admiration for the art and craft of filmmaking; my overall love of movies. It wasn't destroyed (and probably never will be), but I know for certain that it will never be the same again.
In all honesty, I had been noticing cracks in this foundation for years. As I grew in my maturity and knowledge of film, mindless dreck became less appealing. The days of flooding my senses with new releases on a weekday afternoon with my buddy Ryan after college classes has since past. Every once in a while a guilty pleasure will still appease the mindless drone that I had once been, but for the most part, my tastes have slowly changed.
How is it that the creators at Pixar can unleash tears, can reach inside of you and touch emotions that you haven't felt in years, yet the rest of Hollywood stays pretty much the status quo, releasing emotionless, prepackaged, vacuum-sealed garbage?
Now I will confess that there was more that I could relate to in Toy Story 3 than in other films by Pixar. The fact that the film effortlessly moves towards the conclusion that we all grow up and have to let go of our childhood did not affect me quite as much as the writers and director's ability to create such compelling, admirable, and unforgettable characters over the course of three films. The acceptance of their fate, all while travelling down to the incinerator to their inevitable death, and willing to accept it together, is what pulled at my heart strings the most.
Pixar's brilliance as a creative juggernaut has been throwing a wrench into the very works of the dream factory known as Hollywood ever since it's first theatrical release, Toy Story, in 1995. It's beyond even my fullest comprehension that even after fifteen years, they're still associated with the creatively bankrupt Disney, whose track record has been less-than-stellar over the past two decades. In all actuality, it's most likely due to the fact that since 2006 they've been a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, allowing Pixar to have complete and total control over all of their films; whereas if they had split from Disney, like they had planned to several years back, they would have lost all story and sequel rights to their original intellectual properties.
I'm sure it also helps being nestled in Emeryville, California, a small city located in Alameda County, approximately six hours north of Hollywood. That separation has helped them immensely; to stay true to themselves and not to conform to the likeness of Tinseltown. There are countless studios scattered throughout the Los Angeles basin, all striving to make the next Matrix, Jurassic Park, E.T., Star Wars, or Godfather. Most of them seriously fall short, producing the likes of such garbage as Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2, or other screen atrocities not even worth mentioning.
At Pixar, each story is nurtured through a multi-step process. Just creating the the computer-generated animation for these films is a daunting task in and of itself, but before they even get to that stage, they take the time to develop the story. To develop the characters. To create a wonderfully detailed and enchanting environment around each one of their protagonists. Toy Story 3 took two and a half years to write the screenplay and create the storyboards alone. Most studios would never devote that much pre-production time to one film, but as you might have already guessed, Pixar is not most studios.
A typical Hollywood studio (e.g., Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount) releases between 20 and 40 feature films every year (this does not include distribution, which greatly changes these numbers, depending on the studio). In the sixteen years since their first full-length feature, they've released a total of eleven films.
So, in honor of Pixar and the outstanding entertainment they've provided for millions of children and adults alike, here's a short breakdown of each of their theatrical releases, my personal comments, as well as any notable accolades each film has achieved. The wins are represented in bold and marked with an (*) asterisk.
TOY STORY (1995)
Directed by John Lasseter
Screenplay Written by Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, & Alec Sokolow
Story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, & Joe Ranft
The first feature-length animated film to be theatrically released using Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), Pixar introduced us to the likes of Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The concept was simple, but still an outstanding one at that: What do toys do when they're not being played with? Well they come to life, of course! And what happens, when after being your owner's faithful companion for years, you're replaced by a new toy? A power shift occurs and mayhem ensues.
Toy Story is a brilliantly executed concept from start to finish, where the attention to detail is so extensive, that even the toy soldiers have distinctive marks from where they've been released from their plastic mold. Watching them come to life, with their limited movement, was like a trip down memory lane. In fact Andy's room was like walking into a time warp, where even in 1995 most children didn't play with the likes of the toys that filled his room. The Speak & Spell, Etch-A-Sketch, and Mr. Potatohead among others didn't reside in most rooms of the children I used to babysit back in high school. Thankfully, most toys depicted in this film transcend time, crossing over multiple generations for all to relate and enjoy in unison.
Trivia Worth Noting: Each frame took anywhere from 4 to 13 hours to render, depending on the complexity of the shot. There are 24 frames in one second of film. This film is 80 minutes long. You do the math.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Mr. Potato Head: Oh, really? I'm from Playskool.
Rex: And I'm from Mattel. Well, I'm not really from Mattel, I'm actually from a smaller company that was purchased by Mattel in a leveraged buyout.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Best Music, Original Song - "You've Got A Friend In Me"
Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical
Best Original Song
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Special Award of Merit
Toy Story was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005.
A BUG'S LIFE (1998)
Directors: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Don McEnery, & Bob Shaw
Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, & Joe Ranft
A "loose" remake of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's epic masterpiece, Seven Samurai, A Bug's Life is the story of quirky outsider Flik, an ant who goes on a pilgrimage in search of "warriors" to bring back and help his colony battle the bullying grasshoppers, who consume their hard-earned harvest every year.
Even with the voice talents of Dave Foley, Keven Spacey, and Elaine Benes, err... I mean Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the film's actual staying power has faded quite a bit, overshadowed by Pixar's ever expanding library of memorable characters. Enjoyable nonetheless, Pixar's second entry into feature-length films still demonstrates their keen eye for detail as well as a wonderful biting sense of humor.
Trivia Worth Noting: The two mosquitoes trapped in the light of the bugzapper ("Frank, don't go towards the light!" "I can't help it - it's so beautiful!") are the voices of the co-directors, John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Slim: What's the point of going out there? They'll only laugh at me.
P.T. Flea: That's because you're a clown!
Slim: No, it's because I'm a prop. You always cast me as the broom, the pole, the stick... a splinter!
P.T. Flea: You're a walking stick. It's funny! Now go!
Slim: You parasite.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Original Score
TOY STORY 2 (1999)
Directed by John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, & Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin, & Chris Webb
Story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, & Andrew Stanton
With the genius of Toy Story still lingering throughout Disney, Toy Story 2 was green-lit quickly, initially slated as a Direct-to-video release with a run time of 60 minutes. Impressed with the imagery, Disney studio executives pushed the film for a theatrical release. John Lasseter, upon his return from Europe, discovered that the story was not up to par (at least for Pixar's standards) and had the entire script rewritten over a weekend and pushed the production to be completed in a staggering nine months. And thus began the ongoing turmoil between Pixar and Disney, which would last until 2006.
A worthy sequel by any standards, Toy Story 2 reunites their audiences with Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, and Hamm among many others as Woody is stolen by a toy collector who is trying to complete his a set to sell to a museum to be displayed in Japan. The internal struggle for Woody begins to take place as he considers being immortalized for everyone to see.
Pixar's shift with Toy Story 2 demonstrates their ability to adapt and overcome the stereotypical situations that make most movie-makers stumble when developing a sequel. Additionally, bringing their audience to the realization that some toys do have a second life when introduced by a collector, but it's usually only motivated by financial gain. With the entire Toy Story Series, Pixar does an excellent job of surpassing themselves, making each new film at least equal, if not better than the original.
Trivia Worth Noting: The dust in the scene where Woody meets Wheezy set a record for number of particles animated for a movie by computer.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Tour guide Barbie: And this is the Buzz Lightyear aisle. Back in 1995, short-sighted retailers did not order enough dolls to meet demand.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Music, Original Song - "When She Loved Me"
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical
Best Original Song
MONSTERS, INC. (2001)
Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman & Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Dan Gerson, Robert L. Baird,
Rhett Reese & Jonathan Roberts
Story by Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon & Ralph Eggleston
A shining example that Pixar's creators have an amazingly active imagination, they break past more boundaries with Monsters, Inc. Their fourth entry, released in November of 2001, introduced us to Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman), two average monsters working their 9-to-5 job scaring children, whose screams are contained and used to power Monstropolis, a non-human city in which they live.
Of all of the Pixar films, this one is my personal favorite. I never had a problem with monsters hiding in my closet when I was a child, but since the theme is so universal, it's relevant to the audience and their children on so many different levels. Monsters, Inc. is special to me for many reasons, but the biggest is that I seem to identify with Sully. He's big and appears that he could seem rather intimidating; but on the inside, he's just a 'big softie', just like myself.
Trivia Worth Noting: It normally took 11 to 12 hours to render a single frame of Sulley because of his 2.3 million individually animated hair strands (Total number of hairs: 2,320,413).
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Yeti: [Referring to despondent Sully] Aw, poor guy. I understand. It's not easy being banished. Take my buddy Bigfoot. When he was banished he fashioned an enormous diaper out of poison ivy. Wore it on his head like a tiara. Called himself "King Itchy".
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Music, Original Song - "If I Didn't Have You"
Best Animated Feature
Best Music, Original Score
Best Sound Editing
FINDING NEMO (2003)
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson & David Reynolds
Story by Andrew Stanton
In Finding Nemo, Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks), a clown fish and over protective father, travels to Sydney in search of his son, Nemo, who gets scooped up by a diver after directly disobeying his father. Along his journey, he befriends a forgetful regal tang named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) and encounters dangers, having to learn how to takes risks, and to trust his son.
Pixar's fifth studio release once again topped the charts in box office gross as well as landing on several critics top ten lists, creating a similar path for most its successors. A beautiful heart-warming story, Finding Nemo was their first film that made me notice small cracks in the foundation that would later be demolished. If you don't believe me, then you watch the opening scene and try not to be emotionally moved; if you're not, then you have ice for blood.
Trivia Worth Noting: The Great White shark's name in the movie was Bruce. "Bruce" was the nickname given to the models used for the shark in the original Jaws, named after Steven Spielberg's lawyer, Bruce Ramer.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Marlin: Now it's my turn. I'm thinking of something dark and mysterious. It's a fish we don't know. If we ask it directions, it could ingest us and spit out our bones.
Dory: What is it with men and asking for directions?
Marlin: I don't want to play the gender card right now. You want to play a card, let's play the "let's not die" card.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature
Best Music, Original Score
Best Sound Editing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
THE INCREDIBLES (2004)
Written & Directed by Brad Bird
Brad Bird, director of the critically acclaimed animated film The Iron Giant (another personal favorite of mine), joined with Pixar to bring to life their sixth feature length film, The Incredibles. Another brilliantly conceptualized idea, The Incredibles pairs the voice talents of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson (among others) as superheroes who retired from their crime-fighting lifestyle and assume civilian identities, settling down to start families. This plan fails after fifteen years when Mr. Incredible and his family are called back into action in order to save the world.
Due to the more intense action sequences as well as subject matter, this was the first Pixar film to be rated PG. Outside of the superhero aspect of the film, all of the characters are very well-rounded and easily identifiable. Just like myself, even after three years of marriage to my beautiful wife, the desire to follow my heart but also own up to the responsibilities of being a husband, has been a constant struggle; finding and/or feeling complete along with a sense of accomplishment with recent employment opportunities, has been a rather daunting task as of late. The Incredibles is still personally relatable to this very day.
Trivia Worth Noting: In the whole movie, you can see 35 explosions, 189 buttons being pressed, and approximately 640 gunshots.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Lucius: So now I'm in deep trouble. I mean, one more jolt of this death ray and I'm an epitaph. Somehow I manage to find cover and what does Baron von Ruthless do?
Bob: [laughing] He starts monologuing.
Lucius: He starts monologuing! He starts like, this prepared speech about how feeble I am compared to him, how inevitable my defeat is, how the world will soon be his, yadda yadda yadda.
Bob: Yammering.
Lucius: Yammering! I mean, the guy has me on a platter and he won't shut up!
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Achievement in Sound Editing
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Producer's Guild Nominations:
Motion Picture Producer of the Year
CARS (2006)
Directed by John Lasseter & Joe Ranft
Screenplay Written by Dan Fogelman, John Lasseter, Joe Ranft,
Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin & Jorgen Klubien
Story by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Jorgen Klubien & Brenda Chapman
Cars, Pixar's seventh theatrical release, featured the voice talent of Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, and Bonnie Hunt where Lightning McQueen (Wilson), a hot-shot race car, is waylaid in Radiator Springs before a big race. While there, he connects with Doc Hudson, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.
While the story is cute, this was the first Pixar film that felt like it really didn't hit the mark. It wasn't critically-panned by any means, but the film just seemed to lacked heart. The film looks great, and in all seriousness, which Pixar film isn't great to look at? However, Cars seemed to drive home (sorry, but that pun was not intended) a sense of Disney marketing that just seemed much more evident that in any of their other films. Compared to other children's fare, it's still exemplary, but measuring it to Pixar's standards, it falls short.
Trivia Worth Noting: The film's animators drew up over 43,000 sketches for designs of the cars.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Harv: It is such an honor to be your agent that it almost hurts me to take ten percent of your winnings. And merchandising. And ancillary rights in perpetuity. Anyway, what a race, huh, champ? Uh, didn't see it, but I heard you were great.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Music, Original Song - "Our Town"
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Animated Film
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
RATATOUILLE (2007)
Directed by Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava
Screenplay Written by Brad Bird & Jim Capobianco
Story by Jan Pinkava & Brad Bird
Pixar's eighth feature-length release dabbles in the subject of French Cuisine. In Ratatouille, Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), has culinary aspirations to become a chef but there's just one obstacle in path: he's a rat. Remy, who has a keen sense of smell, and whose job before his pack scattered was to smell out rat poison for his fellow rodents, soon bonds with Linguini, a restaurant garbage boy whose position is quickly promoted when Remy assists in recreating a dish, astonishing his boss, Skinner (Ian Holm). Bonding and mayhem quickly ensues and they strive to keep the restaurant a float while dealing with food critics and a potential rat infestation.
Only seeing this film once, and a good two or three years ago, the film hasn't made a lasting impression on me. It was critically praised while it pleased the millions of audience members who drove up it's box office sales, but a majority of the characters really didn't seem stick with me. Since my viewing, I have learned to love cooking, and this picture might appear in my Netflix rental queue once again. Maybe a second viewing will change my outlook on the possiblely missed genius of this film. Until then, I can only convey a passing interest in Ratatouille.
Trivia Worth Noting: To create a realistic-looking compost pile, artists photographed and researched the way real produce rots. Fifteen different kinds of produce were left to rot and then photographed, such as apples, berries, bananas, mushrooms, oranges, broccoli, and lettuce.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Emile: [notices Remy walking on his hind legs] Why are you walking like that?
Remy: I don't want to constanly have to wash my paws. Did you ever think about how we walk on the same paws that we handle food with? You ever think about what we put on our mouths?
Emile: All the time.
Remy: When I eat, I don't want to taste everywhere my paws have been.
Emile: Well, go ahead. But if dad sees you walking like that, he's not gonna like it.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Music, Original Score
Best Achievement in Sound
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
WALL-E (2008)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon
Story by Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter
In a conscious effort to promote their concerns with consumerism and the environment, Pixar boldly released their ninth film, WALL-E. Set in the year 2805, "WALL-E" is one of an army of small trash-compacting robots, left to clean up earth after it is deemed toxic and unlivable for humans. 700 years later, WALL-E, the only functioning robot left on the planet who has also gained the ability to feel or perceive, spends his days compacting trash, along with collecting miscellaneous items that seem special to him. Upon the discovery of a seedling growing among the trash, WALL-E encounters and falls in love with another robot, EVE, who is sent in to extract the specimen, proving that earth's ecosystem has been restored.
The ingenuity and complexity of WALL-E and his environment left me speechless. On a visual standpoint, this film is Pixar's crowning jewel in its cinematography and art direction. Pixar's shining achievement with WALL-E, besides to masterfully tell a great narrative story with minimal dialog, is their social commentary on man's unfortunate attraction and surrender to consumerism. Yes, some of their observations may seem a little heavy-handed, but not by very much. Their representation of "Buy n Large", an obvious knock to the likes of Wal-Mart, displays our all-too-easy willingness to conform and line up like sheep to find the easiest and cheapest form of consumption.
Trivia Worth Noting: Most of the robots are voiced by Ben Burtt, two-time Academy Award winner known for his sound designs for the Star Wars films, among dozens of others, through mechanical sounds of his creation.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Captain: Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to day 255,642 aboard the Axiom. As always, the weather is a balmy 72 degrees and sunny, and, uh... Oh, I see the ship's log is showing that today is the 700th anniversary of our five year cruise. Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be... doing the exact same thing they were doing. So, be sure next mealtime to ask for your free sep-tua-centennial cupcake in a cup. Wow, look at that.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Music, Original Score
Best Music, Original Song - "Down To Earth"
Best Achievement in Sound
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
Best Original Song
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
UP (2009)
Directed by Pete Docter & Bob Peterson
Screenplay Written by Bob Peterson & Pete Docter
Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson & Thomas McCarthy
In Up, Pixar's tenth theatrical release, we're introduced to Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) who sets out to fulfill a lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America... by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Unfortunately, right after lifting off, Carl comes to the realization that he's not alone as Russell, a boy scout trying to earn his final merit badge for "assisting the elderly" clings for dear life out on his front porch. Once they arrive in Paradise Falls, they begin an adventure that they'll never forget.
Falling right in line with almost all of the other Pixar films, Up evokes a true sense of learning from one's past and a deep-seeded desire to follow your dreams. This was their first film to bring me to tears, watching Carl live out his life with his wife, Ellie. When they aren't able to have children, Carl and Ellie save their money for a trip to Paradise Falls, yet end up spending it on things with a more pressing need. Unfortunately, before they get a change to go, Ellie passes away.
One of my favorite insights into the creators of this film is their true understanding of man's best friend. Dug, a dog that Carl befriends after landing in Paradise Falls, wears a collar that allows him to speak. Any dog owner knows that they captured the true spirit of the canine when they sketched out the character of Dug, and what a dog might say, if they suddenly had the ability to speak. A truly touching film, Up became a much more personal and relatable film being a married man. If I had been single upon my first viewing of this masterpiece, I'm not sure if I would have had the same reaction.
Trivia Worth Noting: Dug's 'point' pose, where his entire tail, back, and head is in a perfectly straight line, is an homage to the identical pose that Mickey's dog, Pluto, often makes. Dug also shares a similar colour scheme to Pluto.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Carl Fredricksen: This is crazy. I finally meet my childhood hero and he's trying to kill us. What a joke.
Dug: Hey, I know a joke! A squirrel walks up to a tree and says, "I forgot to store acorns for the winter and now I am dead." Ha! It is funny because the squirrel gets dead.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
*Best Music, Original Score
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
*Best Original Score
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Motion Picture Producer of the Year
TOY STORY 3 (2010)
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Michael Arndt
Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Finally, after fifteen years (and five days of writing this post), we arrive at Toy Story 3, where we re-enter the lives of Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang who are dealing with an uncertain future as Andy prepares to leave for college. What happens to your toys, when they've served their purpose and your owner grows up? Do you spend the rest of your days trapped in a bag residing in the attic? Are you sold at a yard sale? Or are you donated to a daycare, where you're played with forever, as new children continue to join in the fold?
The latter of the three scenarios becomes a reality, and they're deposited in the "Caterpillar Room," where underage children violently play with each toy, breaking it into submission or destroying it altogether. Woody, who was supposed to go with Andy to college, discovers what really happens there and works his way back into the daycare facilities, in order to break out his friends.
As I expressed earlier in this post the reason I found this film so moving wasn't due to the nostalgia factor; growing up and letting go of childish things, much like 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." It was beyond letting go. It was the fact that Pixar, unlike most Hollywood pictures, was capable of creating three-dimensional characters that you truly cared about. Toy Story 3 is a monumental achievement, where Pixar has created the perfect movie trilogy, joining the ranks of, if not possibly surpassing the likes of the original Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Trivia Worth Noting: Originally, a sequel was planned when it seemed that Disney and PIXAR would split over creative differences in 2004-2005. Disney started up an animation division titled 'Circle 7,' which would have been in charge of churning out sequels for PIXAR films that would not involve the original creators at PIXAR. Entertainment Weekly published an article that said the original plot for Toy Story 3 was going to be about Buzz Lightyear having a defect. Buzz would then be shipped to Taiwan to be fixed, but the other toys find out that the toy company is just replacing the broken Buzz toys with new ones, so they ship themselves to Taiwan to rescue him. This script had to be canned when PIXAR and Disney made amends. Part of their agreement was not to further develop projects that had been planned during their fallout.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Sergeant: [Three of Andy's army men are preparing to jump out the window with parachutes] We've done our duty. Andy's grown up.
Army Man 1: Let's face it. When the trash bags come out, we army guys are the first to go.
Buzz Lightyear: Trash bags?
Woody: Who said anything about trash bags?
Sergeant: It has been an honor serving with you. Good luck, folks.
Army Man 2: You're gonna need it!
[They jump out]
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
*Best Music, Original Song
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Motion Picture Producer of the Year
In all honesty, I had been noticing cracks in this foundation for years. As I grew in my maturity and knowledge of film, mindless dreck became less appealing. The days of flooding my senses with new releases on a weekday afternoon with my buddy Ryan after college classes has since past. Every once in a while a guilty pleasure will still appease the mindless drone that I had once been, but for the most part, my tastes have slowly changed.
How is it that the creators at Pixar can unleash tears, can reach inside of you and touch emotions that you haven't felt in years, yet the rest of Hollywood stays pretty much the status quo, releasing emotionless, prepackaged, vacuum-sealed garbage?
Now I will confess that there was more that I could relate to in Toy Story 3 than in other films by Pixar. The fact that the film effortlessly moves towards the conclusion that we all grow up and have to let go of our childhood did not affect me quite as much as the writers and director's ability to create such compelling, admirable, and unforgettable characters over the course of three films. The acceptance of their fate, all while travelling down to the incinerator to their inevitable death, and willing to accept it together, is what pulled at my heart strings the most.
Pixar's brilliance as a creative juggernaut has been throwing a wrench into the very works of the dream factory known as Hollywood ever since it's first theatrical release, Toy Story, in 1995. It's beyond even my fullest comprehension that even after fifteen years, they're still associated with the creatively bankrupt Disney, whose track record has been less-than-stellar over the past two decades. In all actuality, it's most likely due to the fact that since 2006 they've been a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, allowing Pixar to have complete and total control over all of their films; whereas if they had split from Disney, like they had planned to several years back, they would have lost all story and sequel rights to their original intellectual properties.
I'm sure it also helps being nestled in Emeryville, California, a small city located in Alameda County, approximately six hours north of Hollywood. That separation has helped them immensely; to stay true to themselves and not to conform to the likeness of Tinseltown. There are countless studios scattered throughout the Los Angeles basin, all striving to make the next Matrix, Jurassic Park, E.T., Star Wars, or Godfather. Most of them seriously fall short, producing the likes of such garbage as Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2, or other screen atrocities not even worth mentioning.
At Pixar, each story is nurtured through a multi-step process. Just creating the the computer-generated animation for these films is a daunting task in and of itself, but before they even get to that stage, they take the time to develop the story. To develop the characters. To create a wonderfully detailed and enchanting environment around each one of their protagonists. Toy Story 3 took two and a half years to write the screenplay and create the storyboards alone. Most studios would never devote that much pre-production time to one film, but as you might have already guessed, Pixar is not most studios.
A typical Hollywood studio (e.g., Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount) releases between 20 and 40 feature films every year (this does not include distribution, which greatly changes these numbers, depending on the studio). In the sixteen years since their first full-length feature, they've released a total of eleven films.
So, in honor of Pixar and the outstanding entertainment they've provided for millions of children and adults alike, here's a short breakdown of each of their theatrical releases, my personal comments, as well as any notable accolades each film has achieved. The wins are represented in bold and marked with an (*) asterisk.
Directed by John Lasseter
Screenplay Written by Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, & Alec Sokolow
Story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, & Joe Ranft
The first feature-length animated film to be theatrically released using Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), Pixar introduced us to the likes of Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The concept was simple, but still an outstanding one at that: What do toys do when they're not being played with? Well they come to life, of course! And what happens, when after being your owner's faithful companion for years, you're replaced by a new toy? A power shift occurs and mayhem ensues.
Toy Story is a brilliantly executed concept from start to finish, where the attention to detail is so extensive, that even the toy soldiers have distinctive marks from where they've been released from their plastic mold. Watching them come to life, with their limited movement, was like a trip down memory lane. In fact Andy's room was like walking into a time warp, where even in 1995 most children didn't play with the likes of the toys that filled his room. The Speak & Spell, Etch-A-Sketch, and Mr. Potatohead among others didn't reside in most rooms of the children I used to babysit back in high school. Thankfully, most toys depicted in this film transcend time, crossing over multiple generations for all to relate and enjoy in unison.
Trivia Worth Noting: Each frame took anywhere from 4 to 13 hours to render, depending on the complexity of the shot. There are 24 frames in one second of film. This film is 80 minutes long. You do the math.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Mr. Potato Head: Oh, really? I'm from Playskool.
Rex: And I'm from Mattel. Well, I'm not really from Mattel, I'm actually from a smaller company that was purchased by Mattel in a leveraged buyout.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Best Music, Original Song - "You've Got A Friend In Me"
Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical
Best Original Song
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Special Award of Merit
Toy Story was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005.
Directors: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Don McEnery, & Bob Shaw
Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, & Joe Ranft
A "loose" remake of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's epic masterpiece, Seven Samurai, A Bug's Life is the story of quirky outsider Flik, an ant who goes on a pilgrimage in search of "warriors" to bring back and help his colony battle the bullying grasshoppers, who consume their hard-earned harvest every year.
Even with the voice talents of Dave Foley, Keven Spacey, and Elaine Benes, err... I mean Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the film's actual staying power has faded quite a bit, overshadowed by Pixar's ever expanding library of memorable characters. Enjoyable nonetheless, Pixar's second entry into feature-length films still demonstrates their keen eye for detail as well as a wonderful biting sense of humor.
Trivia Worth Noting: The two mosquitoes trapped in the light of the bugzapper ("Frank, don't go towards the light!" "I can't help it - it's so beautiful!") are the voices of the co-directors, John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Slim: What's the point of going out there? They'll only laugh at me.
P.T. Flea: That's because you're a clown!
Slim: No, it's because I'm a prop. You always cast me as the broom, the pole, the stick... a splinter!
P.T. Flea: You're a walking stick. It's funny! Now go!
Slim: You parasite.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Original Score
Directed by John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, & Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin, & Chris Webb
Story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, & Andrew Stanton
With the genius of Toy Story still lingering throughout Disney, Toy Story 2 was green-lit quickly, initially slated as a Direct-to-video release with a run time of 60 minutes. Impressed with the imagery, Disney studio executives pushed the film for a theatrical release. John Lasseter, upon his return from Europe, discovered that the story was not up to par (at least for Pixar's standards) and had the entire script rewritten over a weekend and pushed the production to be completed in a staggering nine months. And thus began the ongoing turmoil between Pixar and Disney, which would last until 2006.
A worthy sequel by any standards, Toy Story 2 reunites their audiences with Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, and Hamm among many others as Woody is stolen by a toy collector who is trying to complete his a set to sell to a museum to be displayed in Japan. The internal struggle for Woody begins to take place as he considers being immortalized for everyone to see.
Pixar's shift with Toy Story 2 demonstrates their ability to adapt and overcome the stereotypical situations that make most movie-makers stumble when developing a sequel. Additionally, bringing their audience to the realization that some toys do have a second life when introduced by a collector, but it's usually only motivated by financial gain. With the entire Toy Story Series, Pixar does an excellent job of surpassing themselves, making each new film at least equal, if not better than the original.
Trivia Worth Noting: The dust in the scene where Woody meets Wheezy set a record for number of particles animated for a movie by computer.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Tour guide Barbie: And this is the Buzz Lightyear aisle. Back in 1995, short-sighted retailers did not order enough dolls to meet demand.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Music, Original Song - "When She Loved Me"
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical
Best Original Song
Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman & Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Dan Gerson, Robert L. Baird,
Rhett Reese & Jonathan Roberts
Story by Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon & Ralph Eggleston
A shining example that Pixar's creators have an amazingly active imagination, they break past more boundaries with Monsters, Inc. Their fourth entry, released in November of 2001, introduced us to Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman), two average monsters working their 9-to-5 job scaring children, whose screams are contained and used to power Monstropolis, a non-human city in which they live.
Of all of the Pixar films, this one is my personal favorite. I never had a problem with monsters hiding in my closet when I was a child, but since the theme is so universal, it's relevant to the audience and their children on so many different levels. Monsters, Inc. is special to me for many reasons, but the biggest is that I seem to identify with Sully. He's big and appears that he could seem rather intimidating; but on the inside, he's just a 'big softie', just like myself.
Trivia Worth Noting: It normally took 11 to 12 hours to render a single frame of Sulley because of his 2.3 million individually animated hair strands (Total number of hairs: 2,320,413).
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Yeti: [Referring to despondent Sully] Aw, poor guy. I understand. It's not easy being banished. Take my buddy Bigfoot. When he was banished he fashioned an enormous diaper out of poison ivy. Wore it on his head like a tiara. Called himself "King Itchy".
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Music, Original Song - "If I Didn't Have You"
Best Animated Feature
Best Music, Original Score
Best Sound Editing
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson & David Reynolds
Story by Andrew Stanton
In Finding Nemo, Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks), a clown fish and over protective father, travels to Sydney in search of his son, Nemo, who gets scooped up by a diver after directly disobeying his father. Along his journey, he befriends a forgetful regal tang named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) and encounters dangers, having to learn how to takes risks, and to trust his son.
Pixar's fifth studio release once again topped the charts in box office gross as well as landing on several critics top ten lists, creating a similar path for most its successors. A beautiful heart-warming story, Finding Nemo was their first film that made me notice small cracks in the foundation that would later be demolished. If you don't believe me, then you watch the opening scene and try not to be emotionally moved; if you're not, then you have ice for blood.
Trivia Worth Noting: The Great White shark's name in the movie was Bruce. "Bruce" was the nickname given to the models used for the shark in the original Jaws, named after Steven Spielberg's lawyer, Bruce Ramer.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Marlin: Now it's my turn. I'm thinking of something dark and mysterious. It's a fish we don't know. If we ask it directions, it could ingest us and spit out our bones.
Dory: What is it with men and asking for directions?
Marlin: I don't want to play the gender card right now. You want to play a card, let's play the "let's not die" card.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature
Best Music, Original Score
Best Sound Editing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Written & Directed by Brad Bird
Brad Bird, director of the critically acclaimed animated film The Iron Giant (another personal favorite of mine), joined with Pixar to bring to life their sixth feature length film, The Incredibles. Another brilliantly conceptualized idea, The Incredibles pairs the voice talents of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson (among others) as superheroes who retired from their crime-fighting lifestyle and assume civilian identities, settling down to start families. This plan fails after fifteen years when Mr. Incredible and his family are called back into action in order to save the world.
Due to the more intense action sequences as well as subject matter, this was the first Pixar film to be rated PG. Outside of the superhero aspect of the film, all of the characters are very well-rounded and easily identifiable. Just like myself, even after three years of marriage to my beautiful wife, the desire to follow my heart but also own up to the responsibilities of being a husband, has been a constant struggle; finding and/or feeling complete along with a sense of accomplishment with recent employment opportunities, has been a rather daunting task as of late. The Incredibles is still personally relatable to this very day.
Trivia Worth Noting: In the whole movie, you can see 35 explosions, 189 buttons being pressed, and approximately 640 gunshots.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Lucius: So now I'm in deep trouble. I mean, one more jolt of this death ray and I'm an epitaph. Somehow I manage to find cover and what does Baron von Ruthless do?
Bob: [laughing] He starts monologuing.
Lucius: He starts monologuing! He starts like, this prepared speech about how feeble I am compared to him, how inevitable my defeat is, how the world will soon be his, yadda yadda yadda.
Bob: Yammering.
Lucius: Yammering! I mean, the guy has me on a platter and he won't shut up!
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Achievement in Sound Editing
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Producer's Guild Nominations:
Motion Picture Producer of the Year
Directed by John Lasseter & Joe Ranft
Screenplay Written by Dan Fogelman, John Lasseter, Joe Ranft,
Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin & Jorgen Klubien
Story by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Jorgen Klubien & Brenda Chapman
Cars, Pixar's seventh theatrical release, featured the voice talent of Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, and Bonnie Hunt where Lightning McQueen (Wilson), a hot-shot race car, is waylaid in Radiator Springs before a big race. While there, he connects with Doc Hudson, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.
While the story is cute, this was the first Pixar film that felt like it really didn't hit the mark. It wasn't critically-panned by any means, but the film just seemed to lacked heart. The film looks great, and in all seriousness, which Pixar film isn't great to look at? However, Cars seemed to drive home (sorry, but that pun was not intended) a sense of Disney marketing that just seemed much more evident that in any of their other films. Compared to other children's fare, it's still exemplary, but measuring it to Pixar's standards, it falls short.
Trivia Worth Noting: The film's animators drew up over 43,000 sketches for designs of the cars.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Harv: It is such an honor to be your agent that it almost hurts me to take ten percent of your winnings. And merchandising. And ancillary rights in perpetuity. Anyway, what a race, huh, champ? Uh, didn't see it, but I heard you were great.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Music, Original Song - "Our Town"
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Animated Film
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Directed by Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava
Screenplay Written by Brad Bird & Jim Capobianco
Story by Jan Pinkava & Brad Bird
Pixar's eighth feature-length release dabbles in the subject of French Cuisine. In Ratatouille, Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), has culinary aspirations to become a chef but there's just one obstacle in path: he's a rat. Remy, who has a keen sense of smell, and whose job before his pack scattered was to smell out rat poison for his fellow rodents, soon bonds with Linguini, a restaurant garbage boy whose position is quickly promoted when Remy assists in recreating a dish, astonishing his boss, Skinner (Ian Holm). Bonding and mayhem quickly ensues and they strive to keep the restaurant a float while dealing with food critics and a potential rat infestation.
Only seeing this film once, and a good two or three years ago, the film hasn't made a lasting impression on me. It was critically praised while it pleased the millions of audience members who drove up it's box office sales, but a majority of the characters really didn't seem stick with me. Since my viewing, I have learned to love cooking, and this picture might appear in my Netflix rental queue once again. Maybe a second viewing will change my outlook on the possiblely missed genius of this film. Until then, I can only convey a passing interest in Ratatouille.
Trivia Worth Noting: To create a realistic-looking compost pile, artists photographed and researched the way real produce rots. Fifteen different kinds of produce were left to rot and then photographed, such as apples, berries, bananas, mushrooms, oranges, broccoli, and lettuce.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Emile: [notices Remy walking on his hind legs] Why are you walking like that?
Remy: I don't want to constanly have to wash my paws. Did you ever think about how we walk on the same paws that we handle food with? You ever think about what we put on our mouths?
Emile: All the time.
Remy: When I eat, I don't want to taste everywhere my paws have been.
Emile: Well, go ahead. But if dad sees you walking like that, he's not gonna like it.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Music, Original Score
Best Achievement in Sound
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Directed by Andrew Stanton
Screenplay Written by Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon
Story by Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter
In a conscious effort to promote their concerns with consumerism and the environment, Pixar boldly released their ninth film, WALL-E. Set in the year 2805, "WALL-E" is one of an army of small trash-compacting robots, left to clean up earth after it is deemed toxic and unlivable for humans. 700 years later, WALL-E, the only functioning robot left on the planet who has also gained the ability to feel or perceive, spends his days compacting trash, along with collecting miscellaneous items that seem special to him. Upon the discovery of a seedling growing among the trash, WALL-E encounters and falls in love with another robot, EVE, who is sent in to extract the specimen, proving that earth's ecosystem has been restored.
The ingenuity and complexity of WALL-E and his environment left me speechless. On a visual standpoint, this film is Pixar's crowning jewel in its cinematography and art direction. Pixar's shining achievement with WALL-E, besides to masterfully tell a great narrative story with minimal dialog, is their social commentary on man's unfortunate attraction and surrender to consumerism. Yes, some of their observations may seem a little heavy-handed, but not by very much. Their representation of "Buy n Large", an obvious knock to the likes of Wal-Mart, displays our all-too-easy willingness to conform and line up like sheep to find the easiest and cheapest form of consumption.
Trivia Worth Noting: Most of the robots are voiced by Ben Burtt, two-time Academy Award winner known for his sound designs for the Star Wars films, among dozens of others, through mechanical sounds of his creation.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Captain: Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to day 255,642 aboard the Axiom. As always, the weather is a balmy 72 degrees and sunny, and, uh... Oh, I see the ship's log is showing that today is the 700th anniversary of our five year cruise. Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be... doing the exact same thing they were doing. So, be sure next mealtime to ask for your free sep-tua-centennial cupcake in a cup. Wow, look at that.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Best Music, Original Score
Best Music, Original Song - "Down To Earth"
Best Achievement in Sound
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
Best Original Song
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Directed by Pete Docter & Bob Peterson
Screenplay Written by Bob Peterson & Pete Docter
Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson & Thomas McCarthy
In Up, Pixar's tenth theatrical release, we're introduced to Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) who sets out to fulfill a lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America... by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Unfortunately, right after lifting off, Carl comes to the realization that he's not alone as Russell, a boy scout trying to earn his final merit badge for "assisting the elderly" clings for dear life out on his front porch. Once they arrive in Paradise Falls, they begin an adventure that they'll never forget.
Falling right in line with almost all of the other Pixar films, Up evokes a true sense of learning from one's past and a deep-seeded desire to follow your dreams. This was their first film to bring me to tears, watching Carl live out his life with his wife, Ellie. When they aren't able to have children, Carl and Ellie save their money for a trip to Paradise Falls, yet end up spending it on things with a more pressing need. Unfortunately, before they get a change to go, Ellie passes away.
One of my favorite insights into the creators of this film is their true understanding of man's best friend. Dug, a dog that Carl befriends after landing in Paradise Falls, wears a collar that allows him to speak. Any dog owner knows that they captured the true spirit of the canine when they sketched out the character of Dug, and what a dog might say, if they suddenly had the ability to speak. A truly touching film, Up became a much more personal and relatable film being a married man. If I had been single upon my first viewing of this masterpiece, I'm not sure if I would have had the same reaction.
Trivia Worth Noting: Dug's 'point' pose, where his entire tail, back, and head is in a perfectly straight line, is an homage to the identical pose that Mickey's dog, Pluto, often makes. Dug also shares a similar colour scheme to Pluto.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Carl Fredricksen: This is crazy. I finally meet my childhood hero and he's trying to kill us. What a joke.
Dug: Hey, I know a joke! A squirrel walks up to a tree and says, "I forgot to store acorns for the winter and now I am dead." Ha! It is funny because the squirrel gets dead.
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
*Best Music, Original Score
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Best Writing, Original Screenplay
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
*Best Original Score
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Motion Picture Producer of the Year
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Screenplay Written by Michael Arndt
Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Finally, after fifteen years (and five days of writing this post), we arrive at Toy Story 3, where we re-enter the lives of Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang who are dealing with an uncertain future as Andy prepares to leave for college. What happens to your toys, when they've served their purpose and your owner grows up? Do you spend the rest of your days trapped in a bag residing in the attic? Are you sold at a yard sale? Or are you donated to a daycare, where you're played with forever, as new children continue to join in the fold?
The latter of the three scenarios becomes a reality, and they're deposited in the "Caterpillar Room," where underage children violently play with each toy, breaking it into submission or destroying it altogether. Woody, who was supposed to go with Andy to college, discovers what really happens there and works his way back into the daycare facilities, in order to break out his friends.
As I expressed earlier in this post the reason I found this film so moving wasn't due to the nostalgia factor; growing up and letting go of childish things, much like 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." It was beyond letting go. It was the fact that Pixar, unlike most Hollywood pictures, was capable of creating three-dimensional characters that you truly cared about. Toy Story 3 is a monumental achievement, where Pixar has created the perfect movie trilogy, joining the ranks of, if not possibly surpassing the likes of the original Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Trivia Worth Noting: Originally, a sequel was planned when it seemed that Disney and PIXAR would split over creative differences in 2004-2005. Disney started up an animation division titled 'Circle 7,' which would have been in charge of churning out sequels for PIXAR films that would not involve the original creators at PIXAR. Entertainment Weekly published an article that said the original plot for Toy Story 3 was going to be about Buzz Lightyear having a defect. Buzz would then be shipped to Taiwan to be fixed, but the other toys find out that the toy company is just replacing the broken Buzz toys with new ones, so they ship themselves to Taiwan to rescue him. This script had to be canned when PIXAR and Disney made amends. Part of their agreement was not to further develop projects that had been planned during their fallout.
One Of The Funnier Quotes:
Sergeant: [Three of Andy's army men are preparing to jump out the window with parachutes] We've done our duty. Andy's grown up.
Army Man 1: Let's face it. When the trash bags come out, we army guys are the first to go.
Buzz Lightyear: Trash bags?
Woody: Who said anything about trash bags?
Sergeant: It has been an honor serving with you. Good luck, folks.
Army Man 2: You're gonna need it!
[They jump out]
Academy Award Nominations:
*Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
*Best Music, Original Song
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Golden Globe Nominations:
*Best Animated Film
Producer's Guild Nominations:
*Animated Motion Picture
Motion Picture Producer of the Year
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