KNICK KNACK is a transitional film in the history of Pixar for many reasons. It was the last short before the company moved onto its first feature film TOY STORY. It also stands as the first of their shorts that doesn't seem to be a product of tackling any certain technical challenge. Writer/director John Lasseter was making a film for the joy of it, and we can tell.
On a shelf of various knickknacks from different vacation spots, a snowman trapped in a snow globe looks on jealously as fellow knickknacks from sunnier locales relax and party. A blonde from Miami beckons the snowman to join them, but all his attempts to free himself end in disaster. When he finally finds an exit plan, things don't turn out as he would have hoped.
Creating the vibe of a classic Chuck Jones' Looney Tunes cartoon, Lasseter filled his simple premise with a lot of great gags. The characters and story aren't as complex as Pixar's Oscar-winning short TIN TOY, but the world's design is simple and unobtrusive. Outside of LUXO JR., it's the first Pixar short to have a totally cohesive world where all the pieces mesh. This allows the film to date well. We know there have been technical advances since this film, but nothing seems out of place so we just go with the story. The simple colorful world fits the story, which is allowed to step past technical concerns and just entertain us.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
