John Lasseter

While Pixar Animation Studios was creating beloved feature-length films such as Monsters Inc. Ratatouille and WALLïE it was simultaneously testing animation and storytelling techniques in dozens of memorable short films. Andre and Wally B proved that computer animation was possible; Tin Toy laid the groundwork for what would become Toy Story; and Mike’s New Car exposed Pixar’s finely tuned funny bone. In The Art of Pixar Short Films animation expert and short film devotee Amid Amidi shines a spotlight on these and many more memorable vignettes from the Pixar archive. Essays and interviews illuminate more than 250 full-color pastels pencil sketches storyboards and final rendered frames that were the foundation of Pixar’s creative process.

The Art of Pixar Short Films

A two-time Academy Award-winning director and animator, John Lasseter is a founding member of and the creative force behind Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar is responsible for ushering in the age of computer-animation and revolutionizing the industry, having produced blockbuster features such as Cars, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Wall-E. Lasseter began his career in animation at Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he soon became fascinated by the potential for creating animation using computer-generated images. After a move to a division of Lucasfilm that would become Pixar, Lasseter wrote, directed, and produced many computer-animated short films and television commercials, including the first completely computer-animated short to win an Oscar, Tin Toy. He then began work on the first computer-animated feature film, the landmark Toy Story, which forever changed the animation industry. In John Lasseter, learn how this creative mind keeps bringing lasting characters and stories to the big screen through the wizardry of animation.

Chapters include:

Uncovering His Artistic Passion
Taking a Creative Leap
Championing Computer Animation
Living in a Pixar World.

John Lasseter: The Whiz Who Made Pixar King (Legends of Animation)

Lightning McQueen (voice by Owen Wilson), Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), Sally (Bonnie Hunt), and the rest of the gang from Radiator Springs return to the screen in this sequel to Pixar’s Cars (2006). But instead of evoking a nostalgic vision of Route 66 through the American Southwest, director John Lasseter and his artists spoof James Bond films in a fast-paced adventure that mixes espionage and road racing. After a successful season on the track, Lightning is looking forward to some rest at home, but Mater gets him involved in an elaborate three-part international race sponsored by Sir Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard) to promote his new synthetic auto fuel. While serving on Lightning’s pit crew, Mater inadvertently gets mixed up with two British secret agent cars, Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer), who are investigating a plot to sabotage the race. Myriad complications ensue before Lightning and Mater get back to the (relative) peace of Radiator Springs. The Pixar artists clearly had a lot of fun spoofing locations in Tokyo, London, Paris, and the Italian Riviera, and creating auto versions of sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, Queen Elizabeth II, and a doting Italian mother. The use of 3-D adds adrenaline to the racing sequences. Cars 2 lacks the emotional impact of Toy Story 2, Up, and most of the other Pixar features, but that will do little to lessen its appeal to its target audience, boys who love cars, driving games, and car toys. Cars 2 is screening with Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation, a new short with Woody, Buzz, Barbie, Ken, and the rest of the Toy Story gang. (Rated G: minor toilet humor and a few scary moments.) –Charles Solomon

Versions of Cars 2 on Blu-ray and DVD

Title	Cars 2 DVD	Cars 2 (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)

Cars 2 (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo in DVD Packaging)

Cars 2 (Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)
Cars Director’s Collection ( 11-Disc Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) Release Date
11/1/2011
11/1/2011
11/1/2011
11/1/2011
11/1/2011
Format/ Number of discs
One Disc: DVD
Two Discs: Blu-ray + DVD
Two Discs: Blu-ray + DVD
Five Discs: Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy
11 Disc Total
Cars includes: Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales includes: Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Cars 2 includes: Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + BD
Blu-ray 3D
No
No
No
Yes
Yes (On Cars 2 Only)
Blu-ray
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
DVD
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Digital Copy
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Bonus Features
(Bonus Material Not Rated)
Theatrical Short – Toy Story Toon:  Hawaiian Vacation
All-New, Exclusive Cars Toon: Air Mater
Director Commentary

*Not available in all territories.
Features subject to change

Same as DVD

*Not available in all territories.
Features subject to change
Same as DVD

*Not available in all territories. Features subject to change.
Same as DVD plus:
Nuts and Bolts: A Sneak Peek of Cars Land    
World Tour – Interactive Map
Deleted Scenes
Short Documentaries
Set Explorations from the Different Cities in the Movie

*Not available in all territories. Features subject to change.
Same as DVD plus:
Nuts and Bolts: A Sneak Peek of Cars Land    
World Tour – Interactive Map
Deleted Scenes
Short Documentaries
Set Explorations from the Different Cities in the Movie
And More!

*Not available in all territories. Features subject to change.

Cars 2 (Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)