Easter Eggs from Pixar Films
Have you ever told someone, “You’ve got a friend in me”? Are you convinced your childhood toys went on adventures without you? We’re all huge fans of Pixar’s universe. They’ve produced movies that not only touch our hearts but also helped define an entire generation of movie lovers. Each story they produce has a unique feel and fresh look. Despite their differences, they also crossover in a bunch of unique ways. That’s part of the magic that makes these movies so unforgettable. Superfans know some easter eggs are bound to appear.
Did you spot any of these? Some of them may seem obvious. Some others made us take a second and third look! It’s not Easter, but take a crack at these Pixar Easter eggs!
Monsters Inc. Is An Ancient Company
Brave was a pretty incredible film. It featured a beautiful story about paternal bonds and bravery. That’s probably where they got the name. We were also treated to some of the most beautiful hair ever rendered in modern movie history. Yeah, Merida has some great locks. But we’re not talking about her. If you like intricately carved furniture do we have a trivia tidbit for you.
Take a look at the different carvings that show up throughout the movie. One of them looks like a familiar Monsters Inc. employee! You’re absolutely right, it’s Sully. His hair is GORGEOUS. He also seems to still be hard at work. Maybe it’s an Employee of the Month plaque or something.
Name-Brand Fun Only Please
Finding Nemo reminded all of us to protect our oceans, never run from our problems, and always go to the dentist. Two of those are no-brainers, the dentist thing you need to be a bit braver about. They don’t mean any harm. They also have really fun toys in their waiting room sometimes. While Nemo and his friends were having their adventure it looks like Buzz Lightyear was on one as well.
One of Andy’s teddy bears apparently wanted to tag along. What were they doing in Australia? Does this take place before Andy goes to college? Our whole timeline is getting thrown off here. Do toys have tiny passports for when they travel?
Did Andy Have A Bug Collection?
Who didn’t want to be Andy from Toy Story? He had the coolest stuff. All his toys were full of fun and life. The video games looked like a blast. Even his calendar was cool! We all loved A Bug’s Life. Andy loved it enough to get an official calendar featuring the characters. This kid had it all. No wonder everyone wanted to be his friend.
We get it. Woody had every reason to stay in that room. If A Bug’s Life was just a movie to Andy, what other Pixar films did he watch? Does that mean some of them are more real than others? Leave it to Toy Story to give us an existential crisis.
It’s Everyone’s Favorite Toy Ball!
Luca is one of the most creative movies we’ve gotten in a while. It’s visually stunning, features a cute Italian village, and has bright colors. It’s pretty much everything we wanted in a Pixar film. When the kiddos are racing around on the bikes (helmets first) we get a great view of the town. Each building and citizen has so many details it can be hard to take things in.
But, if you have a quick eye, maybe you’ll see a familiar toy on a roof! Raise your fins if you saw the ball from Andy’s room in Toy Story? This must be a big seller over there because this toy is everywhere.
The Fridge In Toy Story Is Buggy
Okay, hold up, hear us out. Ants at a picnic aren’t fun. We’re fine if they bring friends though. Putting on a show for us would be nice, too. Remember the bugs from Bug’s Life? They knew how to entertain an audience. The magical Chinese takeout carton trick was a show-stopper. It also shows us that it’s always nice to recycle.
This takeaway container is reusable. If taken care of it can last years! How do we know that? The exact same container shows up much later in Toy Story 4. We’ve got two options here: either this is a family heirloom or this restaurant has been in business for decades.
Sid Is In A Better Place
One of our earliest nightmares is Sid from Toy Story. The early computer graphics made this villain into some sort of demon. He also tortured toys and did all sorts of other unspeakable things. It was hard to find any redeeming qualities about such a troubled kid. Later on in Toy Story 3, he reappeared all grown-up. Sid got himself together and was jamming while working as a sanitation employee. Even later, somehow, he shows up in Coco.
This time he was a bit thinner and not as lively. After he crossed the bridge we’re treated to an after-life musician. His cool comb-over and instruments show us range from one character. We also get a little confused about how these movies are connected in a timeline.
Was Nemo Ever Really Lost?
Inside Out is a modern masterpiece that got us in touch with our feelings. There’s a strange comfort in knowing that Lewis Black is also the angry voice in everyone else’s head. Riley was a great symbol for so many kids going through some important life changes. She also had excellent taste in toys. Take a gander at her room the next time you feel like crying over Bing Bong (spoiler).
It looks like a very specific clownfish has his own board game. Whatever that Finding Nemo toy is proves this film was a hit in Riley’s town. We’d also love to know where she got that game. That’s a marketing opportunity if we ever saw one.
The World Didn’t End After All
Pretend Pixar is the Milky Way Galaxy. The Toy Story movies are the supermassive black hole in the center. They’re iconic treasures from everyone’s childhood (not an opinion, just a fact). They also have a ton of Easter eggs in their orbit. It’s pretty much four long Pixar movie advertisements. Take the latest installment of the heartbreaking series Toy Story.
Ducky and Bunny are gearing up for the Plush Rush. They’re prepared to wreak chaos wherever they go (which they do best). Inside the antique store, they walk past a set of oddly recognizable glasses. Did you catch the world’s cutest robots? EVE and WALL-E are printed on the cups!
Look Who Made It Big
Does anyone have the time to sit around and read a magazine? Okay, a magazine is a glossy collection of pages stapled and glued together. Before smartphones, they were a fantastic way to pass the time. Our fingers didn’t hurt as much from scrolling all the time. Riley’s Parents from Inside Out still subscribe to a couple of periodicals.
In their living room, a certain French chef is featured on the cover of a cooking magazine. Colette Tatou from Ratatouille is the cover star of Haute Dish! We all knew she was going places. Her talents were definitely underappreciated in her film. She deserves a proper spin-off.
He’s Basically A Cultural Icon
Piecing together the timeline of Pixar movies can be tricky. We know some come out before others, but sometimes movies have their own merch appear in random places. Four years after Cars premiered, Toy Story 3 made its debut. When the toddlers stampede into the daycare one kid turned out to be a racing fan. Before they grab a toy we can see Lightning McQueen’s race numbers on their shirt!
Does this mean Cars is a hit over there, too? Pixar’s branding is always on-point, but this is getting ridiculous. Does this mean they’re selling their products to their characters? That’s a pretty great way to keep your brand alive from a business point of view.
Up Had Lots Of Love
If you had asked us if a strawberry-scented teddy bear could be a villain we’d laugh. Nothing that full of love and berries could ever be mean. When Toy Story 3 was released we were proven very wrong. Lotso the bear turned out to be a tragic villain that made us hug our own bears tighter. It wasn’t his first appearance on the big screen.
When Up was released in 2009 the Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear can be seen in a highrise apartment! The scene when Carl’s house floats by is the moment. Check the left corner of the screen. See him chilling there living the high life? That’s a pretty great view for a kid’s room! We hope he got lots of hugs before his film came out.
Jessie Found A New Frontier
The toys in Toy Story are hearty explorers. They’ve traveled across the country taking on missions we wouldn’t even have braved to do. Needless to say, they’re not afraid of a wild time. For a while, Jessie wasn’t part of Andy’s crew. She also wasn’t being held by the collector. At least for a time she was Boo’s favorite toy. In Monsters Inc. Jessie can be seen in the middle of the kid’s room!
She’s not hiding in the corner either. Even Boo is a fan of one of Andy’s favorite toys. Maybe that means a monster was assigned to Andy once! Now that’s a crossover we’d love to see. Imagine the toys in Monster City!
Doc Hudson Had A Super Cameo
The Incredibles showed us that anyone can be a hero (or a villain). You don’t need powers to achieve that. It really doesn’t hurt if you have them. Just be sure to pay your taxes and don’t cause any obscene amount of damage. We also learned that a family that sticks together will always be super. It’s kind of a feel-good flick meets Marvel movie.
There is also a huge amount of detail in the background. During a climactic family battle, a Cars 2 star makes a cameo! Paul Newman’s own Doc Hudson can be seen parked nearby. He’s probably just catching a bit of shut-eye before his own adventure takes off later.
Ratatouille Was An Explosive Hit
You don’t need explosions or huge action scenes to make a movie good. Ratatouille shows that a quaint film about rodents and cooking is enough to entertain us all. To recreate Paris you need to fill it with people. not all of them are Hallmark-loving movie buffs. Some of the background characters prefer to make a bigger bang. When Colette and Linguini are traveling through the streets they pass by a certain mime.
This humble street performer is a bigger deal than he lets on. He made a massive boom in the States at one time. Back when the Incredibles were the top heroes around, Bomb Voyage was one of their most bombastic foes! Is he just hiding out nowadays?
Dug Grew Up In France?
Villains aren’t the only background characters to appear in Disney and Pixar’s version of France. Some of the company’s most beloved characters love to vacay in the city of love. When Remy is scurrying around in Ratatouille he ends up in someone’s hallway. From the corner of his eye, he spots someone! The shadow appears to be none other than the family pet.
Their shadow looks like someone we know. That pet just so happens to be the future star of Up, Dug! The bestest boy in the world spent some time in Europe before ending up on his own island. That’s a well-traveled pooch. Someone should get him to do a biography or something.
Giulia Is A Huge Disney Fan
Luca’s own Portorosso is a charming village with a deep history. Its culture and stories make it seem like such a fun place to live. That doesn’t mean the residents are totally cut off from the rest of the world. Even Disney has made an influence on the people there! When the merboys are hanging out with Giuliana we get to see some of her favorite things.
Donald Duck and Pinocchio make a special appearance! Fun fact, all Disney characters have fans, but Donald is super duper popular in Europe! If they have Donald Duck and mopeds in Porto Rosso maybe we have special merpeople in our own town. That sounds like a fair trade.
Remy Became A Master Chef
Onward is one of Pixar’s latest smash hits. A story of brotherly love and adventure was a great escape during 2020. It’s pretty much about magical creatures in a non-magical world finding magic because magic is awesome. Magic. Technology pretty much took over, as did Disney. When they’re all in the restaurant, a chef we know and love makes an appearance.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss seeing Remy the rat back in the kitchen! That’s probably why all of the food looked incredibly edible. It’s always nice seeing some fan favorites appear in different movies. Does that mean Linguini is managing the eatery back home on his own?
It’s An Easy To Remember Address
We all know that A113 usually appears in every single Pixar movie. It’s a throwback to room A113 at the California Institute of the Arts. It was in that very room some of the company’s best animators learned the tools of the trade. It’s become one of the most well-known inside jokes around. Another one usually pops up too but not many can pick it out.
Do the numbers 1200 mean anything to y’all? It does to Pixar employees! 1200 Park Avenue is the location of Pixar Animation Studios. In the Monsters University world, there’s a little change to the address to be more monsterly. It’s a nice way to advertise your company’s location!
This Was Such A Reveal!
Some of the best Pixar moments are from the shorts that happen before the movie. These mini-stories hold a special place in our hearts. While they seem like a standalone kind of experience it looks like these characters can get involved in the main picture. In Toy Story 2 Woody undergoes a bit of a spa day. Unfortunately, it’s thanks to his kidnapper that it even happens.
When the toy beautician arrives it’s none other than Geri! You know Geri, right? He’s the chess player from the famous short that premiered before A Bug’s Life in 1998. At under five minutes, it’s a pretty short tale. That didn’t stop it from winning an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film!
Frank’s Officially The Eldest Character
Finding Dory had a lot of breakout stars. None of them shone as brightly as Hank. The octopus has a biting wit and the ability to blend in with his surroundings. Despite his love of aquariums, he wasn’t always the indoor type. If you keep your eye peels in The Good Dinosaur you might see him make an appearance. When our lead tumbles into a pond a pair of eyes pop out of nowhere.
As it turns out, it’s none other than Hank! What’s he doing so far in the past? Maybe he’s immortal? This guy has some serious skill to survive as long as he has. Maybe the aquarium is the safer choice so he can get some rest.
Rex Has Come Full Circle
Wall-E provides a pretty bleakish future for the human race. Due to all the pollution we’re doing now, we end up destroying the planet for our favorite robot later on. After the apocalypse, we bounce away and leave the robots to try to fix our mess. Some things get thrown away. Okay, a ton of things get thrown away. Wall-E still keeps a few mementos that mean something to them.
One of the treasures kept in the bunker is Rex from Toy Story! It’s almost ironic he’s the one that makes it. Perhaps after the apocalypse, the dinos will rise again? Good for you for sticking it out until the end Rex! Where are the other toys?
Good Schools Have Good Toys
The Good Dinosaur was ahead of its time. It’s a heartwarming tale that doesn’t get enough spotlight. Despite coming out in 2015, it had been in the works for a while. 2013’s Monsters University showed us what it takes to be the best monster you can be. That means you have to do your homework. You also should put away your toys.
During some tests, a dinosaur toy is left in one of the rooms. Sure, it may be green like Rex but it’s someone else. We’re getting a sneak peek at the start of The Good Dinosaur, Arlo! During his search for his family, he must have spent some time studying. You can’t get a better quality scary education than at Monsters U.
The Brand Is Still Going Strong
Up is a film that transcends time. The way the movie translated the process of grief is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. It also gives subtle nods to other classic films that really made a mark on our childhoods. Ellie gives Carl a Grape Soda badge when they first meet. This pin would be one of his most cherished memories. It also sets the stage for another character to be obsessed with getting his own badge.
The Grape Soda badge is a bottle cap from a local soda company. That same company supplied pop to other kids in the Pixar world. Kids like Andy from Toy Story probably enjoyed a bottle or two while they played outside. Pixar sure does have a sweet spot for their classics.
Is French Motor Oil A Cuisine?
The food in ratatouille looks delicious. Ooh, remember when the bread is being crunched? Our mouths are watering just thinking about it. Before we go for a snack we have to talk about how Cars 2 and Ratatouille have excellent taste in food. Gusteau’s in Paris, France is the epitome of good eating. Everyone who is anyone wants to eat or work there. Needless to say, it’s pretty popular.
This bastion of fine dining eventually makes it into the world of Cars. Those lucky vehicles with the right connections can pull up to Gastow’s! What type of French fancy food do cars eat? Maybe they enjoy a steering wheel of cheese with a fresh wiper fluid spritzer.
A Superhero Family Comic Sounds Cool
Pixar loves to make it known that they put Easter eggs in their movies. Some of them are for the fans. Others are hints about future movies that are about to be released. In Finding Nemo the dentist’s office is horrifying. Everyone go to the dentist, but don’t tap on the glass-like whatshername. Just take a deep breath, grab a book, and chill like this kid.
Relaxing and keeping your cool is the best thing to do when you’re waiting to get a filling after Halloween. This kiddo also has excellent taste. He’s reading a comic about Mr. Incredible. If that name sounds familiar you may be thinking of a certain superhero family. The Incredibles wasn’t released yet but that didn’t stop Pixar from dropping us a hint.
A Bug’s Life Was Circus-tastic
Rewind to 1998. A Bug’s Life was the neatest thing we ever saw at the movies. A 3-D animated bug, or hundreds of them, carrying on in a huge adventure? The colors were wild and the story was great. We all knew movies were changing forever. Pixar knew they had lightning in a bottle. They wanted to make sure nobody forgot where great movies came from.
The traveling bug circus that appears in A Bug’s Life travels around in an animal cracker box. The circus design on it doesn’t look like one we’re used to. If you’re a big Disney buff you may have already made the connection. The Casey Jr. Cookies are the same Casey Jr. from Disney’s Dumbo!
Please Tip Your Delivery Drivers
Pizza Planet has the best pizza in the entire universe. The delivery is fast, their arcade is fun, and the claw game is the best thing ever. The company is so popular it even shows up in other dimensions. They’d be nothing without their trusty yellow delivery trucks. Those things deserve a vacation for all the hard work they put in.
In Cars 2 it looks like that’s what’s going on. Blink and you’ll miss it, but the Pizza Planet truck makes a surprise appearance. They’ve been delivering pizzas for a couple of decades now. Hopefully, they’re taking a nice trip and getting their oil changed. We don’t really know what cars do on vacation.
A Bug’s Life Had Culture
Disney and Pixar have built some impressive empires. Disney especially has grown from much more than just movies. Theme parks, television, even broadway hits have all been created by the House of Mouse. A Bug’s Life even had to give credit to Disney’s mighty influence. Flik, the film’s main ant, treks all the way to New Bug City. When he arrives he’s greeted by the Times Square of the trailer park.
Just like the massive space it’s based on, you can catch an advertisement for some big Broadway hits. Even The Lion King is being advertised under the floorboards of this lone trailer. You gotta hand it to Disney, they know how to put on a show anywhere.
Dory Is Officially A Superhero
Finding Dory was a highly anticipated adventure that we loved before it even premiered. The breakout star from Finding Nemo just radiated a kooky energy we all loved. She was destined to get her own movie. There were just too many questions left unanswered from her time as a costar. When she was on her way back home she hitched a ride in a truck.
After slipping inside, a piece of the car had revealed an interesting emblem. This is a double-whammy of an Easter egg. Some say it’s the famous Pixar ball. Others say it’s a tribute to Captain America! Could this be his shield? That means Dory was close to the Avengers. They should make that movie that should happen next!
Wall-E And Luxo Are Besties
One of the cutest moments Pixar has produced doesn’t involve a single one of their movies. It’s a little scene that happens before most of them even start. When that office lamp hops around and crushes the letter “I” we can’t help but giggle. It’s like a kid jumps around and pops a balloon then has no idea what happened.
That little lamp is one of the first Pixar characters we were introduced to. It also survives longer than most of the others ever will. Luxo the lamp ends up surviving the end of the world. They then go on to become part of Wall-E’s lovely dedication to Eve!