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For nearly two decades (wow, that makes me feel old), Pixar Animation Studios has earned a reputation as one of the finest institutions in Hollywood today. Revolutionizing moviemaking by crafting the first computer animated feature length film with “Toy Story” in 1995, Pixar is also well-known for being amazing storytellers. Understanding the concept of a “family film,” their filmography is full of great movies that both kids and adults can enjoy.
Throughout their history, Pixar’s films have had several iconic moments that help elevate them over other animated films. With intriguing original projects like “The Good Dinosaur” and “Inside Out” on the horizon, this list is all but guaranteed to undergo some revisions in the coming years. But for now, here are eleven great Pixar moments from “Toy Story” to “Monsters University”. I couldn’t just do ten. I had to turn it up to eleven.
With the exception of number one, the moments on this list are not in any particular order.
“Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one!” – Ellie (
UP)
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If you ever wanted proof that Pixar movies aren’t just “kid’s movies,” look no further than 2009′s Up. Winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and earning a Best Picture nomination, the film is one of the studio’s most mature offerings to date. From its opening sequence that no one was really expecting, we could all tell that the themes explored in Up would be a little heavier than expected from an animated family film.
Protagonist Carl Fredricksen had promised his late wife Ellie that they would go to Paradise Falls. As life goes on, small inconveniences pop up that force the couple to break into their savings and ultimately prevent them from making the trip. Determined to not let his dream pass him by, Carl ties helium balloons to his house and intends on flying to Paradise Falls.
Of course, the neighborhood kid Russell is along for the ride as well and when they reach Paradise Falls, Russell’s objectives change from helping Carl move his house to saving “Kevin,” the wild bird he has befriended, from Charles Muntz (who apparently is some kind of ageless wonder).
Focused solely on getting his house to the Falls, Carl is against taking any side missions, clashing with Russell and ultimately having a falling out. Retreating back to his house, Carl flips through Ellie’s adventure book and for the first time looks past the page labeled “Stuff I’m going to do.” To Carl’s surprise, the next pages are filled with photos from his marriage and the fun Carl and Ellie had when they were together. At the end of the album is a message from Ellie that reads “Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one!” If you don’t at least tear up during this scene, you have no pulse.
At this moment, Carl realizes what’s important. He’s already given Ellie the adventure of a lifetime. Now he has to help Russell and have a brand new adventure.
The Incredibles save the world (
THE INCREDIBLES)
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Speaking of Brad Bird, his first Pixar film – 2004′s The Incredibles - is by far one of the studio’s finest offerings. Serving as both a loving homage and a deconstruction of the superhero genre, the movie is jam-packed with thrilling action sequences, surprisingly deep characters, and tons of funny scenes (“Where’s my super suit?” and anything with Edna Mode come to mind). You knew this movie was gonna have one heck of a climax.
Long before The Avengers was even a thought in anyone’s mind, Pixar had their own superhero team join forces to stop an evil threat. When Syndrome’s robot begins to wreak havoc on the city and Syndrome himself incapable of doing anything (thwarting his plan), it’s up to the Incredibles and Frozone to save the world.
It’s a third act that’s an absolute blast to watch on screen. Watching the heroes embrace their powers and work together is just as exciting as the finale to The Dark Knight Rises. The best part was when the team played keep-away with the remote by utilizing everyone. Dash’s speed, Mr. Incredible’s strength, Violet’s ability to turn invisible, Elastigirl’s flexibility, and Frozone’s ice powers all came in to play. It was great seeing how all the characters came together and defeated the robot by using team chemistry. A highly entertaining end, the final battle in The Incredibles is why we go to the movies.
This part is so epic and satisfying; it almost makes the film’s real ending (with Syndrome holding Jack-Jack hostage) anti-climactic. Yes, that moment is hysterical, but it doesn’t match up to the fight against the robot.
WALL-E and EVE dance among the stars (
WALL-E)
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Pixar’s 2008 Oscar winner, the sci-fi modern classic WALL-E, tells the tale of the eponymous adorable robot whose mission in life is to clean planet Earth. Only, he’s alone and has developed a sense of curiosity. The film’s first act is very reminiscent of Cast Away as the audience follows WALL-E throughout his day as he discovers things and makes little garbage cubes. With nothing but a cockroach to “act” against, this first sequence is truly fascinating and fun to watch.
WALL-E’s world is changed with the arrival of EVE (say it with me: “EEEEEEEE-VA?”), a newer robot who is tasked with evaluating the environment of Earth to determine if it is suitable for life once again. The lonely WALL-E becomes infatuated with EVE and attempts to develop a relationship with “her,” only to receive the cold shoulder.
That is, until EVE finds the plant that WALL-E had discovered earlier. That plant becomes a very important plot device, as it is the key to the humans returning home and moving off of the space station they currently live on. It’s thought to be lost when an escape pod housing WALL-E explodes (he had the plant with him). When EVE sees WALL-E floating through space with a fire extinguisher (and the plant intact), one of those magical Pixar moments happen as they dance in space.
The scene shows the beginning of WALL-E and EVE’s relationship and gives EVE an opportunity to show her softer side. “She” realizes that WALL-E isn’t that bad a guy after all. And our little hero gets what he’s been looking for all along: some affection from his new friend.
It says a lot about Pixar when two robots floating in space can make you feel something.
“Boo?” “Kitty!” – Sulley and Mary (
MONSTER’S INC.)
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If you can’t tell by now, the Monsters, Inc. movies are my favorite non-Toy Story films in Pixar’s filmography. I love the chemistry between Crystal and Goodman. I love the Monstropolis world. And I just really love this movie.
Monsters, Inc. offers a variation of the E.T. story where Boo (real name, Mary and playing the part of E.T.) has to be helped back home by Mike and Sulley (taking the place of Elliot). Overcoming various obstacles including CDA agents, the door chamber, and homicidal coworkers, the two monsters finally get Boo back safe in her room. But there’s a catch: Boo’s door has to be shredded because she’s seen too much. Sulley is allowed five minutes to say one last goodbye to the child that changed his life. In any other film, this would be the moment, but Pixar ups the ante and takes it one step further.
As Monsters, Inc. thrives under the new regulations where children’s laughs as opposed to screams are used for energy, Sulley is still thinking about his time with Boo and the fun they had together. To his surprise, Mike has rebuilt Boo’s door, allowing the two to see each other again.
A nervous Sulley slowly opens the door and says, “Boo?” while looking around. We don’t see the girl, but we do hear her excited voice as she exclaims “Kitty!” and Sulley smiles as the scene fades to black.
It’s because of this moment Monsters University had to be a prequel. There’s no way Pixar could have topped this. This beautiful little scene effectively ended the story and there was nowhere else to go. It was perfect in every way. A heartwarming ending to a fantastic movie, I can’t think of a better way for the franchise to end.
“So long, partner.” – Woody (
TOY STORY 3)
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You can do an entire list of great moments just from the Toy Story trilogy.
Buzz accepting his place as a toy. Woody scaring Sid. The part when Woody and Buzz land in the car and are reunited with Andy. Jessie’s “When She Loved Me” song. Andy’s home videos. The soul-crushing incinerator scene.
I can go on and on about how wonderful Toy Story– and Pixar in general– are to the point where I could probably do a fifty-item list, but I’m stopping myself here. THE moment of 2010 in film.
Before Luke & Han, Frodo & Sam, Batman & Gordon, or Jules & Vincent, the cinematic duo for me was Woody & Buzz. Toy Story was the first film I saw in the theater as a kid and now, eighteen years later (again, I feel old) the series is still among my favorite movies. The point is it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and it will always stay with me. These movies were more than just movies to me. They meant a lot. I’ve been following these characters forever and I’ve always wanted them to have a happy ending.
Toy Story 3 smartly allows itself to mature with the audience. My generation, who were young kids in 1995, were either in college or getting ready to leave for school when this film hit in 2010. By making Andy college-aged, it allowed people like me to immediately relate to the story as the film dealt with themes of growing up and letting go of your childhood.
After fighting their way through Sunnyside and surviving the terrors of the incinerator (not to mention all they’ve been through the previous two movies), the gang of toys ends up in a box to go up to the attic. Woody is set to go with Andy to college, but not before he writes a note to his owner, giving him the address to Bonnie’s house. Woody – who was taken home and played with by Bonnie – knows that his friends will be happier there than in the attic. And of course, Woody himself sneaks into the box so the group can stay together.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when Andy pulled up to Bonnie’s house, but I was not prepared for each toy getting their own individual introduction as Andy passed them on. I certainly was not prepared for Andy’s emotional farewell to Woody. And I definitely wasn’t ready for the montage where the toys get one last play time with Andy before he drives off to college. As I sat there fighting back tears, I knew that the little kids in my theater wouldn’t appreciate this moment the way I did.
“Now, you gotta promise to take good care of these guys,” Andy says to Bonnie. “They… mean a lot to me.” Even though Andy had grown up and outgrew playing with toys, he had them all this time because they meant so much to him. Just like they meant so much to the audience. Andy wanted to see the toys have a happy ending too.
It was very important for Woody to be included here. I felt his character arc was complete after this scene. Being with his friends was the most important thing to him. The toys, as Buzz says to Lotso, are a family.
So much of the
Toy Story trilogy is about the toys getting back to Andy. Ironically, perhaps beautifully, the franchise’s greatest moment
is when they toys let go of Andy and move on.
Rest of the greatest moments of Pixar at the (
SOURCE )
"Cars" stans can stay pressed that they don't have a single iconic moment to offer. As usual, Pixar lists always seem to forget the underrated "A Bug's Life". What are your personal greatest moments from the more superior Pixar films, ONTD?
