Pixar shorts have been around since 1984, and audiences have loved them since. Other studios have attempted to create scenes to accompany feature films, such as Marvel Studios utilizing post-credit scenes to introduce new characters. Unlike Marvel, Pixar’s shorts have run longer and are more well-loved.
When Pixar was created and part of Lucasfilm Ltd., an employee named John Lasseter decided to experiment with animation and create Pixar’s first short film, “The Adventures of Andre and Wally B” (1984). Lasseter was hired for animation and was asked to use simple shapes. Instead, he sketched a soft-edged character, something unheard of then.
A co-worker named William “Bill” Reeves created a system allowing particles to move the animations and made Lasseter’s animation ideas possible. The purpose of the short film they then created was to be shown at the SIGGRAPH conference in 1984 to show others the ability for the future of animation.
Just two years later, Steve Jobs bought the computer division of Lucasfilm Ltd., which officially created Pixar. While the company mainly sold computers, the animation was ongoing in the background.
The same year, Lasseter created the iconic Pixar lamp because he had one very similar on his desk. He used the lamp to draw a geometrical design he could later animate and move.
While working on this short film, co-worker Tom Porter brought his child to work. Lasseter noticed the proportions from Tom to his child, which is how the idea of a baby lamp — later named Luxo Jr. — was born. When “Luxo Jr.” was brought to the SIGGRAPH conference, the audience was infatuated with the movement and gave a standing ovation after the short was over. “Luxo Jr.” was even nominated for an Oscar in 1987.
Pixar created “Red’s Dream” and “Tin Toy” following “Luxo Jr.” “Tin Toy” is about a one-man-band toy who is afraid of a baby but tries to make him laugh. “Tin Toy” short was the hardest animation at the time because it used a human character and was the first time they showcased the soft-edged characters and shadows they had been working on for years. In 1988, “Tin Toy” short won Pixar its first Academy Award. The idea of toys being alive also inspired “Toy Story.”
While making “Toy Story,” the animation studio had to stop making shorts. Lasseter and another animator, Ed Catmull, vouched to continue these shorts, as they were what created the studio. Due to this, Pixar creates shorts related to the movies it releases. The short that accompanied “Toy Story” was “Lamp Life.”
Unfortunately, because of the success of its feature films, Pixar’s break from shorts lasted a decade. In 1997, Pixar returned and created “Geri’s Game,” a short about an elderly man playing chess against himself. Due to its success, “Geri’s Game” was released multiple times and won an Academy Award for Best Short Animated Film in 1998.
With Disney+, Pixar no longer needs to wait until a feature film is released to make a short. These shorts can be about anything, as they no longer have to relate to the films they are released with. Pixar has moved toward making shorts about how we act and societal issues.
In 2019, Pixar released “Purl,” a short film about toxic masculinity in the workplace. “Float” was created to discuss autism and the differences in children born slightly differently. The new way of storytelling has allowed Pixar to create things bigger than children’s movies and can help teach younger audiences about adult issues.
There is no consensus on what the best Pixar short film has been over the years, which proves that they have made many great ones. Pixar has made great strides in the animation industry and is now tackling bigger issues. While the company no longer needs to pair shorts with feature films, audiences are excited to see the shorts that accompany their favorite new movies.
