Pixar Touch: Why Animated Stories Stick with Everyone
Why We Keep Coming Back to Stories
Stories aren't just for entertainment. They help us make sense of life, the things around us, and most importantly, help us to build ourselves. There is a very famous saying, “Humans live stories, they are stories”, and it is something that many resonate with. Every moment that we face is something that we can weave into a plot, making a story. Stories help us to see the world, and we each have our own story, viewing the world differently.
Whenever we watch or hear a story, our brains notice some patterns. Children can notice goals and outcomes, learned as ‘plot’ and ‘moral of the story’. Adults have a more profound and deep understanding of stories, analyzing and making inferences. What's common is that stories explore ideas and creativity. Stories allow us to live life with a unique meaning, with a purpose. This is why some stories stay with us for decades. They grow with us as we grow.
Pixar and the Power of Imperfect Characters
Pixar began in the 1980s as a small and humble computer graphics team. Their goal was simple: use animation to tell stories that felt alive and emotional. When they partnered with Disney in 1995, they wanted movies that could move both children and adults.
Their first film with Disney was Toy Story. It was the first fully computer-animated feature, and its greatest strength was in its characters. Woody was jealous. Buzz was clueless. Neither was perfect, but their struggles made them real and relatable.
This streak was persistent even in the 2007 classic Ratatouille. Remy is a rat who wants to cook. Kids saw his excitement and persistence. Adults noticed parallels to their personalities, relating to the journey of making something of themselves, just like how Remy did. Imperfect characters like Remy, clumsy Linguini, and the stern Anton Ego mirror realistic human traits, allowing for the characters to not only grow as people but also mirror what humans actually go through in their ‘character growth’ phase.
Released in 2016, Inside Out takes this self-awareness even further. The film showcases emotions as characters, making abstract feelings tangible. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are all flawed but essential. Watching them struggle helps both kids and adults understand their own emotions better.
This makes Pixar’s stories stand out. Always. Not just because of the brilliant animation, but perhaps because of the amount of time and effort the Pixar team take while giving life to their animated characters. For Inside Out, the team conducted extensive research on emotions, behaviour, and real-life experiences, with the help of Psychologists. They observe people, talk to experts, and test story ideas until every character’s action feels authentic. This is why the stories are always relatable to everyone, adults and kids alike.
Why Stories Matter
Stories are not just impactful in movies. They matter a lot in education, marketing, and everyday life. Research shows that people remember lessons better when they are part of a story rather than a lecture. We remember tension, failure, and small victories more than abstract ideas. That is, subjects like History and Civics are approached like stories, with heroes, villains, and morals.
Pixar films show that perfection is not the point. Struggle and growth are key aspects highlighted in Pixar films. Stories that reflect life honestly, with mistakes, setbacks, and hope, stick with us. They grow as we grow. A story we loved as children can teach us something new as adults. That is the Pixar touch.
Some Pixar films also open doors to creativity and awareness. For instance, Coco teaches us about Mexican culture, family traditions, and the Day of the Dead in ways that feel alive and personal. Soul, on the other hand, explores the meaning of life, purpose, and creativity itself. It inspires viewers to think about their passions, try new things, and see everyday moments as full of possibility.
Stories show that well-told narratives can do more than entertain or make us feel good. They spark imagination, teach about the world, and help people see life from perspectives they might not have experienced. For storytellers, educators, and even marketers, the lesson is crystal clear: the most powerful stories respect the audience’s intelligence and emotions. They allow insight to emerge naturally. They give us hope again and again, just as Walt Disney said it would :)
Written By : Ms. Kheya Sriram Student Writer, Mumbai
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