Text Purpose: To inform and entertain
Text Structure: Sequence (Pixar history) and Description (Pixar theory)
I. Introduction
Hook: Have you ever read those articles or watched those videos listing some of the Pixar or Disney easter eggs? Those little connections or shoutout to other movies? Those might have been intentional…
The pixar theory is a complex theory claiming that every pixar movie is part of one universe.
II. Besides the Pixar theory, I was very interested in the history of Pixar Animation Studios, and how it began.
Most people don’t know that George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, actually started Pixar.
Quote: “In 1979 Ed Catmull was hired by Lucasfilm Ltd., the California-based production company of filmmaker George Lucas, to lead its nascent computer division, and several of his NYIT colleagues followed him there. Aiming to improve graphics technology, the division developed the Pixar Image Computer, which, in its ability to render high-resolution three-dimensional colour images, offered applications beyond the film industry,” writes the Encyclopedia Britannica.
At this point, the company had made big strides in technology.
Paraphrase: John Lasseter, a former animator at Disney, used the company’s technology to make computer animated short films. In 1986, the company split as an independent business, in order to streamline the company. Steve Jobs became interested.
Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, noticed Pixar’s technology, and wanted to endorse it.
Quote: “Steve Jobs purchases the Computer Division from George Lucas and establishes the group as an independent company, “Pixar.” At this time about 40 people are employed,” says the Pixar company.
III. I was very interested in the history, including the merge between Disney and Pixar.
Before grabbing Disney’s attention, Pixar released several more projects.
Paraphrase: Between the years 1988-1990, Pixar released two short films, plus many animated advertisements for different companies. Some of them included Tropicana Orange Juice, (that was the first one, released in 1989) Trident, and Listerine.
Then, in 1991, Disney and Pixar did something big.
Quote: “Disney and Pixar announce an agreement “to make and distribute at least one computer-generated animated movie.” Pixar begins work on the project that will become Toy Story, while continuing to produce commercials and other short materials, including spots for public television,” claims the official Pixar website.
Once Toy Story was released in 1995, it became the highest grossing film of the year. Worldwide, it made $362 million dollars.
Paraphrase: In 1997, Disney and Pixar released an agreement to work together on releasing 5 fully computer animated full-length movies over the next 10 years.
IV. The Pixar theory was super intriguing to me, but it is very complicated and kind of confusing. Jon Negroni, a Pixar superfan, saw something online and it immediately became an obsession, finding evidence and connections to support this theory.
In the timeline of this theory, it is important to start at the beginning.
Quote: “It all starts with Merida discovering "the-will-of-the-wisps" (magic). The Magic turns her mother into a bear. This magic is why animals and inanimate objects (brooms & tools) behave like humans. Magic was utilized by a witch, who mysteriously vanishes through wooden doors,” summarizes thepixartheory.com.
The theory continues in the next movie according to Jon Negroni’s timeline, The Incredibles.
Paraphrase: In the 1950-60s, superheroes restored order into the world. Buddy, a wannabe superhero, created self serving A.I. bots such as the “Omnidroid”, and Zero Point Energy, which is electromagnetic. This is where we see machines destroying threats. In the near future, toys become alive using Zero Point Energy, which you can’t see with your eyes.
Next up in the theory, is Toy Story, and Toy Story 2.
Paraphrase: Because of Syndrome’s advances in technology, toys are now alive. Toys work together to discover that human love, is another energy source. Eventually the toys realize that it is dangerous to spend time away from humans. Inanimate objects start to question their purpose in life. Jesse resents her owner Emily for not playing with her. Animals also carried resentment.
Connections are not only being made on land and in inanimate objects, but in fish as well, which leads to the next movies, Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
Paraphrase: Looking into the ocean, creatures are extremely technologically advanced. Humans are polluting the earth and doing experiments on animals. Dory must have been experimented on, and that is why she is forgetful. Animals are resenting humans for polluting the ocean, and hurting fish. Fish are curious, and seem more human.
This next movie, Ratatouille, I watched for my primary research as well, which you can see below. Ratatouille shows us animals showing human characteristics, and humans showing animal characteristics.
Quote: “In Ratatouille, Remy discovers his love for cooking and displays human characteristics. Some of them are: walking on his hind paws, cleaning his hands, reading, and cooking. This is the first time we see personal interaction between human and animal, but it is for the purpose of controlling humans. Remy controls Linguini because Linguini does not know how to do anything. We see that Remy's rat clan does not approve of the humans and feels both fear and hate towards them,” writes Jon Negroni.
Toy Story 3 is not quite as essential to the theory as some other movies are, but there are some essential easter eggs.
Paraphrase: We see Buzz Lightyear’s batteries are from a company called “Buy-N-Large” or BnL. BnL appears in lots of movies, including Wall-E, Up, and Cars. In The fact that Buzz’s batteries are from BnL is just the beginning of BnL’s impact on the Pixar universe. Also, if you look super closely at a letter on Andy’s wall, you can see a letter written to him from Carl and Ellie, from Up. Jon Negroni suspects this is because they are telling him to watch out for the toys, and they are planning to live alone.
“Up” is also not extremely important to the theory, so I’m going to skip that movie. The next series of movies is Cars 1,2, and 3.
Quote: “Machines/BnL had to send the remaining humans off into space on a ship called Axiom. All of the other machines were left behind to populate the world and run things.But how do we know cars took over earth and not another planet? In Cars 2, cars go to Europe and Japan which shows that its the same planet as all the other Pixar movies. It also shows that there are no humans throughout the world. The world at this time ends up with an energy crisis as oil is the only energy used for cars,” writes 97th floor’s pixar theory website.
Wall-E is one of the most important movies in this timeline.
Quote: “Earth has become uninhabitable for hundreds of years due to BnL. The corporation took over the world/governments starting in the 1950's. Wall-E is the only machine left on Earth after it ran out of resources. He survived because he is fascinated with human culture and also his friendship with a cockroach, which helped maintain his personality and fulfillment,” suspects Jon Negroni.
A Bug’s Life, comes after Wall-E.
Quote: “That same plant we see in Wall-E grew to be the tree in "A Bug's Life". Insects have a longer lifespan in "A Bug's Life". Prior to Wall-E, an ant can last just 3 months.They do not mention humans, because there are very few humans to make it dangerous enough for insects to worry about. However, one kid did allegedly pick the wings off of the homeless bug. Later in the distant future animals start evolving into the dominant species,” writes Jon Negroni.
Monsters University and Monsters, inc. are the last 2 movies in the series.
Quote: Hundreds of years after Wall-E, animals started changing due to radiation caused by BnL. These animals evolved into monsters and accidentally wipe humans off the face of the planet. Monsters and machines didn't realize their mistake of getting rid of humans until it was too late. They eventually realized that humans were their source of energy, and needed to sustain life. Machines helps solve that by letting monsters use doors to time travel to the human generations. This leads us to Boo.
Boo is the one holding this entire theory together, because she is actually the witch from Brave.
Quote: “Boo never got over Sulley and became obsessed with finding out what happened to him. She remembered that doors are the key to finding Sulley. Later on in life she figured out how to time travel (using wooden doors) and goes back to the source of all magic, "the-will-of-the-wisps" and creates magic to find Sulley by using wood. Boo leaves evidence behind in Brave: two carvings whittled out of wood. They were Sulley and a pizza truck, the two things she loves most in life. Although she knows how to travel through time, she does not know how to determine what time period she will go to. Therefore, speculation has it that Boo is the one planting the easter eggs throughout all the Pixar movies because she has been accidentally going through different time periods,” speculates Jon Negroni and the other writers from 97th Floor.
VI. In addition to researching online, I also did direct observation research. For my topic, this looked like watching the two Pixar movies I hadn’t seen yet, which were Ratatouille and Wall-E.
Ratatouille was the first movie I watched, I had not seen it before researching.
In one scene that I saw, Remy is controlling Linguini by his hair, that is an example of humans showing animal characteristics. Remy can also walk on two feet, unlike other rats, which is showing human characteristics.
I also watched Wall-E. I really enjoyed this movie in particular, and put together some of the connections Jon Negroni described.
Wall-E can survive because of a bug that stays as his companion throughout the whole movie, and they communicate to each other. Also, in the first 5 minutes of the movie, BnL makes a TON of appearances, including owning the ship, the Axiom, that the humans ride in space. BnL basically controls earth, 700+ years from now. While the credits were rolling, there was an image of the boot with the plant in it, that grows into a big tree. Jon Negroni claims that this turns into the tree from “A Bugs Life.”
VII. Conclusion
The pixar theory is a complex theory claiming that every pixar movie is part of one universe.
The history of Pixar Animation Studios is very interesting, and learning about it can help give context to the movies and short films. The Pixar Theory is a mindblowing and complex theory that could potentially be true, when thinking about Jon Negroni’s compelling arguments and evidence.
Works Cited
Cunningham, John M. “Pixar Animation Studios.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 June 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Pixar-Animation-Studios.
Jon Negroni, and Anonymous. “The Pixar Theory – Every Pixar Movie Is Connected.” Jon Negroni, 7 Sept. 2018, jonnegroni.com/2013/07/11/the-pixar-theory/.
“Our Story.” Pixar Animation Studios, www.pixar.com/our-story-1/#our-story-main.
“Pixar Animation Studios.” History of Franklin Covey Company – FundingUniverse, www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/pixar-animation-studios-history/.
“The Pixar Theory an Interactive Story, by @97thfloor #Pixartheory.” The Pixar Theory, www.pixartheory.com/.
“Short Biography of Steve Jobs.” Short Bio | All about Steve Jobs.com, allaboutstevejobs.com/bio/short_bio#pixar.