Check out some iconic references that we can find in Pixar animations, but you may not have noticed
As one of the greatest animation studios of all time, Pixar has exciting stories that will always be remembered. But that’s not all: the studio’s legacy of leaving several Easter eggs throughout the films has made fans always look for them everywhere during the films — and it’s no wonder that the Pixar Theory exists: all the references help to create connections between the stories, giving the impression that they take place in a single universe!
With that in mind, Recreio has brought you 5 of the best Easter eggs in Pixar animations so you know what to look for the next time you watch a film from the studio. Check it out:
1. A well-known ball
You may have noticed that in all Pixar films there is, in some way, the presence of the yellow and blue ball with a star. This toy is known as the Luxo Ball and appeared for the first time in the short film “Luxo Jr.”, which also gave rise to the lamp that always appears in the opening credits of the studio’s films. Check out the short film.
The item has appeared in both feature films and short films, but sometimes it can appear in a different shape than a ball, such as in “Up,” where it appears in the shape of a pin on Russell’s headband. The ball is always hidden in a child’s room or in a room with lots of toys.
2. Where is Hank?
In “Finding Dory” we meet Hank, a very agile and smart octopus who uses his camouflage ability whenever he can to become invisible to the public eye. According to the character’s creators, he is a definitive Pixar Easter egg.
The director of “Finding Dory”, Andrew Stantonsaid in an interview that the octopus is hidden in all of the studio’s films released to date, thus being a big Easter egg kept secret for 25 years. However, we need to take into account that the character is “invisible”, so this reference could be a joke.
3. Sid’s future
One of Pixar’s most disturbing villains is Sid, a cruel boy who destroys and rebuilds his toys and those of his younger sister in “Toy Story”. However, there is a chance that he may have appeared in other films by the studio, since in some films we can see characters wearing the same shirt as him, which could mean that they are the same person.
In “Toy Story 3” it would be the boy’s first appearance, but this time as a street cleaner. His second appearance would be in “Coco”, as someone who has already passed on to the next life…
4. Honored Employees
Pixar has always been very fond of its employees because of their efforts in making film projects a reality. Because of this, there are always small tributes and quotes to animators, screenwriters, producers and directors as hidden Easter eggs in the productions.
In 2020, we can see in “Soul” a wall full of badges and there are some famous names like Jack Kirby, Amelia Earhart and Albert Einstein. However, among the names there are references to studio personnel such as Joe Ranftwho was the screenwriter for several films, including “A Bug’s Life” and Joe Grant who worked on “Up: High Adventures”
5. Advertising
Many people know that one of the founders of Pixar was Steve Jobsthe creator of Apple. The businessman financed several projects and helped develop the technology needed for 3D animation.
For this reason, in several of the studio’s films, the logo of Jobs’ company appears, as well as some of the products produced by the company. One example is in “WALL-E” where we see an iPad, and in “Toy Story 3” one of the toys ends up using an iMac. Finally, in “Cars 2” the iPhone is briefly mentioned.
Source: Recreio
