Weird
title, huh? Anyway…
I’ve always been fascinated – or, at least, impressed – with how Pixar
manages to convey a clear message in every one of their teasers (and trailers). The plot is always very
straight-forward (if even present), the characters and their personalities are precise, and the setting is
detailed and beautiful, yet simple. Let me give you an example:
[b]Ratatouille Teaser Trailer -
[/b]
Plot - Simple: A rat desperately wants to become a chef.
Characters - Personalities are known within the first few seconds of screen
time. Remy: determined, ambitious, often frantic. “Rollie”: laid-back, unconcerned,
nonargumentative/relenting, often gives advice. Remy’s father: quick to argue/join in on a conversation, sticks
with own viewpoints. Auguste Gusteau: eager to please.
Setting - Is known
right from the start. Is detailed, yet not so detailed as to confuse the viewer. Pleasant to observe.
Detailes such as these are more minor in some of Pixar’s other teasers and, more often than not, do
not convey the plot. Such examples include:
Monsters Inc. Teaser Trailer 1:
Mike and Sulley, hot on the job, accidently enter a wrong door and into a room with no kid in it.
Monsters Inc. Teaser Trailer 2 - Mike and Sulley are playing a game of
charades, where Sully has the “upper hand” and Mike doesn’t seem to have gotten the hang of it yet.
In these two teasers, the characters’ personalities can be guessed at without trouble, even if the plot
is unknown. We also know where the characters are situated at (the setting).
Other teasers (such as
the Cars and A Bug’s Life trailers) don’t convey much
information at all, if any. But, the concept is the same: Simple and elegant.
What do you think of this?
Do you view Pixar’s teasers in a different light, or are we all in the same boat here? 
