We have grown accustomed to expecting a wealth of easter eggs in Pixar films, references to other films in its catalog. The Pizza Planet truck and A113 symbol are the most abundant, with both appearing in almost every Pixar feature film. The most challenging easter eggs tend to be those that reference upcoming films, as it is difficult to know what to look for. It is a tradition to hunt for easter eggs and one that has continued with the studio’s first television special, Toy Story of Terror. Take a look at images of the easter eggs we found after the break!
Nemo, Luxo Jr’s ball, & Jessie in ‘Monsters, Inc.’
Although there are many easter eggs packed into its feature films, its short films only pack in a few due to their shorter length. The 21-minute running time for the Toy Story special, though, allowed employees more time and space to work with. This meant that easter eggs such as the Pizza Planet truck, which are usually reserved for feature films, found their way into Toy Story of Terror. We have put together a preliminary list of hidden references that we came across. Part of the fun of easter eggs is discovering them on your own, so obviously beware of spoilers below.
The Good Dinosaur and The Blue Umbrella
Concept Art for ‘The Good Dinosaur’
In the motel room that Bonnie and her mother stay in there are pieces of artwork above each bed. Look closer and you will see the silhouettes of Apatosaurus dinosaurs, which we know will be in Pixar’s 2016 film, The Good Dinosaur:
‘The Good Dinosaur’ artwork in ‘Toy Story of Terror’
The studio likes to hide references to its next film, but as you may have heard, The Good Dinosaur, which was scheduled to arrive next in 2014, was delayed into 2015. Toy Story of Terror was likely already completed or close to finishing, so switching in a reference to Pixar’s next film, Inside Out was probably too difficult, and honestly too much work for something as insignificant as an easter egg. This is the first time, though, that the future film easter egg references a film that is actually second next in line for Pixar. (EDIT: As pointed out by our intelligent and passionate commentors, this is actually not the first time this has happened!)
A still from ‘The Blue Umbrella’
Take a look at the umbrella that Bonnie is holding and it may appear familiar. That is because it is the blue umbrella from Pixar’s latest short. Although there are no eyes (that we can see), it appears to be the same shade of blue as the umbrella in Saschka Unseld’s short:
The blue umbrella in ‘Toy Story of Terror’
Pizza Planet
Pizza Planet in ‘Toy Story’
The license plate cover of the car Bonnie and her mother ride in says, “I Brake For Pizza Planet”:
I Brake For Pizza Planet in ‘Toy Story of Terror’
Pizza Planet Truck
Pizza Planet truck in ‘Toy Story’
If you peer over the shoulder of the manager of the Sleep Well Motel while he is standing in his office, you can see a picture of what is unmistakably the Pizza Planet truck on the wall:
Pizza Planet truck in ‘Toy Story of Terror’
Luxo Lamp
Luxo lamps in ‘Luxo Jr.’
Towards the end of the special, as Bonnie’s mother is scolding the motel manager, if you look at the back wall, you can catch the Luxo Lamp, which was featured in the first short released under the Pixar name, Luxo Jr:
Luxo lamp in ‘Toy Story of Terror’
Luxo Jr.’s Ball
Luxo Jr.’s ball in ‘Luxo Jr’
Underneath the bathroom sink where Jessie and Combat Carl meet for the first time, you can see an image of Luxo Jr’s ball carved in. It appears for just a moment as the camera pans across the underside of the sink. The image below is brightened so that the ball is more easily visible:
Luxo Jr’s ball in ‘Toy Story of Terror’
