How Pixar gets it right, every time

3 Guidelines Pixar Follows That Has Made Them The #1 Animated Film Company In The World

I don't have kids. But - with my extensive knowledge of animated films - you might think I do. I've watched the good, the bad, and the Polar Express so I consider myself an individual with a lot of knowledge about animated films.

 Parents often roll their eyes or grumble words of angst when they talk about the entertainment quality of the films they watch with their children. This reaction may stem from the fact that most television and film companies focus their efforts on entertaining the child (*cough Dora the Explorer cough*) while forgetting that often times there is an adult sitting beside the child watching just as intently – sometimes more.

While it is true that you can't please all the people all the time, Pixar is a company that has gotten pretty close. Children, adults, and critics simultaneously agree that Pixar creates great films. So how do they do it? What's their secret sauce? I'm going to share with you how Pixar got smart and followed 3 simple guidelines that catapulted them to the forefront of feature length animated films.. 

1. Tell a Good, Well-Rounded Story

When studios became equipped with the technical ability to produce animated films using groundbreaking computer technology, it was easy to get mired down with details of the visuals. Animation studios finally had access to fun new tools that create realistic elements like moving fur, life-like eyes, and action scenes that don't look like the first release of Super Mario Bros. Pre-Pixar computer animated films suffered with creating this type of realism simply because the technology had not yet been discovered.  So when the low-resolution clouds broke and 

Pixar had the capability of making high-quality computer animated films, they ran with it – and at the same time didn't forget to devote serious time and energy to story development. Pixar knows that story telling is the essence of any film - animated or not. 

Storytelling is at the root of every great film.  Some studios that create children’s films rest on silliness and tricks to maintain the attention of 5-year-olds, but Pixar has pushed beyond this and proven that a film can be not only watchable, but beloved by 5 year olds, 15 year olds…all the way up to 95 year olds. And it all begins with a captivating, heart warming, and most importantly: well-rounded story.

2. Tell the story from the point of view of a Dude (or a Dad)

Pixar took notice of a pattern: Most animated films - especially those from Disney - were told from the point of view of a female. Oftentimes the female is a vocally gifted princess who requires salvation from a male. This archetype has been used since the dawn of story-time, and it is still being used to this day.

As a departure from that theme, Pixar broke the mold of animated films by introducing their first feature film, Toy Story, as told from the point of view of two males: Buzz Lightyear and Woody. Also, the main human character is a little boy who owns all of the toys. This decision was key in not only creating differentiation from the animated film companies who maintained the animated theme of feminine protagonist/masculine hero, but it also created unconscious brand loyalty among male audiences of all ages. And Pixar succeeded in doing this without alienating their female audience.

In addition, Pixar shifted the plot lines of their stories to include those that revolved around dads. In a society where divorce has become more common than marriage, this shift has allowed Pixar to tap into the hearts of dads who spend time with their kids on the weekend doing things like going to the movies. Are dad’s more apt to go to movies that exemplify their lives and their story? You bet. Will Dad and child form a bond watching something that models their relationship? Yup. 

Finding Nemo is an obvious example of this shift with the two main characters being a father and son. But The Dad Strategy can also be found in Monsters Inc., Cars, and Up. 

Pixar took notice of a culture shift in this country and used it to it's advantage - again without alienating their female audience. 

3. Bring to life the things that we love

Disney has been anthropomorphizing objects in their animated films since its first film - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In fact, most animated feature films include animals, or candlesticks, or trees that take on human-like characteristics. But Pixar took this strategy to another level by bringing to life specific objects that stir up nostalgia, that cause emotions involving attachment, and that we have an over-arching love for in typical American life. 

Toy Story is a great example of this strategy because the film centers around a little boy's toy collection. For those of us who had a typical* American childhood, seeing classic American toys like Mr. Potato Head and Barbie come to life can provide a sense of connection between us and the film. We are connected to the film on a deeper level because of the familiarity of the object as well as the magical aspect of seeing that object come to life. Kids often pretend that their toys are alive, so in a way the film is providing a glimpse at a dream come true. 

Pixar's production of Cars pulls at other heart strings of ours by tapping into a long running fascination and love affair we have with automobiles. "Car people" are serious about their fascination and it's been noted that these fascinations usually start presenting themselves at a young age. So Pixar's choice to bring to life these beloved objects was no doubt carefully calculated and paid has off in droves.

It's also interesting to note that car collecting has generally been a male-centric hobby so Pixar's choice to bring to life these modern, man-made machines is one of genius and follows along with the second tenet: Tell the story from the point of view of a Dude (or a Dad). Dad's and kids around the nation have no doubt bonded over a shared love of cars, thanks to the introduction kids receive from this film. 


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And Thats it. That's what Pixar has done to succeed in making the most successful animated feature films of all time. I encourage other film houses to take notice because there is no denying that what they are doing works. Not only are they a hit with kids, but they win Academy Awards, have high rankings on top critic sites, and also have been rated as creating one of the Top 10 Greatest Series Of All Time for the Toy Story series. I'm excited to see what Pixar has in store for the coming years. I know when I sit down to watch a Pixar film, I'm in for a treat. 

*I realize that calling a childhood typical can be ambiguous and arguably non-existent but stay with me here. In actuality, I think our childhoods are more similar than we think - even when socio-economic status, geographical location, and other differentiators come into play. There are some unique archetypes of childhood that many of us can relate to and we can tap into particular emotions when these archetypes are brought out.