Back to 13 more or less supported references to the saga of George Lucas in the feature films of Pixar studios.
Moviegoers and especially fans of the Star Wars saga, the artists of Pixar studios often have fun slipping a few references to the distant galaxy of George Lucas into their films. The noise of a lightsaber, the breath of Darth Vader or even an aerial attack inspired by episode IV… A look back at all the easter eggs and nods to Star Wars that are hidden in the productions of the famous studio .
What emotions in front of the Force Awakens trailer!
Pixar Animation Studios
Who better than Riley’s emotions to react to the Star Wars – The Force Awakens trailer? Released in theaters 6 months before episode VII of the famous saga, Vice Versa accompanied the promotion of JJ Abrams’ film with a special short clip, posted on Youtube in October 2015, and in which Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust discovered the new trailer together.
“A grimacing, drooling tauntaun”
Pixar Animation Studios
In Monsters University, when the young Bob Razowski tries to become the best student in his class and revises his Terror lessons with Leon the Chameleon, we can hear him give this answer, thus referring to the biper creature that rode Luke and Han Solo in the Hoth blizzard, at the very beginning of The Empire Strikes Back.
Like the Death Star
Pixar Animation Studios
“Up there, lurking on the edge of the galaxy, Emperor Zurg has secretly developed a weapon capable of annihilating an entire planet,” Buzz Lightyear tells Woody to convince him that his mission is the most important. high importance, in the first Toy Story. The threat evoked by the space ranger is obviously reminiscent of that of the Death Star, also capable of reducing to dust any planet in the saga. Star Wars.
Mastiff One
Pixar Animation Studios
While in Up, the dirigible balloon of the devious Charles Muntz is very strongly inspired by the imperial cruisers that can be seen in the saga Star Warsthe squadron his pilot dogs form in their small fighter planes, at the end of the film, is a direct reference to the Rebel Alliance’s X-Wings during the final battle ofA new hope.
Star Wars in the cinema
Pixar Animation Studios
Moreover, as can be seen by observing the souvenir photos which constitute the final credits of the film, Russell and Carl Fredricksen themselves went to see Star Wars in a movie theater, once their adventures in South America are over. Is this a reprogramming? Or could it mean that up there takes place in 1977?
“Where is the Rebel base? Go! Speak!”
Pixar Animation Studios
It is while pronouncing these words that Sid, Andy’s terrifying neighbor, begins to torture Woody in the first Toy Story. To believe that the young toy toy is also a fan of the saga Star Wars. Except that judging by his behavior, he obviously identifies more with Darth Vader than with Luke Skywalker.
Vader’s breath…
Pixar Animation Studios
Toy Story 2, which is undoubtedly the Pixar studio feature film with the most references to Star Warsbegins with a sequence that is a true homage to the distant galaxy of george lucas. We can notably see Buzz Lightyear landing on an unknown planet, and hear him breathing exactly like Darth Vader in his helmet.
…and the purr of a lightsaber
Pixar Animation Studios
Moreover, still in the same sequence, Buzz finds himself confronted with a surveillance camera very similar to the one guarding Jabba’s Palace at the start of Return of the Jedi. The path he then travels along a metal corridor resembles the one taken by Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. Finally, when the space ranger runs his hand through a hologram, the sound of a lightsaber can be heard.
“No Buzz, I’m your father!”
Pixar Animation Studios
It is with this obvious nod to the most famous sequence of the saga Star Wars than Toy Story 2 concludes its vibrant tribute to the galaxy of george lucas. Indeed, in the last part of the feature film, when Buzz Lightyear confronts Emperor Zurg, we can witness a fight and a revelation worthy of The Empire Strikes Back.
Chase in the forest
Pixar Animation Studios
In The Incredibles, when Arrow tries to escape Syndrome’s guards by running through the jungle, the scene is inspired by another famous chase in the middle of the forest: the one that took place in the second part of the Return of the Jedion the forest moon of Endor, between Luke, Leia and several stormtroopers riding speeder bikes.
Like Emperor Palpatine
Pixar Animation Studios
While the Teddy Bear’s fall into the Sunnyside Daycare dumpster isn’t fatal, the way Lotso is thrown into the void by Big Baby at the end of Toy Story 3 is very reminiscent of the death of the Teddy Bear. Emperor Palpatine. Indeed, like the teddy bear, betrayed by his sidekick, the Sith lord was also struck down by his former apprentice (Darth Vader), in the last minutes of the Return of the Jedi.
Another lightsaber!
Pixar Animation Studios
You will probably have to listen carefully to perceive this other sound reference to the saga. Star Wars, present in the middle of Finding Nemo. Indeed, in the scene where Marin and Dory try to escape a terrifying deep-sea fish, the creature emits exactly the same sound as a lightsaber when it spits out the poor clownfish, after having momentarily swallowed it.
Star Wars toys
Pixar Animation Studios
In Toy Story 4, when Woody and the Shepherdess visit the inside of a pinball machine, they are introduced to many new toys. Among them, we can particularly notice the hero of Tin Toy (one of the first short films made by Pixar studios), as well as two figurines bearing the effigy of Obi-Wan and Ponda Baba, thus reproducing the famous scene from the cantina in A new hope.
