Andrew Croteau
ENG-110 H5
Prof. Paterson
6 December 2024
Pixar Precautions
Many have made dramatic claims and unusual stories that can lead to the creation of a Conspiracy Theory. When one becomes consumed by a theory such as this one it may become so convincing no other input is considered. Darker and real-world-based conspiracies can lead many people down dangerous and unhealthy paths. If someone devotes their life to ideas such as these theories their sense of self may be altered over time. Ideas gaining large followings can lead others to join even when sufficient evidence isn’t available. Those ideas that do have “evidence” can lead to an even deeper attachment and cause a sense of disconnect from reality. In the case we will discuss, if one believes Pixar movies are connected, it doesn’t affect the universe they remain in but could affect how they perceive their life.
The Pixar theory, created by Jon Negroni, claims that every movie the Pixar company produces occurs within the same universe over a vast timeline. Starting with the Good Dinosaur and the asteroid that narrowly passed by the Earth allows the whole theory to begin. The dinosaurs became more civilized creating farms and even communities at times, however even without the asteroid severe weather and other causes led to their inevitable extinction. Next on the timeline is the movie Brave, which takes place in medieval Scotland. During this film we learn magic exists in this universe with the will-of-the-wisps and the Witch. The magic shown by the Witch is extremely important, specifically door magic. Humans continue to evolve and grow. In some cases, like in The Incredibles, humans have superpowers, leading to great heroes and growth. During this time, we see the rise of technology and its power in partnership with large companies such as ‘Buy N Large’ from Wall-E, alongside how animals kept their intelligence, especially those that dwell in the oceans and skies. Over time humans fell to their creations and were forced to leave the Earth, leaving it to the machines to clean and recover while humans took their leave of absence. Years later Humans returned to find an almost forgotten planet that was mostly restored. The remaining radiation on the planet from pollution and other anthropogenic sources led to mutations of all sorts and created the age of the monsters. As with all civilizations, energy was always an issue, and they found a way to travel back in time and use human emotion as energy. They did this through doors, magic doors. This brings us back to the beginning of which this theory is partly founded, the Witch from Brave is an older Boo from Monsters Inc.. Boo was introduced to door magic as a child and after she returned to her timeline she grew up searching for the magic that brought her to her favorite person, Sully. Once Boo figures out how to return to the future she will learn a lot more on her way. This will n include how if someone remembers a person, in this case, a monster, in the past they can never be forgotten. Memory is seen as the most powerful form of life in the Pixar universe. In the Inside Out movies, we see how memories form the characters’ core values and their sense of self. We also see in the Toy Story movies how the joy of a child playing with a toy can bring life into inanimate objects and when they are forgotten they lose their ability to talk or even move. In Inside Out and Coco, we see how the “last death” comes after you are already deceased, but it is when you are completely forgotten by all those living, leaving the universe in the form of dust never to exist again. There are many “Easter Eggs”, or hidden references, and reasons why this could be true, but the overall message is that memory is the key to life in the Pixar universe. Without it, no person could grow to be themselves and interact with the world around them.
Conspiracy theories can be attractive to believe because they are entertaining; those like the Pixar theory involve many nostalgic movies. As the adults who watched them during their childhood mature, they may understand more complex ideas therefore attracting us to make connections to the memories that built our childhood. These ideas can create whole worlds within a person and help express their love, grief, joy, and sorrow. These emotions and memories form a person’s inner self which they can express or put on a mask to hide themselves. Connections between movies can bring a sense of togetherness and flow into a person’s life that could be missing, fitting the puzzle pieces into the “right” spot can be satisfying even if no one is asking you to make it in the first place. The wild tales some create are ways of escaping from reality as they know it, bringing fantasy to life, and spreading these ideas to those who will listen. The excitement brought forth when the theory can be expanded or more “evidence” is found can be a driving force to carry on, giving a purpose or path to those in need. In continuation of the Pixar theory, as more movies are produced more challenges arise to connect the dots but also give way to unlimited possibilities within the Pixar universe. The company itself has never confirmed this theory to be true, however, articles have shared how select individuals have asked high-ranking employees for insight and were met with indirect answers. These answers neither confirmed nor denied the existence or strength of the theory being factual.
Many who hear a conspiracy theory that could be true will often push it to the side once the conversation is over. The need to overthink or dwell on something that shouldn’t affect them isn’t always present but those who desire to prove the theories wrong are trying to take worlds away from people who may rely on them for comfort. In the article The Negative Social Impact of Conspiracy Theories by Karen Douglas, a professor of psychology at the University of Kent, Douglas discusses the need for more attention to the effect of conspiracy theories on society. She points out, “while many conspiracy theories may indeed be harmless, recent psychological research suggests that some of the social consequences of conspiracy theories deserve more serious attention,” (New York Times, January 4, 2015). The different types of theories seem to affect the everyday person differently, leading to different views and actions depending on what theories they are exposed to and believe. Douglas also says that having “Some level of healthy skepticism is undoubtedly important for individuals, and citizens cannot be expected to agree with everything they are told,” (New York Times, January 4, 2015). This skepticism is what allows people to make choices in their lives and experience the world in different ways, allowing individuality to exist. Yes, conspiracy theories can cause possible unrest and stress, but the positive and light-hearted fantasies created by people across many fandoms spread joy to so many in finding a place to explore deeper parts of memories they otherwise would have lost.
After discussing why conspiracy theories can become so connected to those who believe in them, the different types of theories that exist, and how strong of an impact they can make on individuals in a society. The idea of the Pixar theory shares a variety of emotions with those who believe in it. These emotions tackle grief, wider connections between people and their memories, and how a theory can be seen in many different lights.
References:
Douglas, Karen. “The Negative Social Impact of Conspiracy Theories – NYTimes.com.” Nytimes.com, 4 Jan. 2015, www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/01/04/are-conspiracy-theories-all-bad-17/the-negative-social-impact-of-conspiracy-theories.
Negroni, Jon. “Jon Negroni.” Jon Negroni, 7 Sept. 2018, https://jonnegroni.com/2013/07/11/the-pixar-theory/
