pixar – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

CARS ON THE ROAD – Review by Martha K Baker

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 Martha K. Baker animated series, animation, Bobby Podesta, Brian Fee, cars on the road, disney, Larry the Cable Guy, owen wilson, pixar, Steve Purcell

Moving on from their star turns in Cars, that most delightful film, the animated vehicular actors, ‘Mater and Lightning McQueen, head to a wedding. It takes nine episodes for the cars to arrive finally at ‘Mater’s home for his sister’s nuptials because they have to drive from Radiator Springs to the East Coast, down south. The series runs eight minutes an episode. Although the series isn’t nearly so charming as the original film and nowhere near as much fun as the ride at Disneyland, it moves pretty darn slap-happily on the highway of ha-ha’s.

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT May, 2022: Domee Shi, Animator, Director, Pixar VP of Creative

April 30, 2022May 1, 2022 Karen Peterson animation, bao, disney, domee shi, pixar, spotlight, Turning Red

It has been an incredible decade for animator and director Domee Shi. Beginning as a story intern at Pixar in 2011, she was promoted in April of this year to Vice President of Creative for the company where she has spent her entire professional career. She also won an Academy Award and directed a feature film along the way.

Reviews

TURNING RED – Review by Lauren Anderson

March 22, 2022March 28, 2022 Lauren Anderson (Archived Contributor) animation, domee shi, pixar, Rosalie Chiang, sandra oh, Turning Red

Turning Red is Disney/Pixar’s latest film about a Toronto teenager who discovers her uncontrollable ability to turn into a red panda whenever she experiences strong emotion. At its core, the animated feature is a metaphor for puberty. But as Disney/Pixar films are wont to do, it reminds us it’s good to embrace who we are instead of dampening our “red pandas.”

Reviews

TURNING RED – Review by Leslie Combemale

March 12, 2022March 13, 2022 Leslie Combemale animation, domee shi, pixar, Rosalie Chiang, sandra oh, Turning Red

Pixar’s new animated feature Turning Red is an absolute delight from start to finish. The studio’s 25th feature is a celebration of so many things, including female friendship, self esteem, personal growth, the millennial experience, motherhood, and Chinese culture, all while bringing both mom and dorky teenaged-girl realness. Helmed and co-written by Chinese-Canadian Domee Shi, Turning Red also the first Pixar film officially solo directed by a woman. When Shi took her idea for the movie to Pixar, her pitch was “it’s a girl going through magical puberty and turns into a giant red panda”. It might not sound particularly complex or nuanced, but Shi and her team have brought a tremendous amount of meaning and depth to what is a funny, wild cinematic ride. It also allows girls and women, especially those of Asian descent, to be fully seen onscreen.

Reviews

SOUL – Review by Pamela Powell

December 26, 2020January 16, 2021 Pamela Powell Angela Bassett, jamie foxx, kemp powers, pete doctor, phylicia rashad, pixar, soul

Disney Pixar has done it again with “Soul” thanks to the inspirational co-writing and co-directing of the renowned artist Pete Docter who gave us Up, Inside Out and Toy Story. It’s a remarkable story, perhaps geared more toward adults than children, that sends a perfect message of living our best lives each and every day.

Reviews

SOUL – Review by Martha K Baker

December 23, 2020December 26, 2020 Martha K. Baker Angela Bassett, jamie foxx, kemp powers, pete doctor, phylicia rashad, pixar, soul

One will have to deal with whether Pixar’s animated Soul, is at all appropriate for — or even appealing to — children. But children delight in only what they want in animation, leaving the rest for adults. Soul has a lesson, one children can afford to learn, about our purpose in life, about our spark, about our music. While the film’s concentration on Black artists, on female brass players, and on avoiding Black stereotypes is commendable, its falling into the Great Beyond is questionable.

Reviews

ONWARD – Review by Brandy McDonnell

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 Brandy McDonnell 0 Comments Chris Pratt, dan scanlon, disney, fantasy, onward, pixar, Tom Holland

“Onward” represents a huge leap for director/co-writer Dan Scanlon over his previous Pixar feature, the passable “Monsters University,” because it feels personal – and it is. He based the core story on his own experiences growing up without his father, who died when the filmmaker just was a baby, and those emotions resonate throughout the film.

Reviews

ONWARD – Review by Susan Granger

March 3, 2020March 7, 2020 Susan Granger 0 Comments animation, dan scanlon, disney, julia louis dreyfus, octavia spencer, onward, pixar

Seeking to revive enchantment, this new, animated Disney fantasy is set in suburban New Mushroomton, populated by mythical creatures: scavenging unicorns, punky motorcycle-riding pixies and pointy-eared elves – like angst-riddled Ian Lightfoot, who yearns for a connection with his father who died of cancer before he was born.

Reviews

TOY STORY 4 – Review by Brandy McDonnell

July 3, 2019July 3, 2019 Brandy McDonnell 0 Comments disney, pixar, sequels, Toy Story

The brilliant minds at Disney/Pixar have pulled off the seemingly impossible with the “Toy Story” series, creating a franchise that, four films and 24 years in, hasn’t produced a single dud. No playing.

Reviews

TOY STORY 4 – Review by Susan Granger

June 18, 2019June 23, 2019 Susan Granger 0 Comments animation, joan cusack, kristen schaal, pixar, tim allen, tom hanks, toy story 4

It’s been almost 25 years since the first Toy Story, and Pixar keeps coming up with lovable characters inhabiting relatable stories, culminating in a bittersweet conclusion. Now that Andy’s off to college, little Bonnie (Madeline McGraw) has inherited his beloved toys: Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), et al.

← Previous