Pixar Plans High-Profile Shorts For 25th Anniversary

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to believe that animation powerhouse Pixar is now 25 years old. And amazingly, in just two short decades they've amassed 26 Academy Awards, 7 Golden Globes, and billions of dollars at the box office. To help celebrate their silver anniversary, the studio is now putting together several shorts to screen in front of their high-profile Disney films.

The first Pixar mini-movie will be featured with (what else) Cars 2. Entitled Hawaiian Vacation, it may actually generate just as much buzz as the revved up automotive sequel it's attached to. Interestingly, Vacation is actually a follow up to last year's massively successful Toy Story 3. Featuring Woody, Buzz, and some very funny moments with Ken and Barbie, the studio seems very excited about its release.

"We wanted to figure out a story that would include everybody [from Toy Story 3], which is crazy because it is under six minutes" director Gary Rydstrom told Entertainment Weekly.

So for Hawaiian Vacation, Rydstrom and company created a scenario where the toys simulate a tropical island getaway; all within the playroom where they live. Soon everyone from Mr. Pricklepants the hedgehog to Rex the dinosaur partake in the comedy luau. Gary promised yet another Toy Story short to be attached to the new Muppets movie in the fall.

Another short that the animation community is raving about is La Luna. A mesmerizing visual adventure created by Italian animator Enrico Casarosa, it is scheduled to be released with next year's Pixar flick, Brave. Latino Review posted an enticing teaser clip that showcases some of its beautiful imagery.

At seven minutes long, La Luna promises to be the longest of the shorts and perhaps the one most likely to be embraced by critics. Its story involves a curious boy, two fisherman, and a giant glowing moon, which could easily be classified as a character unto itself.

"The core idea [of La Luna] has two parts," Casarosa explained. "A personal story about me growing up by the sea in Genoa, and how my father and grandfather rarely speaking to one another. So I came up with a coming of age story about a little boy stuck between these two personalities and finding his own way around a very strange and fantastic place."

All of the shorts sound pretty amazing to us and add some definite icing to the Pixar cake (as if we needed it).

What is your all-time favorite Pixar film? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Animation, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cars 2, Enrico Casarosa, Hawaiian Vacation, Hot Stuff, La Luna, Movies & CineMás, Pixar, Toy Story