Disney and Pixar Animated Film Trends

Film Success and Entertainment Meet Up at the Movies

Jul 5, 2009 Rhonda Campbell

Pixar and Disney Pictures have enjoyed a rewarding partnership. The entertainment giants know how to create and promote animated movies the whole family can enjoy.

According to Pixar’s official website, the company started in 1984 when John Lasseter departed Disney and joined a cast of special effects artists under the employ of Star Wars’ creator, George Lucas. Together Lasseter and Lucas’ team became Pixar. Andre and Wally B, Luxo Jr. and Red Dream were amongst the company’s first animated movies. Each was a short and not yet a full length film.

Early Animated Films

Although domestic animated films had been around for longer than fifty years in films like The Sinking of the Lusitiana and with characters like Felix the Cat, Pixar’s characters and storylines soon became internationally popular, memorable. Early cinematography frames developed by Pixar were displayed at the San Francisco International Film Festival as well as at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Pixar’s early animated movies like Knick Knack, Lifesaver’s Holes and Tin Toy won numerous awards including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, the Blue Ribbon Award and first place for animation at the Badalona Film Festival.

For nearly a decade Pixar put out a new animated short each year. Then in 1995, eleven years after the company formed, Pixar released Toy Story. It was the same year that the company became a public holding firm. The first public company offerings were bought at $22 per share. Soon Pixar had raised $140 million. It was more than enough to give Toy Story the required lift to gain the attention of entertainment executives and movie goers.

Pixar and Disney’s Toy Story Makes History

The film that used voiceovers from accomplished actors and actresses like Tom Hanks, Sarah Freeman, Don Rickles, Annie Potts and Tim Allen, opened on Thanksgiving weekend in 1995. Not only did the movie earn $195 in the United States, it went on to pull in $362 million from theatres around the world. John Lasseter directed the film. He also wrote on the script. Disney distributed the blockbuster hit. It was as though a long lost friend had come home. The pairing proved at once successful.

Toy Story became the first full length computer animated film in recorded history. The film was nominated for two Golden Globe awards; it received seven ASIFA Hollywood Annie Awards. Buzz Lightyear and Woody were hits with children around the world. Soon toys made in the image of the animated characters filled toy store shelves.

Continuing Success for Pixar and Disney

In 1998 Pixar and Disney teamed up again and produced and distributed the animated film, A Bugs Life. One year later the two companies paired up and released a follow-up to Toy Story.

Toy Story 2 pulled in $245 million in the United States alone and $485 million at theatres around the world. Pixar and Disney’s next hit movie came in 2003 with the release of Finding Nemo. A year later The Incredibles was released. Success continued, racked up. It was as if Pixar and Disney were created to develop and distribute top selling animated movies.

Everything Looks Up for Pixar and Disney

Cars was released in 2006 followed by Ratatouille in 2007. None of the films reached the financial success enjoyed by Toy Story and Toy Story 2. But the mark was set. Pixar and Disney full length animated films provide more than an explosion of colors, sound and comedy, the movies tell stories that adults and children can relate to and understand. With or without intent, each film is replete with lessons, encouragement and motivation.

Pixar and Disney’s latest film Up tells the story of an elderly man who learns the value of letting go. The pace of the film is slower than previous Pixar and Disney films. Yet, the filmmakers build solid characters in Russell, Carl Fredrickson, a golden retriever named Doug and the love of Carl’s life, his wife Ellie. The film opened on May 29, 2009 in North America to critical acclaim. It is set for release in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2009.

References

Pixar Official Website. 5 June 2009.

The copyright of the article Disney and Pixar Animated Film Trends in Animated Films is owned by Rhonda Campbell. Permission to republish Disney and Pixar Animated Film Trends in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Pixar and Disney Animated Films

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Jul 6, 2009 11:50 AM

Dominic von Riedemann :

FYI, Up has currently earned $264.8 million in North American box office, making it the 2nd most profitable summer film of 2009 – after Transformers 2 – to date. That's better than Cars ($244 million), Ratatouille ($206 million) and WALL-E ($223 million).

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