HEART and SOUL

Known for re-shaping the landscape of movies as we know it (not just animated ones), Pixar has respectfully raised the bar with delightful, heartfelt aplomb. From the intense opening segment of Up where no matter how lacking in emotion you think you are, tears will still come running, to the joyous Randy Newman-scored Toy Story moments, to the roaring, superhero family dynamics in The Incredibles, there’s an endless array of remarkable Pixar memories. Even in just these highlighted animated spectacles alone, Pixar has imprinted many sequences into our brains that we will never, ever forget. Everyone has a favourite Pixar character, scene, quote, song, and catchphrase that still evokes something nostalgically magical in them. So, what’s yours?

- Andrew Dex

There’s a long list of reasons as to why Pixar has become such a household name over the world since Toy Story dominated the box office way back in 1995 (yes, it’s that old), but for now, we’ll do our best to break it down to two big pointers. First, the animation itself is loaded with detail; including, for the more die-hard fans, Easter Eggs aplenty. If Toy Story played in cinemas today, it would still hold its own visually. Secondly, the storytelling is key. Sure, the majority of animated films tend to do very well at the box office, but even the adult cinema-goer will naturally pick Pixar films first, because they know that the story they’ll get will tend to be something that they can enjoy just as much as the younger members of the audience.

Every character that takes to the stage in a Pixar episode is there for a reason, and even though the narrative is contained within the most unreal of universes, it always resonates on a personal level. Pixar knows what it takes to strike a meaningful chord with its audience (of all ages). Yes, the studio has achieved endless awards, and broken numerous box office records, but for them, it seems that they want their movies to be a talking point for decades, dare we say, centuries to come, while ensuring that you, the viewer, are utterly engrossed in what they project.

INSIDE THE SOUL OF SOUL