Pixar-that's what's up!

In class we discussed tremendously how Disney may appear to neglect P.C; however, another one of Disney’s companies, Pixar, tends to be more mindful of the portrayal of genders and minorities. We don’t encounter as many racial slurs in the film scores or in the stories and characters themselves.
In regards to gender roles, specifically, the typical woman-depending-on-man love story is not followed. In Pixar’s Oscar-nominated, most recent venture, Up, we see, instead, how a man has such infinite love for his wife, that after she unexpectedly passes away, he finds life to be miserably invaluable and unhappy.
Originally, I had asked my elementary-school cousins what they had thought of this movie, thinking it was probably silly and cute and would be light-hearted; thus, appealing to them. “It wasn’t that funny…it wasn’t good,” was their gathered response. Hmmm….So, I asked my parents what they had thought and my mother responded: “It was good.” Ok….So, I saw the movie for myself (actually, with my boyfriend who planned on bitching the whole film since it cost him more on $6 Tuesday due to it being “3-D.” Until he shut up after the first heart-wrenching 10 minutes of the film ). Boy, I had never sulked so embarrassingly, gutturally, and obnoxiously loud. Up’s aesthetics defined by Technicolor, exaggerated, and fantastical effects (the use of 10,000 balloons to lift an old man’s house and navigate it to the cliff of a waterfall in South America) are clearly used to appeal to the children, while the storyline that tugs at one’s heartstrings and makes people like me a mucus-sy/bright red mess, is meant for a mature audience.
Because Disney did not have this new technology of computer generated images at the time of its earlier iconic films (ca. “The Little Mermaid” or “The Lion King,” etc.), they had to rely on the storyline to attract the little minds of its young audience instead of just the images, whereas, Pixar is a company that appeals to children, adults, and families alike. Children are pleased with the little funny jokes that the talking dog makes, adults (or couples like my parents) are entranced by the clever, smart ideas strewn throughout the film, and parents can cater to their kids’ entertainment while gaining their own sense of appreciation simultaneously. (FOR THE RECORD: Crazy/improbable ideas=kids and the laced-in consistencies with reality=adults).


Back to the main point: Because parents are also watching these films with their children, instead of using these films as a use of distraction and the role of babysitter, Pixar has to be more attentive to the quality and underlying message of everything being displayed. There is no longer the whose-fault-is-it-anyway situation (Disney because they have these faults v. parents because they don’t have the time/critical ability to make sure the film is child-proof). Pixar just appears more wholesome. They do their research and they aren’t afraid to show flaws in people, vulnerability, or the harsh realities of losing/coping with losing a loved one (the old man, Mr. Fredrickson in Up).
After watching the many hours of bonus features on the Up DVD (only thing I wanted for Christmas!), I easily fell in love with Pixar and their moral acuteness: their ability to create characters because they plugged themselves into their situations, making trips to Venezuela to accurately portray the scenery and landscape of South America, consulting architects, PHD’s in dog behavioral studies, or zoologists to accurately depict and believably explain the images and characters in the film, etc. Pixar tirelessly strives for accuracy not only in their visible presentation, but also in their reflection of the world and its people: no fear in showing character flaws, emotions, relationships, and ULTIMATELY, REALITY.
Thanks, Pixar. Thanks for overcoming the babysitter role of your father company, Disney, and creating a realm where parents interact WITH their kids through a movie, rather than not interact with their kids BECAUSE OF a movie. (IF ANYONE WHO WORKS WITH PIXAR SEES THIS, I WOULD GLADLY INTERN FOR YOU!)