Tag Archives: Pixar

Is There a “New” Pixar?

Story Tips,

The other day, I was talking with some friends about the idea that Pixar Animation Studios has changed. Some people have been disappointed with their recent work, while others find that it lives up to their best films. One friend went so far as to say there was an “Old” and a “New” Pixar.

I happen to be in the camp that believes, as I said during the discussion, that Pixar is Pixar. That is, there hasn’t been a change.

I know what you’re thinking. “Jordan, what does this have to do with storytelling?” Bear with me and I’ll get to some takeaways for storytellers from how Pixar works, but first I need to explain why Pixar hasn’t changed. Continue reading Is There a “New” Pixar? →

Wait… Two Prologues?

Story Tips, , ,

Back in June, I saw the new Pixar movie Brave, and I enjoyed it a lot. A couple weeks ago, I watched it again at home and sat up straight in my chair with amazement at the first ten minutes. Why?

The movie has two prologues!

I’ll say it again, because it completely flabbergasted me… The movie has two prologues!

That shouldn’t work, right? A prologue should be one set-up sequence at the beginning of the story, then we should move right into the rest, right?

So what was Brave doing with a prologue scene of Merida’s birthday, followed immediately after the title card by a voiceover prologue? And even more mystifying, why does it work? Continue reading Wait… Two Prologues? →