Why Pixar Works

     Pixar is widely and consistently considered one of the best film making companies in the industry. With a nearly flawless track record and two dozen films under their belt, one has to wonder what makes their movies so darn appealing. Here are just a few of the reasons.

1) Every Character has a Soul

    

     A writing instructor I had once told me that a story is never about what happens, but rather who it happens to. The people that make up the cast of the film should be the driving force behind everything that happens and it should be exciting to experience the plot with them. Pixar is the master when it comes to creating characters that are likeable but still deep. Dory in Finding Nemo is one of the most endearing characters that has come from Pixar. While it's true that she is funny, energetic, and just goofy at times, Pixar doesn't just keep her there as comic relief. She has feelings and emotions, something that they aren't afraid to show near the end of the film as Marlon leaves her when they think Nemo is dead. Many films coming out of Hollywood today have characters that are so obviously there just to add humor to the film and nothing more (Jar Jar Binks, anyone?). But those are the characters I personally tend to get really annoyed with because they lack any depth whatsoever (again, Jar Jar Binks ringing any bells?). Pixar takes these characters that could so easily be an empty shell of jokes and one-liners and makes them three dimensional. In the film Monster's Inc., it's true that Mike Wazowski provides many of the laughs throughout the movie, but that's not why he's in the film. He's so much more than that. He's not there just to get into trouble so the audience can chuckle and shake their heads saying, "oh, that Mike is always getting himself into crazy situations." He's there because the other characters and the story need him to be there. Just like every other character in a Pixar film, he has purpose and a soul.

 

2) The Combination of Characters

     Marlon is uptight and always worried while Dory goes with the flow and doesn't take life too seriously. Carl Fredricksen is a grumpy old man while Russell is full of energy and joy. Woody is a realist and down to Earth while Buzz thinks he's lost on an alien planet. The list goes on and on. The majority of Pixar's films feature characters that shouldn't play well together. They are the type to get annoyed with the other very easily. Lightning McQueen does not like Mater at the beginning of Cars. Why? Because common sense says the two are incompatible. Lightning is a slick, speedy race car and Mater is a slow, bulky tow truck. And their personalities match their outward appearance. So why does Pixar place these two together? Because it adds tension, humor, and a dynamic between the characters that keeps them from feeling truly comfortable with the other. Instant conflict. In Ratatouille, a rat and a human are the main characters. Does that sound compatible to you? Nope. But by the end of these films, the characters grow to appreciate the other's point of view and way of life, bringing a sense of closure to that part of the story. These relationship driven subplots are very often surrounded by a much bigger, louder plot, but they are always there and are really what I believe give Pixar films their heart.

 

3) Simple Stories for a Wider Audience

     The success of Pixar can be attributed to any number of things, but I believe one of the main reasons is that they don't dumb down anything. People of any age can enjoy a Pixar film because the core plot is not a children's story. Finding Nemo is about a father looking for his kidnapped son. It's interesting and relevant for parents and adults, simple enough for a kid to understand and connect with, and colorful enough for a toddler to say, "look at the funny fishy!" The range of Pixar's audience is ridiculously broad. Why? Because they take human stories, and place them in exciting settings with interesting characters that kids and adults alike will fall in love with. The Incredibles is ultimately about a family working through their difficult personal issues in order to earn a greater respect and appreciation for one another. Does that sound like a film your kid would be interested in? Nope. But make it about super heroes on an exotic uncharted island, battling robots with metal tentacles, and yeah, your child is gonna love it! I often hear Pixar describe as a studio that makes kid's films, but I don't believe that for a second.

 

These are just a few reasons why I believe Pixar has so quickly risen to the top of the film making industry, taking the idea of the animated children's film and changing it forever. They make films about real human emotions, yet hardly ever have humans experiencing them onscreen. They build characters that have history and humanity to them, even if on the surface the appear to be there for a quick laugh. They don't pander to children by making dumb films that they think they'll better understand, and they don't pander to adults by creating films that kids will ultimately find boring or too complex. Pixar makes films about real life emotion and drama but in a way to appeal to children as much as adults. As long as they keep that the focus of their work, I'll always be looking forward to the next project coming out of their studio with bated breath.