5. Knick Knack
Plays Before: Finding Nemo
Cuteness Level: Wall-E pining for Eve Knick Knack is another short that was made in the 1980s that was theatrically released much later. Made in 1989 by boss man John Lasseter, Knick Knack is a comedy about a snow man stuck in a snow globe despite his many attempts to get out in order to hang out with a beautiful toy lady. Pre-dating Toy Story, Knick Knack and the earlier Tin Toy led the way for Woody and Buzz. The snow man's escape plans are reminiscent of Wiley Coyote, he tries a pick, a jackhammer, and even TNT all to no avail. Eventually he makes his way out of the snow globe only to be trapped in it again in a fish tank. The animation is obviously less detailed than what you would get from a Pixar short today, but the three year difference between Luxo Jr. and Knick Knack shows the progress Pixar was making. While it isn't as photo-realistic, the perspective changes multiple times and there is much more visual information that is pored over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctMYgRzQxPc Knick Knack finds joy in stifling the snow man at every turn, and the impressive little movie showed what Pixar had in store for the future.