Disney presents twenty Pixar short films as a two-hour television special on December 2nd **** Four Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

Jack-Jack in Pixar Shorts on ABC Family

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 12/2/2009 - Pixar is recognized for their critically-acclaimed short films including many Academy Award winning and nominated Best Animated Short Film. Those films will be premiering tonight on TV.

Pixar started in 1979 as a division of Lucasfilm. After an expensive divorce from his wife, who was also the editor of Star Wars, George Lucas sold Pixar to Steve Jobs in 1986. Jobs had been fired from Apple. Jobs set the mission of Pixar as selling Pixar Image Computers, but only 300 of the graphics workstations ever sold because they were expensive. Several of the Pixar computers went to Disney for use in feature animation on films such as Pocahontas.

Pixar employee John Lasseter created a series of short demonstration animations, such as Luxo Jr., to showcase what their computers could do. When the computer business didn’t take off for them, Pixar made an agreement to produce films for Disney. That led to an unprecedented series of ten hit films, starting with Toy Story in 1995. Pixar was acquired by Disney in 2006. Pixar continues to produce short films that showcase its capabilities.

Pixar Short Films premieres on ABC Family on Wednesday, December 2 from 7:00-9:00PM ET/PT (and again from 9:00PM-11:00PM ET/PT). Two encore presentations will air on the network on Friday, December 18 at 10:00PM ET/PT and Saturday, December 19 at 6:00PM ET/PT.

The shorts to be shown in the two-hour presentation include:

1. Adventures Of Andre And Wally B. Seeking a restful nap in a pleasant wooded valley, Andre is awakened by a pesky yellow-and-black striped insect with a sharp stinger.

2. Boundin’. A sad lamb is cheered by a dancing jackalope, the mythical horned rabbit of American western folklore.

3. For The Birds. A large dopey bird that tries to join flock of small birds perched on a telephone wire with unexpected consequences.

4. Geri’s Game. An aging Geri, playing a day-long game of chess against himself in the park, is determined not to lose to himself.

5. Jack-Jack Attack. Babysitter Kari discovers baby Jack-Jack from The Incredibles has special powers.

6. Knick Knack. A snowman trapped in a snowglobe blizzard plans his escape.

7. Lifted. An alien student bungles his first lesson in elementary abduction as an increasingly weary instructor looks on.

8. Luxo Jr. A baby desk lamp finds a ball to play with.

9. Mater And The Ghostlight. Mater from Cars is haunted by a mysterious blue light that teaches him not to play pranks.

10. Mike’s New Car. Mike from Monsters, Inc. discovers that the new car smell doesn’t last long.

11. One Man Band. The peasant girl Tippy is caught in the middle of a musical duel between two one-man-bands competing for her attention.

12. Red’s Dream. Red, a unicycle, dreams of his own juggling act that steals the show.

13. Tin Toy. Babies don’t seem like monsters, unless you’re a toy.

14. Your Friend The Rat. Remy from Ratatouille and his less than enthusiastic brother Emile present their case why humans and rats should just get along.

15. Burn•E. A welding bot on the Axiom Starliner from WALL•E attempts to open a locked door.

16. Presto. The great turn-of-the century magician Presto neglects to feed his rabbit.

17. Rescue Squad Mater. Mater from Cars is part of a rescue squad that has to put out a blaze at the local Gasoline & Match factory.

18. Mater The Greater. Mater from Cars does all kinds of stunts, and Lightning McQueen becomes an unwilling participant.

19. El-Materdor. Mater from Cars as a famous bulldozer fighter in Spain.

20. Unidentified Flying Mater. Mater from Cars meets a cute little bucktoothed UFO named Mator.

Pixar Short Films premieres on ABC Family as part of their “25 Days of Christmas.” On Wednesday, December 2 from 7:00-9:00PM ET/PT (and again from 9:00PM-11:00PM ET/PT). Two encore presentations will air on the network on Friday, December 18 at 10:00PM ET/PT and Saturday, December 19 at 6:00PM ET/PT.