The Art of Pixar Short Films

by Amid Amidi, John Lasseter (Foreword)

Audiences cheer at the inventive short films that precede every Pixar Animation Studios feature-length film. Their contagious energy economical storytelling, and rambunctious humor set the stage perfectly for the ward-winning films that follow. They also harken back to a bygone era of showmanship, when serials and shorts summoned and focused movie watchers' attention for the big show to follow. In The Art of Pixar Short Films, respected animation journalist Amid Amidi examines the legacy of short filmmaking at the Emeryville, California, studio in interviews with the directors, producers, artists, and animators who created For the Birds, Lifted, and eleven other iconic shorts.


More than 250 full-color illustrations, pencil sketches, storyboards, photographs, and final rendered frames showcase the vision of a talented group of artist, as well as their storytelling prowess; these films often foego dialogue in favor of communicating with emotion (Luxo Jr.), music (Boundin' and One Man Band), and perfectly time pratfall humor (Knick Knack).


This beautifully desiged and studiously researched book is a strong addition to animation and film scholarship, an intimate tour inside the most admired animation studio at work today.

Genres: Art, Film, Nonfiction, Drawing

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2009

Reviews

[Laçin Aytaç · Rating 4 out of 5]

Çocukken severek izlediğim Pixar kısa filmlerine tekrar göz atmak harikaydı. Okurkenher birinin beklemediğim kadar detaylı bir şekilde aklımda kaldığını fark ettim. Luxo Jr’daki lambaların hareketini, topun sönüşünü ve arkadaki sesleri izlememin üzerinden yıllar geçmesine rağmen kafamda rahatça canlandırabiliyorum, Boundin’deki şarkının ritmini de öyle. For the Birds zaten en sevdiğim Pixar kısa filmiydi ve fark ettim ki oradaki büyük kuşu dışladıkları için duyduğum hüznü hala izlediğim ilk anki kadar yoğun bir halde içimde duruyor. Kişiliğimi kalıcı bir şekilde etkilemiş bile olabilir. Bu açıdan bakınca kitap gerçekten de çok keyifli bir okuma sundu bana. O zaman için inanılmaz sayılacal bir teknolojinin şu anda ne kadar yetersiz olduğunu görmek ise itiraf etmeliyim ki ürkütcüydü biraz. Bilgisayar animasyonu teknolojinin son 20-30 yıl içindeki ilerleme hızına en somut şekilde şahit olunabilecek alan sanırım. 1 yıldız eksik vereceğim çünkü hem sketch hem de yazı miktarı artsa çok daha doyurucu olabilirmiş.

[Mireille Duval · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text part of this was interesting - a lot of info on early Pixar, including stuff I didn't know. The "art" part, though, is mostly disappointing. I guess it's easily explained - there was just less art (or maybe less interesting art) made for these films. It's still a good book for fans of Pixar, though it's a little weird to have newer shorts included, as they're only there chronologically and not thematically.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

They tell you about the studio's development, then they tell you about the shorts, then they show you the artwork for the shorts. I would have preferred each blurb about the making of the short be just before the artwork for that particular short, but overall a good book about the subject. (I almost always want more pictures!)

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

588 - 2020

[Andoni Mv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se diga lo que se diga, no se puede negar el parteaguas que marcó Pixar en la industria de la animación en todos sus niveles.

[Molly Larson]

Bought this for my grandson becuase he was

[Jaimie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had very high expectations for this book, since I absolutely love Pixar's films, but this exploration of their short films was kind of underhwelming. The concept behind their foray into the tradition of short animated films (to accompany full-length features) is interesting in a historical sense, but the lackluster presentation of the subject didn't really capture my attention. The book as a whole could have used more concept art and stills from the films to really bring out the ideas discussed in the text, but for whatever reason they failed to capitalize on the image potential.

[Jaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book telling us about who made the little cartoons on it and that
The person that made it like 2007 someone got they first gold mental.
That is a great book oh and it have how they made the cartoons to and how it looked like to
But they do have cars 1, Monsters inc , toys
And mater tails.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great little collection of Pixar art. I've heard this is a bit redundant if you've read other Pixar collections, but from my perspective it's a nice little insight into a wonderful animation studio. The rough sketches on display are quite beautiful.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art was great, but the accompanying writing was pretty much all rehashed from other Pixar books.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the assortment of the concept designs and sketches for the films. I do wish there was more location and scenery art in it though.

[Violetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Lasseter comes across as a sort of snobby know-it-all, but otherwise the book is great.

I know, awesome review, right?

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ratio of concept art to text is out of whack. Don't get me wrong, it's informative text, but TL;DR, bro.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into how Pixar came about and how their shorts evolved through the years.