36. Making The Unsympathetic Sympathetic
I've already mentioned the studio's ability to create compelling villains, but even more importantly than that, Pixar more impressively mangle our established sense of morality. And this coming from a Disney company! Not every villain is entirely bad - though there are those, like Hopper and Sid, who definitely are - with sympathetic back-stories designed to confuse our opinions of characters like Lotso, Stinky Pete, and Syndrome, and drawing out the Iago question in each case: are they more sinned against than sinning. For a company so closely linked to Disney- a company defined by its traditionally monochromatic attitude towards good and evil, such a move is incredibly brave.
37. This Story And Interaction With Fans In General
Story
HERE With a company like Pixar, based on an extremely close-knit community and deeply invested in its own brand, the opportunity to close ranks and be an incredibly introverted creature (think of the way sister company Apple shuts itself water-tight to outside prying) must have been hard to resist. But Pixar as a company extend welcoming arms to fans, offering behind-the-scenes featurettes regularly, and treasure trails to hidden footage on youtube, and a general amiability on Twitter. Lee Unkrich for instance recently treated fans to this embarrassing sight in reward for their dedication: http://youtu.be/x4cLbmUHHrI
38. Brand Strength: The Steve Jobs Effect
Linked to the last point, and like the greatest film-making studios of all time, Pixar isn't just a a maker of fine films, it's also a monumental brand, with everything associated with that suggestion. Branding goes well beyond the product, it is an ideology that audiences buy into - it is the idea of the magical workplace, of the cool/nerdy talent and the intangible essence behind the tangible factors. And Pixar do that remarkably well thanks to the king of branding, Mr
Steve Jobs, who can boast the credentials of having established two of the most recognisable brands in modern American history, in two of the most competitive market places.
39. The Best Tie-In Game Ever?
As a rule, film tie-in video games are usually a crime against gaming. Not so with the PS1 released
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue, which to date is probably the only exception to the rule (though Toy Story 3 was pretty good as long as you weren't looking for much of a challenge). Marketed consciously at a broader demographic of gamer, the game's success lay in its relative complexity, and the entertaining puzzles and collectibles that were part of the player's journey through to 100% completion. In many ways, you can draw a straight line between this game's style and the Lego tie-in franchise that has exploded in recent years.
40. The characters: Boo
The adorable face of Monsters Inc, Boo was built on the recorded sounds of a two-year old who co-director Pete Docter chased around the studio with a microphone in order to capture authentic sounds. The result, coupled with a million dollar cuteness, is of one of the most loved characters in the Pixar gallery. Pub quiz ammo: her real name is Mary Gibbs, just like the girl who lent her voice.