Summary
- Star Wars
has deeply influenced pop culture, from common sayings to collectibles, permeating everyday life and cinema. - Pixar’s
Toy Story
franchise pays homage to
Star Wars
with references like Darth Vader’s breathing. - Voice actors like Ben Burtt, Samuel L. Jackson, and Frank Oz bridge the gap between
Star Wars
and Pixar, creating a unique connection.
As a long-time fan of both Pixar and Star Wars, I find it absolutely fascinating to uncover the hidden connections between these two iconic franchises. Having grown up watching and re-watching both, I can’t help but marvel at the intricate ways they intertwine.
The influence Star Wars has had on pop culture cannot be overstated. From terminology like “going to the dark side” entering the common vernacular to the introduction of the fad of adults buying action figures, toys, etc., as collectors’ items, Star Wars has infiltrated everyday life as much as it has cinema. However, that, too, shouldn’t be overlooked. Star Wars impacts cinema with as much regularity now as it did in the ’80s. This can be quite small and internal, like when Rogue One director Gareth Edwards credited the franchise as inspiration for his recent featurette, The Creator. Or, it can be quite in-your-face and far-reaching, like all the Easter eggs strewn about the Pixar franchise.
As a devoted fan of both sci-fi and animation, I’m not surprised by their harmonious bond. Sci-fi and animation are two robust pillars in the vast world of geek culture. Their fusion is inevitable, as innovative ideas from one realm naturally seep into the other. Angus MacLane, a talented director and screenwriter, beautifully showcased this connection during an interview with Laughing Place while promoting Pixar’s Lightyear.
In the year 1979, I watched a movie that significantly influenced my life – “Star Wars”. Following my encounter with this masterpiece, my desires shifted towards all things related to it. I longed to engage in Star Wars-themed play and drawing, making it an integral part of my existence for an extended period. My fascination with Star Wars served as my passion and source of inspiration during those years. However, Star Wars was merely the initiator of a series of groundbreaking sci-fi films that shaped my childhood. Every year brought another iconic addition to this genre. In 1995, I encountered yet another life-altering film – “Toy Story”.
Star Wars References in the Toy Story Movies
In the Toy Story series, how is Star Wars referenced? The most notable reference appears in Toy Story 2 during the meeting between Buzz Lightyear and Emperor Zurg. This encounter is reminiscent of the famous Empire Strikes Back scene, with Zurg disclosing himself as Buzz’s father. However, for the movie Lightyear, Pixar opted for a more discreet tribute, drawing inspiration primarily from Star Wars’ visual space travel elements. As explained by VFX Supervisor Jane Yen, they took cues from this aspect to enhance the experience.
“The hyperspeed effect was an essential element in the storyline and needed careful execution for the movie. Instead of just relying on physical occurrences, Angus and his art team aimed to create a visually stunning representation with a big impact. Consequently, they adopted a style featuring extended, multi-colored trails as our final choice – this design pays tribute to classic sci-fi films that inspire Angus.”
In addition to other “Star Wars” allusions, there are some amusing references scattered throughout the films. For instance, the sound of Darth Vader’s breathing is imitated when Buzz Lightyear makes his entrance for the first time. This is reminiscent of the moment in “A New Hope” when Grand Moff Tarkin inquires about Leia’s “rebel allies,” and her response elicits a similar reaction from him. In “Toy Story 4,” you can even spot action figures portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ponda Baba engaged in a fight inside the pinball game.
An additional noteworthy detail is that the Mandalorian’s jetpack makes a brief appearance at the Junior Patrol base, while their Space Ranger Laser Blades share a likeness with the legendary lightsaber. In Toy Story 2, there exists a wall camera which closely resembles the Perimeter Droid found at Jabba’s Palace during Return of the Jedi.
Wall-E Sighting in A New Hope
If you’ve seen or re-seen “A New Hope” within the past decade, you might be surprised to notice a droid resembling Wall-E in a scene where R2-D2 is thrown among other droids. Although the camera only focuses on him for about five seconds, the similarity is unmistakable. A YouTube user even added the “Wall-E” sound effect to the original clip to emphasize this observation.
Star Wars, an iconic film, debuted in 1977. On the other hand, WALL-E was unveiled in 2008. Notably, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), responsible for the groundbreaking visual effects of Star Wars, was established as early as 1975. Later on, Steve Jobs acquired Pixar Image Computer technology from ILM, which led to the founding of Pixar Animation Studios. This connection between Pixar and Star Wars could have influenced the creation of WALL-E’s design, inspired by R2-D3 from A New Hope.
Voiceover Casting in Pixar and Star Wars Movies
Some of the Star Wars references within Pixar are not in the writing or the designs but in the voice acting. For instance, if you need further evidence that Wall-E was based on that droid in A New Hope, the voice of Wall-E was played by the same actor who voiced R2, Ben Burtt. Burtt is a multi-hyphenate with an Academy Award for sound design and a stacked resume to boot. His credits include Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and WALL-E.
In both animated franchises, Samuel L. Jackson is a notable figure. He provides the voice for Frozone in The Incredibles and Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequels. Frank Oz, known for voicing Jedi Master Yoda, can be heard in Monsters, Inc. as Fungus and Inside Out as Subconscious Guard Dave. John Ratzenberger, a Pixar regular, lent his voice to Major Bren Derlin in The Empire Strikes Back.
The links between Pixar and Star Wars are abundant yet frequently overlooked. Some may be due to overlapping talent, but others are intentional tributes meant to pay tribute to the profound impact Star Wars has had on cinema and popular culture as a whole. A comprehensive inventory of Star Wars references in Pixar movies is accessible on the Pixar Fandom website. Currently streaming on Disney+ are Toy Story, Wall-E, and, naturally, all things Star Wars.
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2024-07-20 04:31