Sin #61: The Pixar Legacy

The first “Toy Story” came in 1995, I was 10 years old. It was the first feature length to be made entirely on a computer but its technical merits were completely overshadowed by its characters. Suddenly Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang became iconic and Pixar Studio came out of the gate with an astounding adventure that captured the imaginations of both kids and adults alike.

We’re living in 2010 and now Pixar Studio has become synonymous with great storytelling and superb animation. Just this month they released the third installment of “Toy Story” and I’m glad to inform that they haven’t lost their Midas touch; “Toy Story 3” is a glorious closure to a popular and beloved franchise.

After the original “Toy Story” they had a sort of slump with “A Bug’s Life” which had the misfortune of having been released close to “Antz”, a Dreamwork’s feature that had an all star cast (including a main voiceover by Woody Allen) and, in my opinion, a superior storyline. “A Bug’s Life” remains a simple and unsophisticated fable and Pixar’s worst film but they quickly got back in shape with “Toy Story 2” an enchanting sequel that introduced new characters (like Jesse, the cowgirl or Zorg, Buzz’s nemesis).

Next came “Monster’s Inc”, a funny film that somehow felt a little shallow; they would change that with “Finding Nemo”, a beautiful sea adventure that combined Pixar’s whimsical sense of humor with an emotional oceanic travelogue (it was, without a doubt, their most visually enthralling movie).

“The Incredibles”, Pixar’s next film, failed to engage me like “Nemo” did. Even though it featured some very good action sequences, the story felt like yet another variation on the superhero myth (fused with the dynamics of a regular family). It tried to introduce more mature elements but the story lacked a proper villain and its length made it feel a little bit tedious. With “Cars” however, Pixar returned to a gleefully un-ambitious comedy; even though it is geared for a sequel next year it isn’t a particularly inspired movie that necessarily demands it.

After “Cars” the studio hit a stride of amazing films. “Ratatouille” is a delicious and sophisticated dish of a movie that becomes the first story to target adults before their children; it’s a film that deals with deep themes, like the appreciation of food and the devotion of an artist for creation (and also the task of critics in art). I particularly adored the sequence where a critic is immediately transported to his childhood after he tastes a dish; it’s a striking and moving scene that encapsulates the message of the entire picture.

And then comes “Wall-E”, a science fiction parable about consumerism. The first 45 minutes virtually contain no dialogue and the characters have to convey strong emotions through beeps and robotic sounds. The film creates a touching love story and a surprising hopeful ending about a new beginning for human civilization. “Wall-E” is a joy to behold.

In this streak of amazing works there’s a very special movie called “Up” which may be Pixar’s most emotionally heartfelt movie (the opening sequence is a little masterpiece of emotion that shows an entire life in about 15 minutes). “Up” deals with themes of mortality, loyalty and bravery and combines them in a story of fanciful delight.

Pixar films feel lovingly hand-made and even the short films that precede each feature are brilliantly conceived. In a way their latter films are reminders of a time of innocence and purity, when we lacked the affliction of modern times (and still there are some underlying darker themes to be found). Whatever meditation and reflection they generate, the fact is that they are so much fun and each member of the family can take something completely different from them; for me that’s the mark of a great film.