PIXAR SHORT FILMS COLLECTION
(not rated)
MOVIE: ***** (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5)
Studio: Disney
BY KEVIN CARR
With how affordable DVDs are to rent, there are very few that I would ever recommend as a must-buy. But considering the wealth of entertainment and historical value there is in the “Pixar Short Films Collection,” this DVD fits that description.
While I have loved the Pixar theatrical releases immensely, one of the extra bonuses of seeing them is the short films they always tag on the beginning. From the early days of “Toy Story” and “A Bug’s Life,” I have loved watching these leaders almost as much as I have enjoyed the films. And later DVD releases of the films often include another short film that is equally as fun to watch.
Now, the entire Pixar short film collection (to date, at least) is available on a single disc. Coinciding with the release of “Ratatouille,” the “Pixar Short Films Collection” contains a chronological retrospective of the development of the short films.
But this isn’t just a compilation of short films. It contains documentary interstitial and explanations of how the technology was developed and how it (and the company itself) grew. From the early days of “Tin Toy” with the freakishly monstrous baby to the modern day brilliance of movies like “Lifted” and “One Man Band,” it’s a joy to watch, and it’s also offered in digestible chunks for a younger audience.
Short films included in this collection are “The Adventure of Andre & Wally B,” the logo-inspiring “Luxo Jr.,” “Red’s Dream,” “Tin Toy,” “Knick Knack,” “Geri’s Game,” “For the Birds,” “Mike’s New Car,” “Boundin’,” “Jack-Jack Attack,” “One Man Band,” “Mater and the Ghostlight” and “Lifted.”
Hopefully, Pixar will be around for many years to come and continue to provide some of the best animated entertainment ever seen. It’s going to be too long to wait for the “Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume II,” but I guess we’ll just have to be patient.