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ONE MAN BAND (2006) (***)

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With its three previous shorts featuring dialogue, Pixar goes back to its tradition of no dialogue shorts with this entertaining production. Directed and written by Mark Andrews and Andrew Jimenez, the film relies on music strongly to tell its simple story.

Bass is a busker who plays various percussion instruments all at once. A young girl named Tippy comes to the courtyard where Bass performs to make a wish in the fountain. So Bass plays her a tune to earn her coin instead. But then Treble, a one-man string section, shows up to lure the little girl away. Each musician will pull out all the stops to convince Tippy that they deserve her lone gold piece.

With its piazza and period setting, this short has a worldly style that is new to Pixar shorts. Like many the Pixar shorts, the story is simple, but what makes it fun is the great gags that the filmmakers come up with. The directors worked closely with the composer to come up with the music, which is key. The tunes work as the voices of the characters, helping build their personalities. Bass is subtly built as a tired veteran performer, while Treble is flashier and comes off as a bit of a shyster.

Maybe not as deep thematically or unique in its performances, ONE MAN BAND deserved its Oscar nomination and continues to show why Pixar is so good at what it does.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks