Pixar is famous for their fun and beautiful pre-movie shorts. Each short tells its own story with little to no dialogue. It’s a creative way to convey a message that has more emotional impact because you can interpret them your own way. They can be enjoyed no matter what language you speak. And if you’re not into mushy subliminal messages, there are also shorts that are just there to make you laugh. So here I give you: my top 10 Pixar animated shorts.
10. For The Birds
“For The Birds” is on this list purely for nostalgia. It was one of the first Pixar shorts that I ever saw and still makes me laugh to this day.
9. Partly Cloudy
This short is a lovely story about support and teamwork. It’s a hilarious animation that revolves around a creative premise. I appreciate the stork’s perseverance and willingness to try hard to make his cloud friend happy.
8. Day & Night
“Day & Night” is a short that hits the sweet spot in my love for animation. It’s such a clever animation that makes me think, “How did they come up with that?” The positive aspects of both Day and Night are appreciated and show that beauty comes in many forms.
7. Luxo Jr.
“Luxo Jr.” is another animation that holds a special place in my heart for nostalgic reasons. Not only this, but “Luxo Jr.” was a major milestone for Pixar animation. It was one of the first shorts to appear before a movie and Luxo is so iconic for Pixar that he shows up before every Pixar movie in the company’s logo.
6. Piper
Do I even need to say it? “Piper” is spectacularly animated. From the bubbles in the sea foam to the individual grains of sand, there is amazing attention to detail. And who can resist that adorable little baby sand piper? It’s a cute and beautiful animation that leaves you with a smile every time.
5. Geri’s Game
“Geri’s Game” is the final nostalgia-based selection on this list. I was having a lot of trouble deciding where to place this short. After thinking it over and talking with some friends, I realized that Geri’s Game usually falls somewhere on people’s favorites list. It’s funny, innovative, and leaves you with questions. It’s probably one of the more iconic Pixar shorts. Not to mention, we get to see our good pal Geri when he makes his appearance in Toy Story 2.
4. Lou
“Lou” almost made it into the top three on this list. This short is the classic “what if _____ had feelings?” story line. It’s another story that just leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. “Lou” shows that you might not always know what someone is going through and that a little kindness can go a long way.
3. La Luna
Okay, so I have a bit of a bias when it comes to “La Luna.” I have a thing about stars. I don’t know what it is but I love stars and the moon and basically everything about the night sky. But, besides my affinity for stars, this is a beautiful animation with a great message: find your own way. I love the moment when the little boy turns his cap around and you can see his entire attitude change. It just goes to show that everything is better when you’re just doing you.
2. Lava
“Lava” is a short that I didn’t come to appreciate until after I learned the story behind it. (I’ll let J from the YouTube channel “SuperCarlinBrothers” explain if you’re interested.) The song is catchy and also features a pun, which I appreciate. It’s just a really cute and creative animation.
Honorable mention: “Paperman” (Which would have been number one but, while it is a Disney short, it’s not a Pixar short.)
1. The Blue Umbrella
“The Blue Umbrella” touches my heart in so many ways. It’s hard to explain exactly what makes this short so amazing, but it just is. The way the two umbrellas look at each other will make you believe in love at first sight. The music is absolutely beautiful, the animation is stunning, and the way the entire city seems to work together all for the sake of bringing two people together is simply heartwarming.
