The BEST episodes of Inside Pixar
Every episode of Inside Pixar ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Inside Pixar!
This documentary series of personal and cinematic stories that provide an inside look into the people, artistry, and culture of Pixar Animation Studios.
#1 - Inspired: Dan Scanlon, Where Ideas Come From
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/2020
Inspiration can be hard to come by. Sometimes it takes years to find, while other times it's been right under your nose. Director Dan Scanlon takes us on a personal journey of inspiration that led to his film, Onward.
#2 - Foundations: Animation and Acting
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/26/2021
Animation brings characters to life by making them move, feel, think, and talk. Pixar animators take us through the artistry of how they breathe life into characters authentically and explain the importance of acting (and eyebrows) in their craft.
#3 - Portraits: Barney Jones, Music Editor
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/12/2021
Barney Jones is a master of many musical instruments and styles. As a Music Editor, he uses these talents to help shape the storytelling and emotion of a Pixar film. During his free time, he uses these same talents to make Pixar just a little more magical and fun.
#4 - Unpacked: The Squint Test
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/21/2021
Pixar characters strive to strike a balance between realistic and caricatured. Narrator W. Kamau Bell explains how basic shapes and drawings influence the character design and story of favorite films such as Up, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles.
#5 - Portraits: Patty Bonfilio, Director of Facility Operations
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/12/2021
No two days are the same for Patty Bonfilio. From hosting major events to outfitting offices to simply keeping the studio running, Patty is at the center of it all. As Pixar’s Director of Facility Operations, she knows the inner workings of Pixar’s campus and culture like no one else. Join her on a VIP tour of the grounds and all of its hidden gems.
#6 - Inspired: Deanna Marsigliese, The Art of the Pivot
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/13/2020
Inspiration isn't instant. Coming up with unique and creative characters takes time and effort. Character Designer Deanna Marsigliese takes us through the process of character creation and the artistic detours that often come with it.
#7 - Foundations: Through the Lens
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/26/2021
Camerawork is just as crucial in animation as it is in live action. Pixar’s layout artists explain the craft behind camera and staging, showcasing how camera positioning enhances emotion within a story.
#8 - Foundations: Color, Light, and Emotion
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/26/2021
Light and color are essential in conveying the time of day, creating unique worlds, and even evoking emotion. Pixar lighting directors and artists reveal how they illuminate a scene and most importantly, how they utilize light and color for everything from terrifying twists to signature Pixar tearjerkers.
#9 - Unpacked: Everybody Loves a Villain
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/21/2021
From Ernesto de La Cruz to Lotso to Hopper, foes of all shapes and sizes are essential to many of our favorite Pixar movies. But what makes a good villain? Narrator W. Kamau Bell digs into why we love to hate our favorite antagonists and what makes them so complicated.
#10 - Inspired: Kemp Powers, Writing Something Real
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/13/2020
Authenticity is essential to creating a film that is believable and relatable. Co-Director Kemp Powers discusses the real-life experiences that led him to propose a simple, yet pivotal scene in Soul.
#11 - Unpacked: About Time
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/21/2021
How can the passage of time be utilized as a tool for emotional storytelling? Narrator W. Kamau Bell breaks down how time can becomes its own character in Pixar films, looking at period pieces such as Brave and the tearjerking passage of time in Up.
#12 - Portraits: Cynthia Lusk, Director of International Production
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/12/2021
Director of International Production Cynthia Lusk takes us into the fascinating world of localization. From translations to graphics to even changes in animation, Cynthia and her team work to make sure that Pixar’s films can connect and resonate to fans and families throughout the world.
#13 - Foundations: Creating Characters
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/26/2021
From cars to fish to toys to superheroes, Pixar characters have unique personalities, designs, and traits. Join Pixar’s character artists and designers as they break down the process of developing a new character from the initial artwork and design, all the way to getting it ready for animation.
#14 - Inspired: Jessica Heidt, Who Gets All the Lines?
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/13/2020
Script Supervisor Jessica Heidt manages endless lines of dialogue. Through her script access, she detected a disparity in male to female roles, motivating her to create a program to improve gender balance throughout Pixar's films and the greater film industry.
#15 - Portraits: Marylou Jaso, Pastry Chef
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/12/2021
Marylou Jaso has the sweetest job at Pixar – literally. As Pixar’s Pastry Chef, she spends each day creating the confections and sweet treats that delight, inspire, and help feed the studio’s creativity.
#16 - Foundations: Recipe for a Movie
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/26/2021
How exactly are animated films made using computer graphics? Pixar’s creative minds introduce and break down how a movie is made through understandable explanations using metaphors and examples.
#17 - Unpacked: No Small Roles
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/21/2021
Take a deep dive into the art of crowds animation. Each of your favorite Pixar characters live in worlds populated by fellow fish, cars, toys, and humans, but creating thousands of these fully animated background characters is no easy feat. Join narrator W. Kamau Bell in understanding how Pixar adds thousands of background characters into every film.
#18 - Portraits: Rachelle Federico, Production Assistant
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/12/2021
Rachelle Federico always dreamt of working at Pixar, even if it meant a complete career overhaul. As Production Assistant on Pixar’s Soul, her hard work might not always be that glamorous, but she considers it an important and essential need in the creation of an animated film. Plus, she’s loving every minute of it.
#19 - Unpacked: Inner Drive
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/21/2021
Beyond the world of Cars, vehicles of all kinds have made their mark throughout Pixar’s films. Jump in and go for a ride with narrator W. Kamau Bell as he cruises through some of his favorite Pixar planes, trains, and Incredibiles.
#20 - Inspired: Steven Hunter, For That Kid
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/13/2020
Growing up in a small town in Canada, Steven Hunter never felt like he saw himself represented in cartoons and comic books. After getting the opportunity to direct a Pixar SparkShort, Steven was inspired by his own life to create 'Out,' a unique and vulnerable story he wished he saw in his youth.
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