While Pixar movies are primarily targeted at a younger demographic, they have not been immune to a plethora of theories that could drastically alter their narratives. The collaboration between Disney and Pixar stands as the most formidable alliance in the animation industry, with Pixar not only producing some of the most successful animated films of all time but also revolutionizing the field with its flawless animation. Pixar’s dominance began in 1995 with the release of Toy Story, the first fully animated feature film, which subsequently gave rise to a franchise.
Since then, Pixar has ventured into various realms and themes in its films, consistently maintaining a family-friendly tone. Pixar has narrated tales about bugs, monsters, fish, and even cars, delved into diverse cultures as seen in Coco and Luca, and tackled more profound subjects in films like Turning Red and Soul. Despite their seemingly light-hearted tone, Pixar movies have been the subject of numerous theories – some amusing, others rather cryptic – and if any of these were to be true, they would fundamentally transform these films.
A movie within a movie.
Pixar films are renowned for their Easter eggs and inter-references, and one such instance in Inside Out has given rise to a fascinating “film-within-a-film” theory. Inside Out invites viewers into the psyche of Riley, an 11-year-old girl, where memories are encapsulated in “memory orbs”. One such orb displays scenes from Up, including Carl and Ellie’s wedding, sparking the theory that Up is a film that exists within the universe of Inside Out, and one that Riley has seen.
Considering the emotional depth of Up, it’s plausible that it would have made a significant impression on Riley. This implies that there exists a mini-universe within Pixar’s cinematic world where the characters of Inside Out have watched Up as a movie.
Randall might be a lot more evil than initially thought.
In Monsters, Inc., Mike and Sulley discover Boo after Sulley stumbles upon a “forgotten” door, later realizing that it was Randall who had been using it. However, a theory proposed on Reddit posits that the door wasn’t randomly selected by Randall, but rather, he had been visiting and conducting experiments on Boo for some time. This theory is supported by Boo’s intense reaction upon seeing Randall and her drawing of him, which she shows to Sulley to indicate her fear. If this theory holds true, it casts a sinister shadow over Monsters Inc., as Randall’s actions were quite brutal, and it remains unclear what he had been subjecting Boo to.
Mei wasn’t the only one with a secret.
Turning Red is a captivating tale that centers on Mei’s struggle with a family curse that morphs her into a colossal red panda whenever she is overwhelmed by intense emotions. The film also introduces us to Mei’s friends – Miriam, Abby, and Priya, with a theory hinting at a significant secret concealed by Priya.
According to the theory, Priya is a werewolf, which could explain her constant composed demeanor and lack of surprise when witnessing Mei’s transformation into a red panda. If this theory holds true, it would significantly enrich the universe of Turning Red, suggesting that other families and cultures might also bear similar curses, albeit with varying specifics.
This adds an intriguing layer to the theory and the world of Turning Red. It suggests a diverse and complex universe where different cultures and families might have their unique curses and transformations, adding depth and richness to the narrative.
Edna Mode was the real hero.
Edna Mode, the superhero fashion designer in The Incredibles, was responsible for creating costumes for the entire Parr family. She had a steadfast rule when it came to her designs: no capes, as they could potentially cause the demise of the heroes. It’s known in The Incredibles that Syndrome crafted his own suit, which included a cape, and this ultimately led to his downfall.
A theory (originating from CBR) proposes that Syndrome approached Edna Mode, posing as a superhero, to request her to design his suit. However, Edna, being astute, saw through his facade and discerned his ill intentions. As a safety measure, she incorporated a cape into his suit. If this theory is accurate, then Edna emerges as the unsung hero in The Incredibles.
Monsters might have had good reasons to fear humans.
In the universe of Monsters, Inc., monsters harness energy for their city by instilling fear in children. However, they harbor a deep-seated fear of humans themselves, to the extent that any direct contact necessitates immediate sanitization and more. A theory offers a potential explanation for this, proposing that the monsters’ inaugural visit to the human world coincided with the Bubonic Plague.
The monsters found that human screams could be converted into energy for their world, but they inadvertently brought back the disease, sparking an epidemic in the monster world. This incident fostered the notion that human children are toxic and carriers of lethal diseases, hence the monsters’ stringent measures to evade “contamination” by humans.
WALL-E wasn’t so innocent, after all.
WALL-E transports audiences to Earth in the year 2805, a planet now reduced to a litter-ridden wasteland due to ecocide, compelling humans to inhabit space. Robots designed to compact trash were deployed to restore the planet, but the initiative failed, leaving only one operational robot: the eponymous WALL-E. However, a theory posits that WALL-E was not only responsible for his solitary existence but also for the continued devastation of the planet.
The theory suggests that WALL-E dismantled the other robots as they persistently took his possessions. This action led to the failure of the cleanup plan, rendering Earth uninhabitable and leaving WALL-E as the sole robot on the planet. Thus, WALL-E might not be as innocent and endearing as he initially appears.
Woody and company weren’t normal toys.
The most well-known secret of Woody and his friends is their ability to come alive when humans aren’t present. However, a theory (via Digital Spy) suggests they might be concealing a far more sinister secret. The theory posits that toys draw sustenance from the happiness they bring to children, thereby ensuring their continued existence as long as a child engages with them. This essentially transforms them into “joy vampires”. This could explain why toys like Woody have endured for years and why they all seek the company of children in one way or another.
Related Toy Story: Buzz Lightyear’s Paradox Despite believing he isn’t a toy in Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear still freezes in the presence of humans. Is this a narrative inconsistency or a plausible detail?
Up takes a completely different meaning.
Up is renowned as one of Pixar’s most poignant films, largely due to its tear-jerking opening sequence. However, a theory from Reddit suggests that another tragic event might have occurred shortly thereafter, unnoticed by viewers. The theory proposes that Mr. Fredricksen passed away in his sleep the night following the incident where he was declared a public menace and instructed to vacate his home after hitting a construction worker. The remainder of Up is interpreted as Mr. Fredricksen’s heavenly journey, with Russell serving as his guardian angel, guiding him towards eternal life.
Finding Nemo is, suddenly, a horror story.
There exists a somber theory about Finding Nemo which suggests that Nemo perished at the start of the film alongside his mother and siblings. However, an even more unsettling theory, grounded in science, has been proposed. This theory (via The Gamer) elucidates that clownfish in reality are born without a defined gender, and their gender is determined as they mature, based on the requirements of a clownfish group, which typically comprises one dominant female.
Upon her demise, one of the male clownfish ceases the production of male hormones and transitions into a female to ensure the group’s reproductive continuity. Given that Marlin and Nemo were the sole survivors in their group, Marlin was frantically searching for Nemo because Marlin needed Nemo to undergo the transformation and become the female of the group.
Is everything connected?
The “Pixar Shared Universe Theory” is perhaps the most well-known theory pertaining to Pixar movies. As the name suggests, it posits that all Pixar movies are interconnected, resulting in a perplexing timeline that commences with The Good Dinosaur and traverses through events such as toys springing to life, the existence of monsters, the annihilation of humanity, the rise of sentient cars, and of course, the presence of abundant magic.
The theory even extends to the assertion that Boo from Monsters, Inc. is the witch from Brave, having discovered a method to time travel due to the occurrences in her inaugural movie. However, the Pixar Theory has seen a decline in its credibility as it becomes increasingly challenging to incorporate more recent movies into this already convoluted timeline, leading to the likelihood that not all Pixar movies belong to the same universe.
