Pixar has been in the news a lot in the past couple of weeks, as not only did the studio make tons of announcements at D23, but it was revealed that WALL-E will get a Criterion release. The release is completely unprecedented and it makes history as the first-ever Disney movie to get such a package.
Criterion is a distribution company that restores older films, and its releases are known for exclusive artwork, tons of bonus features, and the highest quality in audio and visuals. And Reddit thinks Criterion shouldn’t stop at WALL-E, as they call out several other Pixar movies that are deserving of the celebratory package.
Ratatouille (2007)
Logicalnoise wants to see Ratatouille get the coveted release. The Redditor compares it to WALL-E, noting, “Ratatouille is a more complete vision in my opinion and just so damned gorgeous and timeless.” Between the food that’s cooked up and the almost photorealistic rendering of Paris, it is undoubtedly one of Pixar’s most beautiful releases.
Ironically, Everything Everywhere All at Once will likely get a Criterion release before Ratatouille, as the new multiverse film directly and heavily references the animated movie throughout the entire 140-minute runtime with Raccoonie. But, in fairness, some think Ratatouille would be better if it was live-action, and Everything Everywhere is the closest fans will ever come to such a thing.
Turning Red (2022)
1990Buscemi wants to see a Turning Red Criterion release, but it’s extremely unlikely given that it’s so new. However, Turning Red didn’t get the theatrical release that all Pixar movies deserve, as its release was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was made available on Disney+.
It was even more of a slap to the face of everyone involved with the film because it was made available for free instead of for a premium fee like Mulan and Cruella. Even though Turning Red is a new movie and Criterion releases are for older classics, such a release for the 2022 film could give it the celebration that it deserves.
Toy Story (1995)
.jpg)
The WALL-E Criterion announcement came as a surprise to many, as fans thought the natural choice for a Pixar Criterion release would be Toy Story. Reddit user McLovin1826 makes a great point, explaining, “It’s the first full-length computer animated film, and changed the landscape of the animation industry.”
WALL-E might have been chosen over the 1995 film because the sci-fi animation is a masterclass in storytelling, as it’s as close to silent of a movie as it gets. Not only that, but Disney might see WALL-E as a stale property that the studio can’t do anything with, and this is the best way to monetize it in 2022. However, a Toy Story Criterion release is an inevitability given its place in movie history, and it’d be such a rookie mistake to neglect the 1995 film, which is an absolute cinematic achievement.
Coco (2017)
This user thinks Coco deserves a Criterion release, and even though it is one of the most recent Pixar movies, as it’s barely five years old, few other Pixar films are more deserving of it.
One of the other reasons why WALL-E was probably chosen before any other Pixar movie for a Criterion release is because it deals with serious issues. The sci-fi film is about climate change and how humans have destroyed the Earth by polluting it. But Coco has a lot of depth too, as it tackles death in families and the deceased being forgotten by their loved ones. In that respect, along with the spectacular-looking afterlife, the 2017 movie totally deserves a Criterion release,
Up (2009)
HM9719 thinks that it isn’t a case of if Up gets a Criterion release, but when. The Redditor explains, “When it gets added, those film schools will make the ‘Married Life’ montage an assignment for sure.” The montage the user is referring to is the very first 10 minutes of the movie, and that 10 minutes depicts around 50 years of Carl and Ellie’s life together.
The montage ends with Ellie passing away, and it’s the single most emotional moment of any Pixar movie, which is saying a lot. It’s no surprise that Pixar is famous for its hilarious and hugely engaging short films, as Up manages to make audiences cry before the main character, Russell, is even introduced. And that alone is why the film is worth a Criterion release.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Jrutz thinks that Toy Story 2 is even more worthy of a Criterion release than its predecessor. However, the Redditor points to the potential additional material than the movie itself as to the reason why, explaining, “a Toy Story 2 release covering the crazy history of that sequel.” The user is referring to how the director was replaced mid-production, which would make for a great bonus feature.
Toy Story 2 is as good as if not better than the original movie, and the same can be said for any one of the sequels in the series. In that respect, Criterion could even release a box set of the full Toy Story series, which isn’t completely unlikely, as the boutique has released box sets in the past. Whether it’s selected works of celebrated directors or movie series, Criterion has put together some amazing collections, and Toy Story could be next.
Monsters Inc. (2001)
KingMario05 couples two extraordinarily different movies together when it comes to their Criterion wishlist. The Redditor comments, “Hope Monsters Inc. and Heat are next.” While Heat also deserves a Criterion release, the possibilities of what could come with an MI release are mouth-watering.
The Pixar films have influenced tons of fan speculations, with the biggest of them all being “the Pixar Theory,” which expertly ties every film together. However, Monsters Inc. has inspired the most fan theories, and given that Criterion releases include so many extras, a Monsters Inc. Criterion package could include the creators responding to the theories, almost like what Room 237 was to The Shining.
Inside Out (2015)
Bextercc believes that Inside Out should get the Criterion treatment. Though the Redditor doesn’t exactly detail why, it’s easy to understand where they’re coming from given that the film has such an emotional toll on audiences and is arguably the best Pixar movie of the 2010s.
Releasing an Inside Out Criterion package in the coming years could be a great marketing strategy, as Inside Out 2 was just announced at D23. If the release coincided with the marketing of the new movie, it would boost both the sales of the package and interest in the sequel. While both Disney and Criterion care about their craft, they’re also money-oriented, and this makes the most sense when it comes to financial gain.
The Incredibles (2004)
Though they admit many other choices are great, Prof-Ratigan wants to see a Criterion release for The Incredibles, noting, “Some excellent choices, but I keep coming back to The Incredibles the most (and Wall-E second) for rewatching.” However, Criterion and its customers would most likely turn their noses up at a superhero movie getting the treatment.
The boutique casts a spotlight on much smaller films and introduces cinephiles to movies they probably haven’t heard of, spreading the word of great indie movies that didn’t get the platform they deserved. But although selling a 4K superhero film that already had a marketing budget of tens of millions of dollars isn’t exactly Criterion’s mission statement, an exception could be made for The Incredibles.
The Shorts
Whatudontlikefalafel makes an out-the-box choice for what Pixar projects that want to see get packaged into a Criterion release. The Redditor wants to see all the shorts collected onto one disc, commenting, “I also think a Pixar shorts collection would be great. Disney already released those on Blu-ray but it’s absolutely something Criterion could publish too.”
Though the shorts are already available in the highest quality possible, the extras could be filled with archive footage dating all the way back to 1986 when Pixar was first founded. And it’d be worth it just to see how the Criterion artists manage to include an element from every short onto the typical artisan package cover.
