Back in 2015, a movie blogger named Jon Negroni wrote a book called The Pixar Theory. In it he talked about how each of the films from the famous animation studio, all belonged in the same “universe.”
The book was a fun way of revisiting all the Pixar films, and an interesting read to anyone who’s a fan.
I think we can all agree that Pixar movies have had a significant impact on film. They are that special type of entertainment that is made for kids, but is equally entertaining for adults.
While I don’t doubt that you’ve all seen most of the movies, I do doubt that many know about the subtle images in each film that connect them together. We movie lovers call these images “Easter Eggs”.
So with that said, let’s take a look at 9 of them here today:
Boo’s Toys
Towards the end of Monsters, Inc., when Sully is returning Boo to her bedroom and trying to say goodbye, she gives him a series of toys that are scattered around her room.
They are: a doll of Jessie from Toy Story 2, the Luxo Ball (a yellow ball with a blue stripe and red star that appears in almost every Pixar film), and a clown fish, who we would know two years later as Nemo.
An Incredible Issue
During the hilarious dentist’s office scene in Finding Nemo, when Marlon & Dory are attempting to rescue Nemo, all the patients in the waiting room see the commotion inside the examination room.
One of those patients is a kid reading a comic book. The comic book is chronicling the adventures of none other than Mr. Incredible.
Let’s be honest though, the only thing that will ever stick out in your mind is this iconic image.
Cliff Clavin
Pixar films are known for a long list of celebrities who have voiced their films. One man whose voice has appeared in almost every film is actor John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin from the 1980’s sitcom Cheers).
He was Hamm in all the Toy Story’s, P.T. Flea from A Bug’s Life (my personal favorite character of his), and Fritz, from Inside Out, among others.
Listen carefully, and in each movie you’ll hear that famous gruff voice we all know.
Rat Meets Dog
In 2007’s Ratatouille, during the scene when Remy, the rat turned chef, is chasing down an aroma he likes as he makes his way through the pipes of an apartment building.
As he passes each apartment, he encounters a man painting a bowl of fruit, a woman trying to kill what I’m assuming is her husband (FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY), and the shadow of a dog barking.
While the shadow is only visible for a couple of seconds, if you look closely, you can see the shape of Dug from Up.
Product Placement
In Wall-E, BnL (or Buy N Large) is the name of the company that transports all of humanity to space after making the earth uninhabitable, (this was before Musk).
While the company BnL played a significant role in Wall E, it has appeared in several other Pixar movies, usually in background signs, in TV commercials, etc.
The Pizza Planet Truck
Pizza Planet was the restaurant Woody and Buzz go to while trying to get back home in the original Toy Story.
While the restaurant only appears that one time, their delivery truck can be seen in nearly every film.
Mickey Mouse
Almost every Disney movie has something called a “Hidden Mickey”.
Whether he’s in the background, in a picture, or even just a few shapes outlining his head and ears, that little rat bastard just can’t help but hog the limelight.
Since Disney is the company that bought Pixar, I guess you could say this was their way of honoring the icon.
A113
“A113” has appeared in almost every Pixar film, as license plates, tags, conference room numbers, and even the model number on a camera.
Director Brad Bird, who wrote & directed both Incredibles films and Ratatouille, has said that he puts “A113” “into every single one of my films”.
Fun fact, “A113” is not just a Pixar Easter Egg. It’s actually an inside joke amongst many modern day animators working in films, TV, and video games.
So what is it?
“A113” is the classroom number at The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where graphic design and character animation were taught.
The Shorts
Ok, so while this one may not necessarily be an Easter Egg, we can’t talk about Pixar movies without mentioning their short films, shown before each movie in theaters.
Pixar shorts have been a staple of the company, and in my opinion, (One Man Band, Presto, Partly Cloudy, Piper & Bao) are just as memorable as the films themselves.
Although they’re not always connected to the films, they too have a few Easter Eggs here and there. The old man who fixes Woody, in Toy Story 2, was in a short called Geri’s Game.
Well there you have it folks, 9 Easter Eggs found in Pixar films. Keep an eye out if you ever watch these films again. If you find, or know of any more, feel free to let me know in the comments.