Filmstrip Reflections #4: My all-time favorite Pixar shorts!

Pixar started out as a small, independent animation studio that did computer animated shorts. These shorts served as both experiments to the numerous techniques they could pull off using computer animation as well as spread around the talents at the studio. The Pixar shorts quickly grew in popularity, and when their first film, Toy Story, became a roaring success for the studio the Pixar shorts were celebrated as being integral to the growth of the studio in terms of talent. Since then, most Pixar films come accompanied with a short before the main feature, and they make a new short for their home video releases.

Considering that short films are vital to the studio I decided to list my favorite Pixar shorts! Note that I will divide this list into two categories: Original Shorts (shorts not based on any pre-existing ideas) and Feature Film Shorts (shorts based on Pixar films).

Original Shorts



1. For the birds
If I was given the task to convince people that Pixar is great, I should show them this. I love how the birds talk in chirps and whistles, resembling Woodstock’s speech in the Peanuts cartoon series and specials. The visual humor is fantastic, and the short’s finale presents us the greatest lesson of all: he who laughs last laughs the best.



2. Presto
This short is essentially a love letter to classic Tex Avery/Goofy cartoons, and succeeds greatly at capturing the manic pace of these shorts. Presto is simply hilarious thanks to its amazing comedic timing and insane animation. Presto proves that the people at Pixar have a great sense of humor, often unleashed in the form of manic shorts like this one.




3. Knick Knack
A word of warning: this short features a very, very, VERY catchy soundtrack. Knick Knack displays Pixar’s sense of ironic humor, presenting us a snowman characters who wants to break out of his prison to join the much hotter characters. It’s very funny and you will feel bad for the little guy.



4. Luxo Jr.
The one that started it all so to speak, Luxo Jr. is simply adorable. What’s very impressive about it is that despite the characters not having any faces they are very expressive, proving that in animation it’s all about movement and acting. The short was so effective that Luxo Jr. would become Pixar’s mascot, bouncing around at the beginning of each film. If you are wondering where he came from give this short a try.



5. One Band Man
A common trait in Pixar short films is that music and acting drive the story forward. One Man Band employs both, giving us great character animation with some great music. What I love the most about it is that the music perfectly grows more intense as the rivalry between the music men gets more and more heated. It all leads to a very satisfying ending that is funny and even silly.

Feature Film Shorts

These shorts are usually created to expand the film’s universe, giving us another chance to spend time with the characters or even take us back to the storyline and tell it through a different perspective.



1. Your Friend the Rat
My favorite Pixar film also has my all-time favorite Pixar short. People criticized it being a tad long, but to me it features great tongue in cheek humor and many different styles of animation. Don’t listen to what the short says, though. BEWARE RATS!



2. BURN-E
BURN-E is an example of a short film that takes the original story and tells it again through a different perspective. It tells the story of the BURN-E unit as it tries to replace a lamp post while the story was going on with Wall-E and EVE at the AXIOM. It ends on a very hilarious note, even if we feel bad for the little guy.



3. Dug’s Special Mission
The short takes places moments before Carl and Russell meet Dug, explaining us why he is so insistent to taking the bird back to his master. The short is mainly comical in nature as Dug tries to be the best dog he can be, making things hard for the rest of the dogs. Dug’s Special Mission ends on both a sad and uplifting note, giving even more depth to the relationship between him and Carl.



4. Mike’s New Car
Mike’s New Car doesn’t expand the characters or the universe. It’s just a silly short with no real reason for existing other than to take the characters and place them in a funny situation. And funny enough, it works! There is some great visual humor, showcasing Pixar’s both crazy and subtle animation.



5. Mater and the Ghost Light
Unlike many fans, I loved Cars, and I loved Mater the best. This short takes us back to Radiator Spring and gives us some great humor and character moments. The ending, though, is what makes the entire short so great. I won’t spoil it, but you have to see it to believe it.

Filmstrip Reflections #3: My Favorite Pixar Films!

Toy Story 3 comes out this week and I am more than excited. I simply can’t wait to see how the film concludes the adventures of Andy’s toys and see all the great characters on the big screen once again. As both a Pixar and film fan, it becomes increasingly difficult to list the Pixar films due to them always being successful and simply the best. I am sure that once Toy Story 3 is released many will struggle to place them in their own lists. I will, however, try to rank my favorite Pixar films, starting with my all time favorite and ending with my least favorite. Note that all of them are great in their own way, and in no way I am saying that some of them are bad, just that I preferred some over the others.

Without any further delay, here are my top ten favorite Pixar films!



Remy can rest assured knowing that Pedro thinks he is number one

1. Ratatouille (2007)
To me, this movie has proven to be one of the most personal and inspirational of all time, all because of its message of being whoever you want to be if you work hard to achieve it. Ratatouille is fantastic on nearly every level. The animation is very stunning, with great uses of caricature as well as presenting us Paris in a romantic manner. The story, however, is the real winner here. All characters are very well written and developed, and the story handles its twists and turns valiantly. Everyone is presented evenly and even the ending (which isn’t fully traditional) is very satisfying. Its message (“Everyone can cook”) is a testament to how we can accomplish anything in life and be rewarded for our determination. For these reasons, Ratatouille is a magnificent film and my all time favorite Pixar film.



”I told you that if we went into this adventure someone would call it the greatest ever Mr. Fredricksen!”

2. Up (2009)
Up is barely a year old, but has quickly become one of my all time favorite films. Up is a great mix of old and new Pixar traditions. You have both Pixar’s willingness to push strong concepts forward through great storytelling and their own unique brand of humor and heart. The characters, even the highly fantastical ones, feel very real and easy to relate, while the story handles issues such as the loss of someone special to idolizing false heroes with finesse. But its greatest message of all is that life, for all its bumps and obstacles, can be a great thing to experience. It celebrates both the grand moments as well as the little ones we come across often, and assures us that life is better spent with a friend that alone. Because of this, Up has become my second all time favorite Pixar film despite still being relatively young in the Pixar canon.



And just as she finds out that her movie is number three on my list, Dory forgets all about it…

3. Finding Nemo (2003)
When Finding Nemo came out in the summer of 2003 I was obsessed with it. I knew every scene by heart and couldn’t get enough of it. It is considered to be one of Pixar’s crowning achievements, becoming the highest grossing animated film ever at the time of its release. This is thanks to both its heartwarming father/son story as well as the beauty of its creatures. The characters are instantly likable thanks to great voice work and its story is just as charming and complex as the rest of the Pixar features. The scenery is easily the best element of the movie, giving us an animated world that stays true to the beauty of nature while creating magical world under the sea.



”It’s a good thing Pedro put our film very high in the list, I was about to scare the pants off of him!”

4. Monsters Inc. (2001)
Monsters Inc. came out at a time in which the world was nearly paralyzed in fear. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 got a lot of people worried and scared about the fate of the world. Just a few months later after the attacks Pixar released Monsters. Inc, a movie all about conquering your fears, no matter how big or small they are. Sulley is one of my all time favorite Pixar characters, being both intimidating as well as lovable. His relationship with the little girl Boo is one of the highlights of the film. It pushes the belief that once we put aside our own false notions of reality we can discover something far more meaningful. Monsters Inc.’s heart is unrivaled in the animation world. Even if bigger successes have been created at Pixar Monsters Inc. still shines through thanks to its belief that often the things we fear the most are those that we know little about.



Never mind the fact that Earth is a complete wasteland, Wall-E’s greatest mystery is the solution to Rubik’s Cube!

5. Wall-E (2008)
Easily the most controversial of all the Pixar films, Wall-E is bold and daring, creating an unabashed look at how Earth would look like if it was completely destroyed by mankind’s own greed. But what truly stood out for me was the relationship between Wall-E and EVE. Pixar’s first love story is highly successful thanks to its very quiet but deep scenes. The usage of the classic film musical “Hello, Dolly!” works great as a portal into Wall-E’s heart and deepens the beautiful love story. Whether you love the film or not Wall-E is sure to inspire discussions due to all the symbolisms it employs, a mark only some of the best films ever made are proud to display. It only takes a moment to fall in love with Wall-E.



So ALL of these characters are annoying and make the movie bad???

6. Cars (2006)
At the moment, Cars is easily the most maligned project in the studio’s portfolio. Successful as a merchandise franchise the film received a lot of mix reviews, making people wonder if the studio was beginning to lose its luster. In my case, while I agree that the film does have some issues (like an uneven pace, superfluous characters and a slightly rough storyline) it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. Cars has a very enchanting and clever vehicle world, dealing heavily with progress affecting some of our smallest towns. Some of the characters are quite enduring despite their highly stereotypical personas, and overall Cars is a very fun film. If you can forgive its flaws you’ll be able to see this fact.



Note to Michael Bay: A film can have incredible action and tons of explosions and STILL have great characters and story!

7. The Incredibles (2004)
I admit that I am not a big action film fan (though many movies are favorites of mine), and The Incredibles is very focused on action, almost to the point where it can be very tiring. But still, despite being directed by an outsider (Brad Bird), The Incredibles has some very fascinating character development and is edgy in that it isn’t afraid to put its characters in grave danger for our enjoyment. Super or not, The Incredibles is worth watching at least once.



Woody isn’t pleased to hear that the greatest movie of all time is so low on my list…

8. Toy Story (1995)
The only reason this movie is down in the list is because I feel that Pixar has improved significantly in terms of story, and thus watching it again it feels very light. It’s a groundbreaking film that I really enjoyed back when it was released, but has been surpassed by its successors. Regardless, Toy Story is a very important film that paved the way for many of my favorite movies, and even being ten years old the film is still great fun and is very polished.



Between trying to save Woody and learning about this movie’s place on my list Buzz hasn’t been experiencing the greatest of days

9. Toy Story 2 (1999)
If the movie improves significantly on all aspects of the original film why is it so low in the list? As much as I enjoyed this movie once again it never truly created the desire to watch again and again. It definitely deepens the story by focusing on a toy’s heartbreak after losing a child, and there are some unforgettable moments that shouldn’t be missed. It’s just that I enjoyed the other movies, Toy Story included, much better. But once again, it’s still an amazing film that is more than just a quick sequel made to capitalize on the movie’s popularity.



Even Flik is stunned to learn that Toy Story 2 ranked so low!

10. A Bug’s Life (1998)
Before Cars was released, A Bug’s Life was the one film considered to be Pixar’s weakest. Even if its success cemented Pixar as a powerhouse in the industry it just didn’t strike a chord with people, me included. The cast of characters are very charming and wonderful, but the story doesn’t stick to you as well as it hoped to do. It has some laughs and some thrilling scenes, but it’s all fluff in the end.

And these are my top ten favorite Pixar films. I can’t reiterate enough that ALL of these films are the best ever created and fine examples of how animated films should be. Movies are a very personal thing, and each Pixar film has different themes that resonate stronger in some people while doing nothing to another. All showcase great storylines with unforgettable characters. Some might be more effective than others, but all ultimately entertain and delight thanks to amazing visuals, wonderful music and storylines and characters we can learn from.

As long as Pixar keeps making great movies this list will always be changing. That is something we can all agree on.

-Pedro

Filmstrip Reflections #2: The best movie...EVER?

While I was watching some classic film trailers and montages on YouTube I stumbled upon the original segment the American Film Institute (AFI) did for Citizen Kane when they declared it the best movie ever made (once in 1997, and again in 2007) on their 100 Years 100 Movies list. The list itself came under a lot of criticisms from film experts and critics because it is simply impossible to group 100 movies and declare them as the best, especially if the list includes dramas, horror films, romance, comedies and thrillers. As one critic declared it, it's like comparing oranges to apples, and declaring bananas to be the best fruit ever.

I want to offer my two cents on this. On one hand, I agree with the critics that it's near impossible to declare which film is the best. You see, I believe that films are very personal experiences, subjective so to speak, and what may be the greatest to me may be the worst for you. So, trying to make an official statement out of a subjective idea will bring out a lot of opinions forward.


Citizen Kane is constantly hailed as the best movie ever made. Well, do YOU agree?

On the other hand… just like I have the right to make this website and declare MY favorite films of all time the AFI has the right to try and declare which films are the best ever made, regardless of genre, filmmaker and concept. Critics have the right to agree or disagree because like I just explained, movies are very personal.

Here's how I see this…

When they talk about the best movies ever made, I think of the following criteria:
- The movie, no matter the genre, is an excellent example of what filmmaking can be
- It has left a huge impact on society and the industry
- It's a great success in terms of critical acclaim and audience acceptance
- It inspired many generations of filmmakers and have either created tributes or borrowed techniques from these films

So a movie like Singin' in the Rain CAN be considered to be the best among the likes of Schindler's List and Citizen Kane because it it's a well made film and definitely one of the best in its genre.


As an another example, Disney's Fantasia is considered to be one of the best films ever made, despite being animated, because it pushed the envelope in terms of filmmaking and the animation genre, and was successful at it

To sum this up, yes, trying to find THE best movie ever made is near impossible and trying to declare it as a fact would be foolish. But, I think the AFI, critics and the fans have the right to try and compile the facts and come up with their own conclusion. You can argue against it and offer facts, but no one should be condemned for trying. Of course they will make mistakes, the wrong movies will be nominated while others will be ignored, and everyone will have a say on the subject matter, good and bad.

Movies are a great form of self-expression, allowing us to look at them and come up with our thoughts and opinions. The day we are mocked for expressing said thoughts then we have truly forgotten why we go to the movies in the first place…

Filmstrip Reflections #1: The Desire for Classic Films

I confess this is something I just made up, so don't mind me. This section of Filmstrip Memories will be far more personal as I reflect on these classic movies, their impact on my person and what they mean to me and the world.

Just now, I realized why I am so eager to spend time watching these great films: because our modern media is very sick and rotten.

We are living in tough financial and social times. People are unemployed, losing their jobs every day, we are growing more and more distant in terms of emotions and the desire to be ambitious and grand in life is slowly fading away. And the absolute worst part is that the media is cashing in on it.

One morning I got up to see that a local morning variety program was doing a segment on death... That's right, they had a whole weekly segment about death, how to prepare for death, so on and so forth. I found it to be one of the most morbid and disturbing things I have ever seen on a morning variety show. It's proof of how the media is feeding off society's own fears to make money off it.

And that's not all. Movies like 2012 are fueling society's fears that the world may be coming to an end and giving conspiracy theorists a healthy paycheck. The minute an earthquake strikes all of the world's media prepares itself to sell newspapers and alert the masses. Experts are giving advice on how to declare bankruptcy rather than teaching people how to be better spenders. Religious cults are converting people to their religion because, according to them, we are nearing the end of times. Families are spending money on elaborate funerals than on fun vacations. News talk about deaths and murders at record speeds. The headlines on the newspapers are blood soaked! A&E is doing shows about obsessive compulsive people and drug addicts in dire need of intervention. Last but not least, we have court shows where people are beating each other senseless over some stolen panties.

You see what I mean? It's no wonder that our current society is cynical, depressed, scared and angry! Rather than trying to inspire the media wants to degrade people into a state of madness and depression.

I've noticed that when I started doing this project I've been happier, in a much better mood and very creative. I just realized that the movies I've been watching are made with such care, grace and dedication that they lift your spirits up.

Every time I see Gene Kelly dance, Marilyn strut her stuff, Audrey Hepburn give us a warm smile, Cary Grant being a hilarious gentleman and a Frank Capra character overcoming obstacles I completely forget about the world we live in and just feel ready to live life.

In my honest opinion, this is the sort of stuff we should be watching instead of sensationalistic garbage that does nothing but rot our minds and corrupt out hearts. Movies are an amazing form of escapism. Every time the world is in turmoil people run to movies theaters to see the hero get the girl, the problem solved, the villain defeated and the world a better place. So its sad to think that film studios and movie makers are filling theaters with films that just make things worse.



They should see Sullivan's Travels when they can. In that film, Sullivan was a filmmaker that knew that the world was a horrible place to live in, and thus wanted to make a film that was relevant to that fact. He embarks on a journey where he truly lives some of the worst experiences a man could ever face, and realizes that he was already making movies that were socially relevant: he was making comedies that were making people laugh. When he was sitting in the Church, watching all the prisoners laugh at Mickey and Pluto he realized that for that one moment these men forgot about the abuse they face each other and had fun. It inspired him to be a better filmmaker and make people happy.


Remember when the City of New York was used as a grand setting for amazing stories instead of a disaster zone? Yeah, I miss those days too...

So, why can't today's filmmakers take a hint from Sullivan? Instead of spending millions of dollars destroying the city of New York in glorious 3D why not save a couple of bucks and make a simple but really, really good movie that inspires people? I'm sure people would feel happier about themselves regardless of what is actually going on in the world.

Yes, I realize that this is a thing that is easier said than done, but it isn't impossible. Take a look at Pixar. Their last set of films have been some of the most uplifting, funniest and inspiring films ever. Because of this they have been very successful with movie audiences and film critics, earning award after award (Up was nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars).

Studios are harder to talk to, though, so I will address you my dear reader. First off, life is too grand for us mere humans to figure out how it is going to end, so stop reading about all this nonsense and have fun! Second, don't indulge yourself in the matter of death. Yes, it may strike at any minute but just because this is a reality we all have to face it doesn't mean that we HAVE to think about it 24/7. Make sure to enjoy life. It will be worth a lot more once it ends. Finally, turn the TV off and have fun! Go to the beach, read a good book, watch a good movie, talk to people and take initiative in your life. I am sure you will be happier and more productive.

That's it for Filmstrip Reflections. Stay tuned for more updates!

-Pedro