Who Can Guess These Pixar Movies Based On One Clue?
- by Rose Moore
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Everybody loves the family friendly goodness of Disney Pixar movies - the animated films that are known for their sweet morals, as well as their ability to imagine all kinds of different worlds. Their films have brought us talking race cars, toys that come alive when kids aren't around, superheroes, the adventures of fish and dinosaurs, and even a new take on what goes on inside our heads and with our emotions. These films are brightly colored fun, and while they might be 'kids' movies, adults know that they are charming and heartwarming at any age.
Of course, Pixar is also known for their shorts, many of which premiere on the big screen ahead of the full length features. Like the longer films, these shorts are usually lighthearted and happy, featuring everything from talking animals to umbrellas, and able to tell a touching story in only a few minutes.
How well do you know the animated universe of Pixar? You can probably name some of the biggest hits (many of which have been major award winners, scooping Oscars for Best Animated Feature), but are you able to guess the sequels, the lesser known titles, and even the names of the shorts that you may have only seen once? Take our quiz and find out if you are a Pixar genius, or if you can't quite call yourself an animation fan...
Which movie takes place in Radiator Springs?
This early Pixar film took place mostly in the fictional town of Radiator Springs, a small place just off Route 66. In the past, Radiator Springs was a bustling town of neon lights and lots of tourists driving down the historic road, but when the highway was put in, it started to fail... until racecar Lightning McQueen got stranded there, and slowly began to fall in love with the town and the people who live in it - even if all he wanted was to leave at first.
Which Pixar short is about a little dumpling?
This celebrated Pixar short film is about the love between a mother and child... even when that love can get a little too possessive. The film starts with a woman who makes a dumpling snack - but the dumpling comes to life! She raises the tiny dumpling as her own, but as he starts to grow up, she becomes increasingly more possessive and overbearing, not wanting him to leave to go out with his friends or be with a girl... because she will miss him too much.
Name this story about circus insects.
This underdog tale might not be one of Pixar's most famous, but it definitely has all the ingredients of a Pixar classic! It starts in an ant colony that works hard all year, only to be annually raided by an evil crew of grasshoppers - and Flick would do anything to save his family, but the rest of the ants have no patience for his inventions and big ideas... until he goes out in search of help, and finds a motley crew of circus bugs to believe in him.
Which movie introduces Jessie?
One of the favorite characters of this Pixar franchise pops up in this movie - about Woody the cowboy and his adventures learning about who he really is. For years, Woody thought that he was just a generic cowboy toy, but when he gets separated from his family, he learns that he isn't just any toy - he's a collectible! He even meets the other toys in his range, Jessie (another cowpoke), Bullseye (his horse) and the Prospector, who have been waiting for him.
Which short film blends 2D and 3D animation?
This Pixar short mixes things up, using both 2D and 3D animation to tell a story about understanding that even when people look a little different, they can still find things that are the same. The film introduces two characters, both of which have scenes of the world going on inside them - one during the day, and one at night. As they start to get to know each other, the scenes show their emotions, ending as both see the sun in the same place, as it rises for one and sets for the other.
Name this love story in a rainstorm.
This Pixar short deals with a common theme for Disney - the search for true love! However, in this charming film, that love isn't between two people caught in a rainstorm, but between the umbrellas that they are carrying. These two umbrellas of different colors meet and start to fall for each other, but when the people carrying them start to move in opposite directions, it's up to all the other objects in the cityscape to try and bring them back together.
Which movie goes behind the bedroom closet door?
Pixar looks to the imaginations of children once again in this film about the creatures that lurk under the bed and in the closet of every child. This movie creates a world behind the closet door, where hardworking monsters work each night to scare little children, so that they can collect their screams of terror and use them to power the city. When a child ends up coming into their world, though, they learn that frightening the kids might not be the best way to do things.
Which film is about a father's search?
Pixar went under the water for this movie, which takes place almost entirely in the oceans of Australia. It starts with Marlin, an overprotective clown fish whose son ends up going missing. Braving the waters away from the safety of the reef to find him, Marlin meets new friends (including sharks, turtles, and a fish with no short term memory) and learns just how strong he can really be when it comes to making sure that his son is safe.
Which Pixar movie is about a family of superheroes?
In this Pixar universe, superheroes exist... but they have to live in secret, after the world decided that the damage their heroics caused were more problematic than the things they were saving people from! The Parrs tried their best to adjust to civilian life, but father Bob struggles to be 'normal'... so when he gets an offer to don the old suit, he leaps at the chance. However, he quickly discovers a new supervillain on the rise, and the whole family has to band together to save the day.
Name this buddy comedy.
Another early Pixar offering, this movie is about the secret life of toys - and especially Woody, a cowboy doll who was the favorite plaything of Andy... that is, until the newer, fancier, Buzz Lightyear came along and started causing trouble. Buzz didn't even realize that he was a toy, thinking that his televised adventures were real - and it took a lot of adventures before these two toys could put their many differences aside and become real best friends.
Which movie is about the restaurant biz?
This inspirational story about following your dreams centers on a little rat, Remy, who wants nothing more than to be a great chef. He gets to Paris, and meets Linguine, a hapless garbage boy who gets a job at a five star restaurant - so the two team up to let Remy cook, and Linguine keep his job! Soon, Remy is living his dream, but it can only last so long... because nobody wants to see a rat in their restaurant!
Which movie is set in the distant future?
Pixar gets a little bit dark about the fate of humanity in this sweet film - which is set in a future where the Earth has been completely destroyed by garbage and materialism, and humans are living on a giant cruise ship in space, obese and unable to walk, or pay attention to anything but their screens. While they are in space, a little garbage robot continues on his lonely mission to find plant life growing once more, but when he does, everything is about to change.
Which short is an Incredibles spin-off?
This short film tells the story of Kara, the hapless teen babysitter who was left to take care of the Parr's son during the events of The Incredibles - which is when the baby's superpowers started to appear. Turns out, he's got a whole handful of different powers, and Kara's attempts to deal with them lead to some pretty hilarious babysitting techniques... and eventually, to the government choosing to wipe her memory of the whole thing (which she is more than happy about).
Which movie starts with the love of a lifetime?
There are plenty of love stories in the Pixar universe, but this one is particularly memorable - because it's what starts the film, instead of ending it! The opening montage of this film is the story of a boy and a girl who meet as children, get married, work on their dream home together, live their lives... and eventually, one passes, leaving a grumpy old man behind. He's so attached to the house they built together, and the dream they had of going on adventures, that one day he decides to fly the whole house to the jungle... with a surprising stowaway!
Which Pixar film has a strawberry scented villain?
As far as villains go, this one might be one of the most surprising that Pixar has ever created. Lots-o the bear is a fuzzy, strawberry scented teddy bear that rules the roost (at least where the other toys are concerned) at a daycare center - and isn't interested in letting other toys enjoy their time there. When best friends Woody and Buzz Lightyear get dumped here, they are going to have to team up one more time to save their friends.
Name this Pixar spy movie.
Things get a little silly in this Pixar flick about a group of cars who head to Europe and Japan in order to compete in one of the biggest races in the world... but who end up getting between a British spy car and an evil villain! The film pays homage to the great Bond movies, but with a lot more family fun, as cars are tied up in Big Ben, involved in high speed chases (off the track) and even meet the Queen!
Which short is about a lost and found box?
This short takes a sideways step from the world of Toy Story, to a place where it's not just the toys that come to life, but all the various odds and ends that exist in the lost and found box at a kindergarten. These various discarded items have come together to form a whole new creature... one that delights in being able to make sure that all the lost toys are returned to their children after the day is done.
Which movie is about a fish without a memory?
Pixar had some fun with the stereotype of a fish with a three second memory in this movie about a blue tang who has no idea where she comes from. In a twist on the traditional search for belonging and family, she sets out to try and hunt down clues to her existence, but ends up captured by well-meaning aquarium staff, and stuck in a tank. Her friends are desperate to help her out, but it may be that her capture holds the clues she's been looking for.
Which short borrows a character from WALL-E?
This short takes an extremely minor character from WALL-E, and gives him his own story, with WALL-E making only minor appearances (during the same timeline as the original film). The film centers on a repair bot who works on the ship where the humans live, and who is a welder. It starts when he is sent out to replace a lightbulb that WALL-E breaks as he comes aboard the ship... but nothing is going to be easy for this little bot today!
Which movie is about a reluctant princess?
Disney Princesses are generally known for being the epitome of the ideal royal - kind, feminine, gentle, and generally singing to woodland animals. However, this princess has no interest in any of that, and wants to spend her time riding her horse in the woods, shooting her bow and arrow, and generally behaving in a way that is not befitting her station. However, when a witch curses her family and turns them into bears, her un-princess-like ways will come in handy to try and save them!
Which film is about bullying birds?
This short isn't as heartwarming as many of Pixar's offerings, but it certainly is funny! It centers on a giant and gangly blue bird, who just wants to be friends with the much smaller blue birds who are hanging out on a telephone wire. Despite their taunts and teases, he just continues to try and be friendly... and when the little birds decide to get really mean and force him off the wire, they get their comeuppance - and the big bird is still smiling!
Name this Pixar prequel.
Pixar has plenty of sequels for its most popular franchises, but they chose to go back in time for this prequel to the world of Monsters Inc. In this film, audiences got to learn a lot more about the world of monsters behind the closet door, including how their best 'scarers' are trained in the art of creeping children out. All the most popular characters from the original return with some new favorites, as younger versions of themselves just learning how to scare.
Which movie animated emotions?
This recent Pixar hit went inside the minds of humans... literally! It takes place primarily in the mind of pre-teen Riley, a young girl who is struggling to deal with a recent move across the country. In her head, her actions are controlled by a team of emotions; Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust. In the past, they have always worked well together, with Joy in charge, but when things start to go wrong, Joy leaves the controls... and things start to change.
In which movie did dinosaurs survive?
In this Pixar universe, the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs never hit Earth at all... and so the dinosaurs and cave people live together at the same time - although not entirely in harmony! When a timid young dinosaur is thrown together with a cave boy, these two unlikely friends will have to work together in order to find their way home to their families again, even if Arlo is furious at his new friend at the start - blaming him for their problems.
Which film sees Lightning McQueen lose faith in his racing?
In the world of the Cars franchise (which consists of multiple movies, shorts, and TV series), Lightning McQueen is the king of the racing circuit. He's a Piston Cup legend, he's raced in the World Grand Prix, but by the time that this film begins, he is starting to worry about being edged out by newer, younger, and more technologically advanced racecars. When he has a bad accident, he hides himself in Radiator Springs, and begins to think that his racing days might be over...
Which movie is inspired by the Dia De Los Muertos?
This family adventure opens up the Pixar universe once more, this time to include the otherside. The film centers around twelve year old Miguel, a young boy who wants nothing more than to be a musician, but his family will not allow him to have anything to do with it. However, when he is accidentally sent to the other side, he starts to meet the people who have come before, and to understand why his family hates music so much.
Which movie sees the Parrs try to the world trust superheroes?
In most universes where superheroes exist, they are trusted by the majority of the population, even celebrated and adored! However, in this world, the people are sick of the collateral damage that superheroics can cause, and it's up to the Parrs to try and convince the world that superheroes aren't just good, they are necessary! At the same time, they are dealing with new villains, and new challenges for the kids - especially baby JackJack, whose powers seem totally uncontrollable.
Which short is a musical love story?
This sweet short tells the story of a love story that lasts millions of years, as two lonely volcanoes find each other. The film starts with one volcano who believes that he is all alone, singing of his loneliness as he watches the creatures that live on him pair off together. However, he eventually finds happiness with another volcano - one that he never saw because she was under the ocean, but who rises to the surface to sing his song back to him.
Which short deals with 'where babies come from'?
Another sweet short, this one takes a look at the stories that parents have concocted to explain where babies come from - specifically, the story of the stork who delivers them. In this world, babies are made by clouds, with sweet babies made by white clouds, and scary babies (like baby crocodiles and sharks) made by a gray raincloud named Gus. Gus's delivery stork is getting sick of having to deal with all these biting little ones, and for a while, it looks like Gus might even lose him...
Which short is about a bird afraid of water?
This sweet short takes place by the seashore, when a baby bird is caught in the surf and becomes terrified of water and won't go near it again... which is a problem, because her family of birds has to find their food by the shore. But all that changes when she starts to pay more attention to the other creatures getting their food in the same places - and learns from them not only how to stay safe, but how to love the ocean.
Which short imagines maintainence men for the moon?
This sweet story imagines a world where each night, various stars land on the moon - and there are men whose job it is to climb up there and sweep them off! However, the two men who do this work can't seem to agree on anything - not even on how their little son and grandson should wear his cap as he learns the family trade... but when a giant star lands on the moon, it might be the little boy who teaches his family something new.
Name this short about alien abduction.
Pixar goes galactic in this short film about an alien taking his 'abduction exam' - a driving test for the little green men who want to come to earth and steal sleeping humans! As the examiner watches and their intended victim sleeps, the young alien tries time and time again to find the right switches in order to pass his test... and thankfully, somehow, they have picked a human subject who seems to be able to sleep through absolutely anything!
Which short is a Pixar Western?
This Pixar short is very different from most of the short films created by the company - rather than being a lighthearted look at love and friendship, or a silly spin off, this Western drama gets a little bit dark. It tells the story of a man in the Wild West, returning to the scene of an accident when he lost his father - and that he has always felt is his fault. Now an old man, he must deal with the memories of that day.
Which short film is about gods and superheroes?
This sweet Pixar short was inspired by the conflicts of religion and fiction in a child of two cultures, as a young Indian boy struggles to enjoy taking part in his father's religious meditation... because he would rather play with superheroes instead. However, when he is transported to a fantasy world, he starts to see the Hindu gods as superheroes themselves, and begins to understand that the things his father wants to teach him might just be exciting after all.
Which film is about a dancing sheep?
Finally, which sweet Pixar short is about learning how to get back up when life gets you down - and introduces a sheep who quite literally 'bounces' back? Set in the American West, this short starts with a proud dancing sheep, who becomes sad when he is sheared and no longer has the wool that everyone was so impressed by. He doesn't even want to dance anymore, until a Jackalope comes by and teaches him a lesson about bouncing back - no matter what.