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Although it has had loads of critically acclaimed hits, I don't think Pixar was ever considered as much of a "masterpiece" factory as it was a hit factory. It's

Although it has had loads of critically acclaimed hits, I don't think Pixar was ever considered as much of a "masterpiece" factory as it was a hit factory. It's only ever a small percentage of people who go to the cinema to see masterpieces. People go to be entertained, and Pixar has been very good at that for a very long time. It also benefitted from riding a steady wave of in-house CG improvements all the way from the Luxo shorts to the point where the verisimilitude has to be dialed down so as to fit the expectations of the Disney/Pixar look. Like the first Star Wars films, there was a gee-whiz tech factor to their early movies that compensated for some banal or hackneyed beats in their storytelling. And they can't rely on that any longer. If anything, they've ceded the eye candy aspect to the Avatar series and the eye-popping Spider-Man cartoons. I think to the extent that Pixar is in trouble, it's because they need to figure out a way to break out of their self-imposed box without losing their core identity as a studio.

freetime2 3y ago
I consider several Pixar movies to be “masterpieces”. The production quality is so high, the cast and voice acting are so good, and the story is able to appeal to adults and young children alike. High art they are not, but I don’t think that “masterpiece” should be reserved only for high art. The credits in Pixar movies are filled with people who masters at their craft. In terms of animation, I personally hold Studio Ghibli in higher regard. But they are targeting a different audience with more adult themes. And I wouldn’t hesitate to apply “masterpiece factory” to either studio. Compare either studio to DreamWorks and the difference in quality is noticeable in just about every aspect of the production.
- lloeki 3y ago
  > Studio Ghibli ... are targeting a different audience with more adult themes Definitely for the "adult" theme part, although I'd word it differently. While the likes of Mononoke Hime and Grave of the Fireflies should probably be handle with care (resp. violence and very heavy context) most are perfectly watchable by children (of course being mindful of what may shock or otherwise create psychological harm). I'd argue that many of these "adult" themes are perfectly graspable by children and it's our own prejudice that we project, and that these films present them in an accessible way for children, enabling deep parent-child discussions that would help understand and structure a child and prepare them for their life to come. I'd rather have my children watch Ghibli stuff than Disney.
  - freetime2 3y ago
    To clarify, by “adult themes” I didn’t mean that they aren’t suitable for children. Just they didn’t really hold my kids’ interest. I watched a bunch of Studio Ghibli movies with my kids when they were age 4 - 6 or so. Spirited Away, Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and Nausicaa. The pacing is quite a bit slower, and the action more subdued than in Pixar movies and other animation targeted at kids. My kids tended to gravitate toward Pokemon, Crayon Shin-chan, Doraemon, and other animation aimed at kids - which I don’t really have any problem with. Also Demon Slayer and One Piece - which we probably shouldn’t let them watch - but they seemed to handle it ok. And finally YouTube, which is mostly trash, but we tolerate in moderation. I would definitely be happy if they showed more interest in Ghibli movies - but it’s hard to compete with endorphin rush of YouTube.
    - aidenn0 3y ago
      Totoro and Kiki were both beloved by my kids. 4 might be a bit young, but certainly at 6. My wife, on the other hand, finds them unwatchable.
      - hylaride 3y ago
        Ghibli movies I've found are more like entering a state of mind or emotion than following a plot. I'm not sure if that's a Ghibli thing or a Japanese thing (I haven't watched much other Japanese content). We introduced Totoro when my kid was 3.5 and it was too soon (she'd cry at the end because the cat bus was going away), but that movie along with Kiki's Delivery Service, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Ponyo have since become staples in our home. As a parent to a daughter, I do really like the strong female leads that most of their movies have.
  - jvvw 3y ago
    My children have found most of the Studio Ghibli films unsettling and slightly scary. They watched them I guess when they were in the 6-10 age range and saw My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle etc. They refuse to watch Studio Ghibli films these days! I'd much rather watch them than Disney but they somehow couldn't cope with them.
2muchcoffeeman 3y ago
Lately I’ve just been looking out for movies that have a decent beginning, middle and end. Just some solid fundamentals. Never mind if they are masterpieces. Pixar is definitely consistent in that regard. Entertaining movies. Some are stellar. Almost all are competent. Only Cars 2 really irks me.
danaris 3y ago
I find any definition of "masterpiece" that requires that a work be largely inaccessible to the public is rooted primarily in classism and gatekeeping. I wouldn't say that classic 20th century drama films typically termed masterpieces are not that; however, I think that just like any other medium of art, one primary purpose of film as an art form is to entertain, and to dismiss entertainment value as plebeian or vulgar when determining what deserves the title of "masterpiece" smacks of a desire to be not merely exclusive, but exclusionary.
- zuminator 3y ago
  I hear you, and point taken. But I'm not (at least not consciously) equating excellence with elitism. I would say "The Incredibles" was both popular and a masterpiece. The "Fast" series is popular but not a masterpiece. And "Sorry to Bother You" was a masterpiece, but not popular (nor is it in my opinion inaccessible in the way that "Drive My Car" or Ursula Meier's "Home" might be, if by inaccessible you mean thematically unengaging to mainstream American audiences.) Personally, I like 'em all.

freetime2 3y ago

I consider several Pixar movies to be “masterpieces”. The production quality is so high, the cast and voice acting are so good, and the story is able to appeal to adults and young children alike. High art they are not, but I don’t think that “masterpiece” should be reserved only for high art. The credits in Pixar movies are filled with people who masters at their craft. In terms of animation, I personally hold Studio Ghibli in higher regard. But they are targeting a different audience with more adult themes. And I wouldn’t hesitate to apply “masterpiece factory” to either studio. Compare either studio to DreamWorks and the difference in quality is noticeable in just about every aspect of the production.

lloeki 3y ago
> Studio Ghibli ... are targeting a different audience with more adult themes Definitely for the "adult" theme part, although I'd word it differently. While the likes of Mononoke Hime and Grave of the Fireflies should probably be handle with care (resp. violence and very heavy context) most are perfectly watchable by children (of course being mindful of what may shock or otherwise create psychological harm). I'd argue that many of these "adult" themes are perfectly graspable by children and it's our own prejudice that we project, and that these films present them in an accessible way for children, enabling deep parent-child discussions that would help understand and structure a child and prepare them for their life to come. I'd rather have my children watch Ghibli stuff than Disney.
- freetime2 3y ago
  To clarify, by “adult themes” I didn’t mean that they aren’t suitable for children. Just they didn’t really hold my kids’ interest. I watched a bunch of Studio Ghibli movies with my kids when they were age 4 - 6 or so. Spirited Away, Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and Nausicaa. The pacing is quite a bit slower, and the action more subdued than in Pixar movies and other animation targeted at kids. My kids tended to gravitate toward Pokemon, Crayon Shin-chan, Doraemon, and other animation aimed at kids - which I don’t really have any problem with. Also Demon Slayer and One Piece - which we probably shouldn’t let them watch - but they seemed to handle it ok. And finally YouTube, which is mostly trash, but we tolerate in moderation. I would definitely be happy if they showed more interest in Ghibli movies - but it’s hard to compete with endorphin rush of YouTube.
  - aidenn0 3y ago
    Totoro and Kiki were both beloved by my kids. 4 might be a bit young, but certainly at 6. My wife, on the other hand, finds them unwatchable.
    - hylaride 3y ago
      Ghibli movies I've found are more like entering a state of mind or emotion than following a plot. I'm not sure if that's a Ghibli thing or a Japanese thing (I haven't watched much other Japanese content). We introduced Totoro when my kid was 3.5 and it was too soon (she'd cry at the end because the cat bus was going away), but that movie along with Kiki's Delivery Service, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Ponyo have since become staples in our home. As a parent to a daughter, I do really like the strong female leads that most of their movies have.
- jvvw 3y ago
  My children have found most of the Studio Ghibli films unsettling and slightly scary. They watched them I guess when they were in the 6-10 age range and saw My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle etc. They refuse to watch Studio Ghibli films these days! I'd much rather watch them than Disney but they somehow couldn't cope with them.

2muchcoffeeman 3y ago

Lately I’ve just been looking out for movies that have a decent beginning, middle and end. Just some solid fundamentals. Never mind if they are masterpieces. Pixar is definitely consistent in that regard. Entertaining movies. Some are stellar. Almost all are competent. Only Cars 2 really irks me.

danaris 3y ago

I find any definition of "masterpiece" that requires that a work be largely inaccessible to the public is rooted primarily in classism and gatekeeping. I wouldn't say that classic 20th century drama films typically termed masterpieces are not that; however, I think that just like any other medium of art, one primary purpose of film as an art form is to entertain, and to dismiss entertainment value as plebeian or vulgar when determining what deserves the title of "masterpiece" smacks of a desire to be not merely exclusive, but exclusionary.

zuminator 3y ago
I hear you, and point taken. But I'm not (at least not consciously) equating excellence with elitism. I would say "The Incredibles" was both popular and a masterpiece. The "Fast" series is popular but not a masterpiece. And "Sorry to Bother You" was a masterpiece, but not popular (nor is it in my opinion inaccessible in the way that "Drive My Car" or Ursula Meier's "Home" might be, if by inaccessible you mean thematically unengaging to mainstream American audiences.) Personally, I like 'em all.