History Trivia / PixarShorts

* PermanentPlaceholder: In ''Knick Knack'', the "BlahBlahBlah" song during the credits was actually a result of vocalist Bobby [=McFerrin=] improvising. [=McFerrin=], a vocalist famous for his ACappella work, was hired by Pixar to compose and perform the soundtrack for the film. The work print he was given to compose over featured "blah blah blah" as a placeholder for the credits, and he ran with it. The folks at Pixar liked it so much that it made the final cut.
* PopStarComposer: Bobby [=McFerrin=], fresh off his success from "Don't Worry, Be Happy," did the music for ''Knick Knack.''

** Taken UpToEleven with the [=SparkShorts=], which are made entirely independent from any studio executives, allowing animators to tell more personal stories in more varied, experimental visual styles, including MotionCapture and even ''hand drawn'' animation.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The original 1989 version of ''Knick Knack''. Every official release of the short barring the "Tiny Toy Stories" VHS of Pixar shorts and the ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' Deluxe CAV UsefulNotes/{{Laserdisc}} is the altered 2003 version.

* NoBudget/ShootTheMoney: The spin-offs of the full length movies were likely made as part of the original's production, likely helping the shorts' production value (and, considering they continue to make original shorts that can't make heavy use of old models, money's not the only consideration in making spin-offs). ''Pixar Popcorn'' is the ultimate example in Pixar's canon; [[https://www.polygon.com/disney-plus/22244748/pixar-popcorn-shorts-disney-plus-interview they were made by animators inbetween feature films and HAD to use existing assets]] (likely why ''Toy Story'', ''Finding Nemo'', and ''Cars'' was featured as they had recent sequels).

** Parodied in ''Your Friend the Rat'', which ends with a prolonged legalistic crawl warning people that Pixar does not encourage people to have contact with rats. Remy and Emile object to the inclusion of this producer-imposed warning (which is ComicallyMissingThePoint of their presentation) and even push the crawling words aside as best they can.

* RealitySubtext: Even before he was fired for sexual misconduct, John Lasseter faced harsh criticism for how unaccommodating he was of female employees at Pixar. What was the first short to come out after his firing? ''Purl'', a short about a feminine employee trying to be accepted by an all-male, hyper-masculine company.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The original 1989 version of ''Knick Knack''. Every official release of the short barring an out-of-print VHS and the discontinued ''Toy Story'' Deluxe CAV Laserdisc Edition is the altered 2003 version.

** ''Partly Cloudy'' was inspired by the communication that Peter Sohn, the American-born son of Koreans who's first language is English, experienced with his mother, who mostly only spoke Korean.

** ''Partly Cloudy'' was inspired by the communication troubles between Peter Sohn, the American-born son of Koreans who's first language is English, and his mother, who mostly only spoke Korean.

* DisabledCharacterDisabledActor: In ''Loop'', Renee is a non-verbal autistic thirteen-year-old girl. She's voiced by Madison Bandy, who is also autistic and mostly non-speaking.

** Taken UpToEleven with the [=SparkShorts=], which, while continuing to progress computer animation technology, also wildly deviate from Pixar's usual visual style and techniques, including MotionCapture and even ''hand drawn'' animation.

** Bobby Alcid Rubio wrote ''Float'' as an allegory on his struggle to accept, and his eventual acceptance, of his son's autism diagnosis. Rubio also made the son and father Filipino-American as a reflection of his family's own heritage.

* RoleReprise: In ''The Radiator Springs 500 1/2'', instead of being voiced by TheOtherDarrin like in the other Cars Toons, Lightning’s normal voice actor Creator/OwenWilson returns to voice him for the short.

** Bobby Alcid Rubio based ''Float'' on his struggle and eventual acceptance of his son's autism diagnosis. Rubio also made the son and father Filipino-American to reflect his own heritage.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The original 1989 version of ''Knick Knack''. Every official release of the short barring an out-of-print VHS is the altered 2003 version.

* DoingItForTheArt

** Bobby Alcid Rubio based ''Float'' on his struggle to accept his son's autism diagnosis. Rubio also made the son and father Filipino-American to reflect his own heritage.

* AdoredByTheNetwork: On Creator/ABCFamily.

** Taken UpToEleven with the Spark Shorts, which, while continuing to progress computer animation technology, also wildly deviate from Pixar's usual visual style and techniques, including MotionCapture and even ''hand drawn'' animation.

** Bobby Alcid Rubio based ''Float'' on his struggle to accept his son's autism diagnosis.

* RealitySubtext: Even before he was fired for sexual misconduct, John Lasseter faced harsh criticism for how unaccommodating he was of female employees at Pixar. What was the first short to come out after his firing? ''Purl'', a short about a feminine employee trying to be accepted by an all-male, hyper masculine company.

* RoleReprisal: In ''The Radiator Springs 500 1/2'', instead of being voiced by TheOtherDarrin like in the other Cars Toons, Lightning’s normal voice actor Creator/OwenWilson returns to voice him for the short.

** According to Dave Mullin, the director of ''Lou'', John Lasseter green-lit his pitch by saying "This looks like a pain in the ass to animate. Let's do it!"

* TheOtherDarrin: Film/{{Condorman}} is voiced in ''Small Fry'' by Creator/BobBergen, as it was highly unlikely they would be able to get Michael Crawford to reprise his role for such a quick appearance.

** ''Small Fry'' came from director Angus [=MacLane=]'s experiences working at a fast food restaurant's ball pit as a teen.
** ''Sanjay's Super Team'' is based on director Sanjay Patel's childhood and his relationship with his father.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The original 1989 version of ''Knick Knack''. Every official release of the short since 2003 is the altered version.

* DevelopmentHell: In 2015, a fifth ''Cars Toons: Tales from Radiator Springs'' short, "To Protect and Serve" was announced to be released in May, and books and merchandise were produced featuring footage of such. As of now, it has not aired, and is presumably cancelled.

* PopStarComposer: Bobby [=McFerrin=], fresh off his success from "Don't Worry, Be Happy," does the music for ''Knick Knack.''
* RealitySubtext: Even before he was fired for sexual misconduct, John Lasseter faced harsh criticism for how unaccommodating he was of female employees at Pixar. What was the first short to come out after his firing? Oh right, a short all about a feminine employee at a company with an all-male, hyper masculine staff.

** ''Purl'' is based on Kristen Lester's experiences of being the odd one out when she started in animation.