This is a list of animated short films produced by Pixar Animation Studios.
Beginning with Pixar's second film A Bug's Life, almost all subsequent Pixar feature films have been shown in theaters along with a Pixar-created original short film, known as a "short." Other Pixar shorts, released only on home media, were created to showcase Pixar's technology or cinematic capabilities, or on commission for clients.
Pixar began producing shorts in the 1980s.[1] The first shorts were made while Pixar was still a computer hardware company, when John Lasseter was the only professional animator in the company's small animation department. Starting with Geri's Game, after Pixar had converted into an animation studio, all later shorts have been produced with a larger crew and budget.
In 1991, Pixar made four CGI shorts produced for the educational TV series Sesame Street. The shorts illustrate different weights and directions starring Luxo Jr. and Luxo — Light & Heavy, Surprise, Up and Down, and Front and Back.[2]
During the development of Toy Story, Pixar set up a division to work on Pixar video games called Pixar's Interactive Products Group, specifically Toy Story entries in the Disney's Animated Storybook and Disney's Activity Center. Due to the intense resources required, the division was eventually folded and the staff were redistributed to start creating short films to accompany Pixar's theatrical releases.[3][4]
Beginning with A Bug's Life, Pixar has created extra content for each of their films that are not part of the main story. For their early theatrical releases, this content was in the form of outtakes and appeared as part of the film's credits. For each of their films, this content was a short made exclusively for the DVD release of the film.
Starting with Toy Story 4, Pixar has discontinued theatrical shorts before the movie.[5]
Main article: SparkShorts |
SparkShorts is a series of animated short films produced by Pixar filmmakers and artists, similar to its sister series Short Circuit from Disney. It consists of longer independent shorts. Under the project, Pixar's employees are merely given six months and limited budgets to develop these animated short films.
Title | Year | Director(s) | Premiered | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film |
---|---|---|---|---|
Purl[17][18] | 2019 | Kristen Lester | YouTube | |
Smash and Grab[19][20][18] | Brian Larsen | |||
Kitbull[18] | Rosana Sullivan | Nominated | ||
Float[18] | Bobby Alcid Rubio | Disney+ | ||
Wind[18] | Edwin Chang | |||
Loop[18] | 2020 | Erica Milsom | ||
Out[18] | Steven Clay Hunter | Shortlisted[21] | ||
Burrow[22] | Madeline Sharafian | Theatrical with Soul Disney+ |
Nominated | |
Twenty Something[23] | 2021 | Aphton Corbin | Disney+ | |
Nona[23] | Louis Gonzales |
Title | Year | Director(s) | Initial release with | Associated Feature Film | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Theatrical | Home[a]/Premiere | |||||
Mike's New Car | 2001 | Pete Docter and Roger Gould | Monsters, Inc. | Nominated | ||
Exploring the Reef | 2003 | Roger Gould | Finding Nemo | |||
Jack-Jack Attack | 2005 | Brad Bird | The Incredibles | |||
Mr. Incredible and Pals | Roger Gould | |||||
Mater and the Ghostlight | 2006 | John Lasseter | Cars | |||
Your Friend the Rat | 2007 | Jim Capobianco | Ratatouille | |||
BURN-E | 2008 | Angus MacLane | WALL-E | |||
Dug's Special Mission | 2009 | Ronnie del Carmen | Up | |||
George and A.J. | Josh Cooley | |||||
The Legend of Mor'du[24] | 2013 | Brian Larsen | Brave | |||
Party Central[25] | Kelsey Mann | Muppets Most Wanted | Disney Movies Anywhere | Monsters University | ||
Riley's First Date?[26][27] | 2015 | Josh Cooley | Inside Out | |||
Marine Life Interviews | 2016 | Ross Haldane Stevenson | Finding Dory | |||
Miss Fritter's Racing Skoool[28] | 2017 | James Ford Murphy | Cars 3 | |||
Auntie Edna[29] | 2018 | Ted Mathot | Incredibles 2 | |||
Lamp Life[30][31] | 2020 | Valerie LaPointe | Disney+ | Toy Story 4 | ||
22 vs. Earth[32] | 2021 | Kevin Nolting | Soul | |||
Ciao Alberto[33] | McKenna Harris | Luca |
Title | Associated Feature Film | Year(s) | Director(s) | Premiere |
---|---|---|---|---|
To Fitness and Beyond | Toy Story 4 | 2021 | Adam Rodriguez | Disney+ |
Unparalleled Parking | Cars 3 | James Ford Murphy | ||
Dory Finding | Finding Dory | Michal Makarewicz | ||
Soul of the City | Soul | Christopher Chua | ||
Fluffy Stuff with Ducky and Bunny: Love | Toy Story 4 | Robert H. Russ | ||
Chore Day the Incredibles Way | Incredibles 2 | Alan Barillaro | ||
A Day in the Life of the Dead | Coco | Allison Rutland | ||
Fluffy Stuff with Ducky and Bunny: Three Heads | Toy Story 4 | Robert H. Russ | ||
Dancing with the Cars | Cars 3 | Juan Carlos Navarro Carrión | ||
Cookie Num Num | Incredibles 2 | Jae Hyung Kim |
Main article: Cars Toons |
Title | Year | Director(s) | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
Rescue Squad Mater | 2008 | John Lasseter | Toon Disney |
Mater the Greater | |||
El Materdor | |||
Tokyo Mater[34] | Theatrical with Bolt[35] | ||
Unidentified Flying Mater | 2009 | Disney Channel | |
Monster Truck Mater | 2010 | ||
Heavy Metal Mater | |||
Moon Mater[36] | Robert Gibbs | DVD + Blu-ray with Mater's Tall Tales | |
Mater Private Eye[37] | |||
Air Mater[38] | 2011 | DVD + Blu-ray with Cars 2 | |
Time Travel Mater[39] | 2012 | Disney Channel |
Title | Year | Director(s) | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
Hiccups | 2013 | Jeremy Lasky | Disney Channel |
Bugged | |||
Spinning | |||
The Radiator Springs 500½ | 2014 | Robert Gibbs | Disney Movies Anywhere |
Main article: Toy Story Toons |
Title | Year | Director(s) | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
Hawaiian Vacation[40][41] | 2011 | Gary Rydstrom | Theatrical with Cars 2 |
Small Fry[42] | Angus MacLane | Theatrical with The Muppets | |
Partysaurus Rex[43] | 2012 | Mark Walsh | Theatrical with Finding Nemo 3D |
Main article: Forky Asks a Question |
Title | Year(s) | Director(s) | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
What Is Money? | 2019 | Bob Peterson | Disney+ |
What Is a Friend? | |||
What Is Art? | |||
What Is Time? | |||
What Is Love? | |||
What Is a Computer? | |||
What Is a Leader? | |||
What Is a Pet? | |||
What Is Cheese? | 2020 | ||
What Is Reading? |
Main article: Dug Days |
Title | Year(s) | Director(s) | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
Squirrel! | 2021 | Bob Peterson | Disney+ |
Puppies | |||
Flowers | |||
Smell | |||
Science |
Main article: Cars on the Road |
Title | Year(s) | Director(s) | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
Dino Park | 2022 | Steve Purcell | Disney+ |
Lights Out | |||
Salt Fever | Brian Fee | ||
The Legend | |||
Show Time | Bobby Podesta | ||
Trucks | |||
B-Movie | Brian Fee | ||
Road Rumblers | Steve Purcell | ||
Gettin’ Hitched | Bobby Podesta |
Compilation title | Release date | Format |
---|---|---|
Tiny Toy Stories | October 29, 1996 | VHS |
Toy Story: Deluxe CAV Laserdisc Edition | December 18, 1996 | Laserdisc |
Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume 1 | November 6, 2007 | DVD, Blu-ray, Digital download |
Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales | November 2, 2010 | |
Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume 2 | November 13, 2012 | |
Toy Story of Terror!/ Toy Story Toons | August 19, 2014 | DVD, Blu-ray |
Cars Toons: Bonus Disc | 2013 | DVD |
The Radiator Springs 500½ | 2014 | DVD |
Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume 3 | November 13, 2018 | DVD, Blu-ray, Digital download |
Pixar made a series of clips featuring Luxo and Luxo Jr. for Sesame Street, which were Light & Heavy, Surprise, Up and Down, and Front and Back.[2] Pixar also produced numerous animation tests, commonly confused with theatrical shorts, including Beach Chair and Flags and Waves. They also produced several commercials after selling their software division to support themselves until Toy Story became successful. Pixar continues to produce commercials related to their films. Some of their other work includes:
Title | Year | Commissioned for |
---|---|---|
Blowin' in the Wind[44] | 1985 | |
Beach Chair[45] | 1986 | |
Flags and Waves[45] | ||
Volume Visualization with the Pixar Image Computer[46] | 1987 | |
Dance of the Waterlilies | 1989 | Toppan Printing |
Wake Up[47] | Tropicana | |
Babies | 1990 | Life Savers |
Galaxy | Toppan Printing | |
Dancing Cards | California Lottery | |
Quite a Package[47] | Trident | |
La Nouvelle Polo | Volkswagen | |
Pump | Pillsbury | |
Light & Heavy and Surprise[2] | Sesame Street | |
Boxer[47] | Listerine | |
Cracks | 1991 | Fleischmann's |
Moving Target | Cellular One | |
Gummie Savers Conga-Clio-award winner | Life Savers | |
Life At The Beach | ||
Orange Kiwi Passion | Tropicana | |
Warehouse | ||
Three Fruits Dancing | ||
Grand Opening | Toys "R" Us | |
Lunchbox | Tetra Pak | |
Knight | Listerine | |
Introduction[48] | Apple Mac Classic | |
Interview | 1992 | Volkswagen Polo |
Swinging Bottle[47] | Listerine | |
Daydream | Tetra Pak | |
Balloon | Kellogg's All-Bran | |
Hourglass | ||
Logo | IBM | |
Chomp Chomp | IncrediBites[citation needed] | |
Ladybug | La Poste | |
In the Mood | Bunn Coffee Makers | |
Cello | 1993 | Kellogg's All-Bran |
Sprinkler | ||
Front and Back and Up and Down[2] | Sesame Street | |
Hungry | Bank South[citation needed] | |
Chase | ||
Stranded | Tetra Pak | |
Bursting | Carefree | |
Chuckling Straws | Fresca | |
Launching Magic | Jordan Magic Toothbrush[citation needed] | |
Ideas at Work | Dow Corning | |
Arrows-Clio-award winner | 1994 | Listerine |
Mission | ||
Kaleidoscope | Coca-Cola | |
About to Uncover | Arm & Hammer | |
Here, There and Everywhere | ||
Woman Getting What She Wants | Levi's | |
We've Got Taste | Nutri Grain | |
Wacky Frootz-Clio-award winner[47] | Life Savers | |
Fresh Salad | Boston Chicken | |
Shaping Up Nicely | Prime Option Credit Card[citation needed] | |
Strong Option | ||
Logo | Paramount Pictures | |
Disney Videos | Buena Vista Home Video | |
Balloon | 1995 | Chips Ahoy |
Circus | ||
Flamingo | Ortho | |
Pinheads | Dockers | |
Amazin' Straws | Hershey's | |
Learning Lesson | Coca-Cola | |
Secret Weapon | ||
Pin Box | ||
Toy Story video game commercial | Disney Interactive | |
Art Store Break | McDonald's | |
Christmas Conga | Tower Records | |
Magic Desktop | 1996 | Sun Microsystems |
Magnets-Clio-award winner | Hallmark | |
Check Me Out | Twizzlers | |
Let Me In | ||
68th Academy Awards (Toy Story segment) | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | |
The Tastetations | Hershey's | |
Toy Story CD-Rom – "Out of the Box" | Disney Interactive | |
Wild Frijoles | Rosarita[citation needed] | |
Shake It | Levi's Jeans for Women | |
Tex | THX | |
Toy Story Treats | ABC | |
Look Away | 1997 | Nickelodeon & UNICEF |
Moo Can | THX | |
Logo | 1998 | Buena Vista Home Video/Entertainment |
A Bug's Life – "Belt Loop 1" | McDonald's | |
A Bug's Life – "Belt Loop 2" | ||
A Bug's Life – "Big Toys" | ||
A Bug's Life – "Nothing Good on TV" | ||
A Bug's Life – "Nothing Good on TV Jr." | ||
A Bug's Life – "Watches" | McDonald's Mexico | |
71st Academy Awards (A Bug's Life segment) | 1999 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |
Toy Story 2 – "Up Periscope" | 2000 | McDonald's |
Toy Story 2 – "Remote" | ||
Toy Story 2 – "Toys vs. Candy" | ||
Toy Story 2 – "Surveillance" | ||
Toy Story 2 Bumpers[48] | ABC | |
72nd Academy Awards (Toy Story 2 segment) | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | |
Jessie's Acceptance Speech | Cowgirl Hall of Fame | |
SIGGRAPH 2001 Opening Video (Buzz Lightyear sequence) | 2001 | SIGGRAPH |
Logo | Walt Disney Home Entertainment | |
Disney DVD Intro | ||
Monsters, Inc. - "Happy Meal Toy" | McDonald's | |
Finding Nemo - "Laugh" | 2003 | |
The Incredibles - "Happy Meal Toys" | 2004 | |
Vowellett – An Essay by Sarah Vowell | 2005 | |
Disney DVD New Intro | Walt Disney Home Entertainment | |
Tex Action | 2006 | THX |
Cars - "Happy Meal Toys" | McDonald's | |
Monster Moo Can | 2009 | THX |
Toy Story's Search Story[49] | 2010 | |
Cars 2 | 2011 | State Farm |
Monsters University - "Mess" | 2013 | Swiffer |
88th Academy Awards (Woody and Buzz segment) | 2016 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |
Cars 3 | 2017 | Alamo Rent a Car |
Cars 3 - "Broken Part" | Allianz | |
Cars 3 - "Every Car Has a Personality" | Autotrader.com | |
Cars 3 - "Sun Protection" | Coppertone | |
Cars 3 | Duracell | |
Cars 3 | Oscaro | |
Incredibles 2 - "Happy Meal" | 2018 | McDonald's |
Toy Story 4 - "Happy Meal" | 2019 | |
Toy Story 4 - "Dance Party" | Chrysler Pacifica | |
Toy Story 4 - "Snack Attack" | Babybel | |
Toy Story 4 | Seiban | |
Toy Story 4 2 | ||
Toy Story 4 - "Make Joy Happen" | JD.com | |
Toy Story 4 AR | Regal Cinemas | |
Pixar: 30 Years of Art & Animation | Vivid Sydney | |
Onward - "Happy Meal" | 2020 | McDonald's |
Onward | Whirlpool Corporation | |
Soul - "Happy Meal" | McDonald's | |
Luca - "Happy Meal" | 2021 | |
Lightyear - "Happy Meal" | 2022 |
Furthermore, in 1988, Apple's Advanced Technology Group produced "Pencil Test," a computer-animated short to showcase the Apple Macintosh II line.[50][51] Although Pixar was not officially affiliated with this film, several members of the Pixar staff advised and worked on it, including directors John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and producer Galyn Susman.[citation needed] John Lasseter was credited as "Coach" in the credits of the film.[52] The Pixar Co-op Program, a part of the Pixar University professional development program, allows their animators to use Pixar resources to produce independent films.[53][54] The first CGI project accepted to the program was Borrowed Time (2016), directed by Pixar animators Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj; all previously accepted films were live-action.[55]