On November 22, 2020 it will be 25 years since Pixar released its first animated feature, Toy Story, and captured the hearts of adults and children around the world.
Since then, animated releases have conquered the box office and film critics, bringing enchantment and emotion to the viewer, who still has the bonus of an afterthought on the life lessons that permeate the plots.
With impeccable design and techniques, the “drawings” are full of magic and bring, especially to childhood, the delight to live this wonderful experience that is to be a child, already with values ​​capable of modifying present and future thinking and society.
As children, we are moved by stories about toys, fish, robots. As adults, we remember the good times, we can reflect on the teachings and introduce them to our children, nephews and other people who can share this spectacular world with us.
A little about Pixar
The company was a division of Lucasfilm, the Graphics Group, which created computer graphics software and collaborated with Industrial Light & Magic to create visual effects for films such as Star Trek II and Young Sherlock Holmes.
In 1986, Steve Jobs bought the division and established an independent company, which was renamed Pixar, a combination of the terms “pixel” and “radar”, being focused on the production of hardware, such as the Pixar Image Computer, much purchased by Walt Disney. Pictures.
To showcase the computer's capabilities and boost sales, one of the employees, John Lasseter, produced animated short films. Commercials were later produced.
After much investment with no return from Steve Jobs, he partnered with Disney to produce three animated features, starting with Toy Story.
Disney later acquired Pixar, making Steve Jobs the company's largest single shareholder.
Lessons for a lifetime
Whether art imitates life or life imitates art, we will not argue. We invite you to come to your own conclusions, but we will address the valuable lessons learned from Pixar films. Enjoy and reflect with us.
the power of friendship
In the first movie of the Toy Story tetralogy (1995), on Andy's birthday, friends go to his house for the celebration, with gifts that are usually toys. Meanwhile, the toys in his room come to life and, in a task force, they try to identify which ones will be part of the group from then on. The leader of the toys, the cowboy Woody, is no longer the boy's favorite and is threatened by Buzz Lightyear, demonstrating, just like human beings, jealousy, neediness and loneliness. The high point of the animation is the friendship that everyone develops with each other, for which they face the difficulties to rescue Buzz, who ends up going to the house of neighbor Sid Phillips, without friends and with the destructive instincts of toys. To reinforce the friendship, betrayal, longing and everyone's need to be esteemed, loved and remembered are brought to the surface. The power of friendship will strengthen this group, which will bring the experience of teamwork and the realization to Buzz of who he really is.
In the second animation of Toy Story – In Search of Woody (1999), the friendship is expanded and includes beings from another planet, the aliens, who, despite being different and strangers to Earth, are well accepted by the other toys, reinforcing the respect for the differences.
In the third production, Toy Story III, in 2010, winner of the Oscar for Best Animation, the toys are once again united and work as a team, with friendship, to overcome the conflicts and challenges that present themselves against the evil teddy bear Lotso, who for The end ends up being helped by the other toys, also reinforcing that it is possible to do good without looking at who and that everyone deserves a new opportunity.
Toy Story IV, winner of the Oscar for Best Animation, ends the adventures of Pixar's most beloved toys in 2019. With a golden ending, the strength of the friendship between Andy and Woody is confirmed. At the moment of parting (Andy is going to university), the now boy declares to the cowboy toy and faithful companion that he is special because he never gave up on him. Sublime! To see again and again, a lifetime!
The union strengthens and transforms
In the 1998 animation A bug's life, based on the fable “The ant and the grasshopper”, the plot unfolds with the protagonist Flik, ​​an inventive male ant who, in order to help his colony of ants, forced to collect seeds and leaves for the locust reserve in winter, ends up destroying everything that was collected and forces the colony to collect twice as much. He takes the blame and goes in search of a solution, already showing resilience. One of the highlights is the unity that Flik promotes to fight the locust imposition and to protect the colony from that domination, once he realizes that it would be surprising for the locusts to see the ants rebel. The union of the ants changes the situation of long years of submission to the locusts, leading us to another lesson – there are different results for different attitudes. Issues involving leadership, adopting different roles in a group, conflict resolution, hope, communication and how to achieve a goal are also topics covered in this amazing animation. The transformation of the caterpillar, a character that is part of the circus, is also emblematic, because it brings the first step to transforming oneself, which is to believe. Another highlight is seeing it differently, with another kind of scope and perspective: “I know it's a stone, but let's just pretend for a minute it's a seed, okay? Let's try to imagine… Look at this tree. Everything that formed this huge tree was already inside this tiny seed. She just needed a little time, a little sun and rain and VOILÀ!” Fantastic!
Happiness brings better results
Scaring children in their room, while they are sleeping, is the mission of the monsters of this company, which gets energy from the fear they feel. In this animation by Pixar, Monsters SA (2001), the great lesson is that happiness generates better results, makes you prosper, while fear and unhappiness cause the opposite. Affection, friendship, kindness and seeing new possibilities make friends Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, the most lovable monsters in the film, protect the Boo girl from Randall Boggs, the mimicked villain.
Overprotection prevents growth, recklessness is very dangerous
The Oscar-winning production of Best Animated Feature Finding Nemo (2003) is one of the most charismatic of all time. She brings so many teachings, with such subtlety, that highlighting one is even unfair. In the search for his son (Nemo), Marlin, a clownfish, makes discoveries about himself and the importance of seeing life in a lighter way and with courage to face the challenges that may arise. As he goes on the open sea, outside the choir where he used to live, he meets Dori, the forgetful little fish, who faces life and differences without prejudice and with a lot of “belief”. Nemo is a different little fish, with a deficient fin. Dori too. Sharks, her friends, too. Turtles see life positively, with freedom. The plot deals with confronting Marlin's overprotection of Nemo, who recklessly defies his father's guidelines and ends up distancing himself from home and putting himself in danger. This theme has as a background accepting differences and seeing life from a new perspective, with love, support and protection of the other's freedom to have their own experiences. Simply exciting, don't you think?
We are the sum of our abilities and our talents.
The Pera family, from Pixar's The Incredibles, 2004 (winner of the Oscar for Best Animation), and the animation The Incredibles II, from 2018, is composed of two great superheroes, who are removed from their routine of combating crime and villains and must keep the family, with other members also with superpowers, safe and obscure at first, appearing normal in the eyes of society. In the first film, however, Mr. Incredible, in ordinary life Beto Pera lives discouraged and wasted on his talents, which reveal themselves, allowing those of other members of his family to also be developed. Between not having secrets with the family, complicity and fraternity, there is a great lesson – that our talents and our abilities are part of each one and influence our personality. It is empowering and happier to have the courage to come out as you really are.
Humility to win
In the animated trilogy Cars (2006), Cars II (2011) and Cars III (2017), the characters are brought to the plot to teach the great lesson of humility that is capable of making us overcome challenges, seize opportunities that are related to our goals and face failure as part of learning to develop resilience and move to other stages. In the plot, adapting to changes, perseverance, patience, being honest and dreaming big permeate the need to know yourself and go back to your origins and find your roots to leave a legacy of achievements that has less to do with winning races and more with to do with facing how much we are apprentices in discovering who we really are. Basic!
Seek to fulfill a dream
In June 2007, the theatrical release was Pixar's Ratatouille, which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Contrary to all stereotypes and prejudices, Remy, the mouse protagonist of the plot, strives to fulfill his dream of being a chef in Paris. He counts on the friendship of Linguini, who also discovers himself to be very capable and strengthens himself, breaking the label of only being accepted for being the son of the late owner of the restaurant, the renowned chef Auguste Gusteau. The perseverance and courage to dedicate yourself to the goal you want to achieve is moving and challenges all of us to face difficulties, especially in the words “anyone can cook”, a metaphor for “anyone can make their dream come true”. Extraordinary! At the same time, the food critic Anton Ego will evaluate the restaurant where Linguini works and comes across the title dish of the animation. He is immediately taken back to childhood, creating a link with “affective food” and reminding viewers of similar situations. After the animation, one of the most searched recipes on the internet was ratatouille.
Ecological awareness to take care of the planet
In Pixar's 2008 Oscar-winning production of Best Animation, Wall-E, the Earth became a huge landfill, with no living conditions. The inhabitants live in space, in a huge spaceship. There is no life on the planet. The action of man devastated the habitat itself and decimated the possibility of other lives as well. Hope is in a little plant found by the animation's title robot. In the midst of many deep feelings, especially love, the great teaching of the plot is to understand that our responsibility is great and immediate for the preservation of the planet we live on for current and future generations.
It's never too late to make dreams come true
In May 2009, Pixar's Up - High Adventures arrived in theaters, which won the Oscar for Best Animation. In the touching story, a boy scout strikes up a friendship with the elderly widower Carl, who remembers his wife and the dreams he wanted to fulfill, specifically one, which was to live in a South American forest. Threatened with losing the house he used to live in to a real estate development, he ties balloons to his house so that it floats and he can leave where he is and realize that dream and an adventure in the skies. To his surprise, on this journey the boy accompanies him. The great teaching of this magnificent work is in line with the maxim that “Dreams do not age” and there is always time to make them come true.
be yourself
In Brave, Pixar's 2012 release, which won an Oscar for Best Animation, protagonist Merida has a troubled relationship with her mother, as she doesn't want to be the stereotypical princess her future awaits, preferring a life of very different experiences. She is put to the test and must show courage to face challenges, her love for her mother and achieve balance. The plot brings the image of a warrior, modern woman, who reaches maturity and manages to be herself, with all the temerity and strength, but mainly with a vision beyond her time. A mindset change lesson not just for girls, but for everyone.
The importance of self-knowledge
In Pixar's 2013 animation Monsters University, Mike and Sully (characters from Monsters Inc.) go to university. Mike wants to become a scary monster, but his goal is frustrated. Knowing his comic potential and that there are other paths to follow, he decides to change his goals and develop in a different way and closer to his talents. It's a beautiful lesson on the importance of knowing yourself. Another teaching of the plot is that for all actions there are consequences, which need to be faced responsibly.
The importance of emotional intelligence
Amusingly, Pixar's 2015 production, which won an Oscar for Best Animation, is one of the most significant animations in cinema. The plot brings the girl Riley, who tries to overcome her own emotions of joy, sadness, anger, disgust, fear and finds herself in difficulties. It's about emotional intelligence. The great teaching of this animation is that it's okay to feel all kinds of emotions, because they exist, matter and are part of people's lives, however dealing with them and knowing how to control them in social expression is fundamental, even if it counts with loved ones and professionals to help. Self-knowledge is the background to the whole experience. The expression of emotions is also considered and changes with the acquisition of maturity by the protagonist. Sensitive and smart.
Self-knowledge is a journey of overcoming the unknown
In the November 2015 Pixar animation The Good Dinosaur, a boy (Spot) befriends an apatosaurus (Arlo) after the two are swept away by the current of a river in a storm. Dealing with losses, facing one's fears, establishing self-confidence, experiencing solidarity and companionship with a very different being, exercising tolerance and engaging in a journey of self-knowledge are the teachings of animation. It practically demonstrates a rite of passage to maturity and overcoming the unknown. Love is the driving force to overcome insecurities. A beautiful story, where nature helps to tell the plot and takes the film out of the common place. Allows for deep reflection.
Accept others as they are
After the resounding success of Finding Nemo, Pixar released the animation Finding Dory in June 2016. The blue fish, protagonist of the plot, wants to find her family, but finds herself prevented due to memory problems. Supported by Nemo, she will face her fears, identify and accept her limitations, value her family, develop perseverance, have her qualities reinforced and valued. But the great lesson of history for us is to accept others exactly as they are, to accept differences. A sea of ​​sensitivity and good taste defines this opportunity to review social values.
Integrity as a Value
A colorful, musical and rich animation associated with Mexico's Day of the Dead was released by Pixar in November 2017 and deservedly won the Oscar for Best Animation the following year. É Viva – Life is a party. The plot brings Miguel, a 12-year-old boy who wants to be a famous musician, contrary to his family, getting involved with the world of the dead and unraveling a 100-year-old mystery. Values ​​linked to the family, respect for the elderly, rescue of origins and especially the value of money in contrast to all the other more ethical ones are brought by the wonderful, dynamic plot, with music, scene and plot exquisitely fitted. A production that wins attention for the depth of the subjects covered and for the fun, all very balanced. There is no way not to fall in love and not be moved.
Dealing with the loss of a loved one
Pixar's animation, released in March 2020, Two Brothers: A Fantastic Journey tells the story of two elf brothers, Ian and Barley, who receive a magical object from their mother and with it intend to bring their deceased father to life. In an adventure of self-discovery, respect and trust, the animation develops into a simple and moving journey, where the loss of the father is approached with depth and lightness and becomes the great lesson of the plot. Another topic addressed is the adoption of technology, which distances magic and changes the way of being of enchanted beings such as elves and unicorns, leading viewers to reflect on it.
Pixar's success story isn't just about Oscar and Golden Globe-winning feature films. Productions include seven Spark Shorts shorts, 19 film-based shorts, and 20 original shorts.
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If we think that it is possible at the same time to have good quality entertainment with the possibility of reflecting on important issues for us as people and social beings in the world, a question arises: why not? If you haven't had the opportunity to see any of the movies on this list, check it out. Enjoy, reflect and conquer other universes next to the ones you love!
