Why Pixar is made of 100% win

Since the debut of Toy Story in 1995 Pixar has quickly become the staple mark of animated films by not only setting the bar, but by introducing an entirely new way of making films. What is it that makes Pixar different? Well honestly you can’t just pin their success on one or two things. It’s their whole way of thinking that sets them apart. Here’s just ten things that I could think of that sets them apart from other studios (in no particular order).

1. Pixar’s films rely solely on telling a fantastic story that resonates with a wholesome moral message.


2. Pixar does not rely on cheap humor to coax the audience into laughter (dreamworks anyone?).


3. Unlike the majority of film studios Pixar is run by artists not business men in suits who rely on a formulatic method of film making.


4. Pixar’s employees are their own worst critics. If they’re not satisfied with something, then it belongs on the cutting room floor.


5. They’re not afraid of improv or script rewriting refinement. This is one of the areas where the advantages of a CG animated film become clear. Once you’re done filming a live action film it’s tough to change anything and always costs more money to film additional scenes. Whereas things can be changed and refined almost up until the end of production when it’s all on a computer.


6. The employees over at Pixar are not only big fans of Hayao Miyazaki-san, but when they’re frustrated they watch his films for inspiration.


7. They have no problem casting unknown voice actors. This is in great contrast to their competitors who strive to get as many big names as possible. Who may possibly be better actors than they are voice actors (huge difference!).


8. Pixar films do not use animation as a genre; rather animation is the medium for the story telling.


9. John Ratzenberger. Enough said.


10. The ritualistic short films before the movies are always entertaining and most of the time are better than a majority of full length non-pixar animated films.