Something slightly different today from my usual review as I write a top 5 list instead. After watching the excellent Rango it got me thinking about good animation movies, which in turn led me to Pixar and their animated shorts (movies not clothing!). I did some digging and realised that I hadn't even seen them all with 2 somehow eluding me! You sit there now saying to yourself that that's preposterous and you have definitely watched them all but I'll wager that you haven't. Go ahead check on this list here.
Now I thought setting myself the task of choosing of my top 10 favourite films of all time was a challenge but this was a step up indeed. I do like a challenge me! For those a bit rusty on their Pixar, they currently have 19 shorts with the 20th due to coincide with the release of Cars 2. Alright if we are being pernickety the first short- 'The Adventures of Andre and Wally B' is not strictly Pixar but rather the animator John Lasseter working for Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Project which later went on the become a start-up company we now know as Pixar! Without it though animation may not have been what it is today.
After honourable mention to Geri's Game, Lifted and Burn-E who missed out by a cat's whisker I give you the top 5 animated shorts by Pixar...
5. Luxo Jr [1986]
Pixar's 1st/2nd short ever which created the mascot and star that has appeared in all of their movies to date. Who do I talk about you ask? The legendary lamp of course. Despite having no expressions whatsoever Pixar still pull off making that lamp so cool and excitable. Had to get into the top 5.
4. Knick Knack [1989]
Another golden oldie here about a snowman who just longs to be free from his snowglobe prison. Less well known and not quite as funny as the next three but good none the less.
3. Presto [2008]
When watching this in the cinema before Wall-E I laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe and it gave the stomach muscles a good old work out the likes that they had or will never receive again. The music especially the 'TaaDaaaa' fanfare after ever stunt makes this good short great.
(If you want to see a higher quality version but it has a watermark across it go here)
2. For The Birds [2000]
Best use for a dog's squeaky toy ever (remove dog from room before playing this clip!) and sticking with the loveable character theme once more. We feel for the big bird who just wants to fit in and steals the last laugh.
1. Partly Cloudy [2009]
Everytime. Everytime I watch this I shed a tear of laughter and it just keeps getting better and better the more I watch it. Follow the trials and tribulations of a stork as it tries to deliver babies to their new parents. The stork has to be one of the best Pixar characters about. Enjoy!
Hope you liked the selection of the top 5 Pixar shorts on display and that you all got a couple of laughs out of it. I know I sure did when I was choosing them.
When next time rolls around I will be reviewing the movies that are being released in April, both good and bad. [click here]
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