Top 10 Pixar Easter Eggs That Teased an Upcoming Movie
#10: Stop Clownfishing Around! “Monsters, Inc.” (2001)
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The fun thing about Pixar Easter eggs is that you usually have to go back and re-watch the movies to spot them. At the time of “Monsters, Inc.’s” release, no one would have had any reason to look further into the clownfish plushie Boo offers to Sulley. Or, the one hanging in the trailer Randall is thrown into. Or, the one painted on the wall behind the octopus sushi chef, which might honestly be more of a reference to Marlin than Nemo, but we digress. After “Finding Nemo” was released in 2003, fans began to make the connection, and the sheer number of clownfish hidden in “Monsters, Inc.” made a lot more sense.
#9: To Infinity & the Skateboard Park “Turning Red” (2022)
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If you missed this one, we don’t blame you. There’s a quick scene of Mei and her friends walking down the street, where the underside of Miriam’s skateboard is visible. It’s covered in stickers, two of which allude to “Lightyear”: Buzz’s Star Command logo and Sox the robotic cat. The movies premiered just three months apart, so fans who were up to date on all the press might have spotted this one early on. “Lightyear” was certainly not exempt from teasing an upcoming Pixar film either. In a vending machine, eagle-eyed audiences noticed water bottles labeled “Wade Water,” the name of the main character in the studio’s next release, “Elemental”.
#8: The “Incredible” Duke Caboom “Incredibles 2” (2018)
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Apparently, the youngest Parr is a fan of Canada’s greatest stuntman! If you squint, you can make out “Toy Story 4’s” Duke Caboom in Jack-Jack’s playpen for a few moments in “The Incredibles” 2018 sequel. Of course, the first installment had its nod to future features as well. 2004 was a time before many Pixar stand-outs, including the mega popular “Cars” franchise. In the final battle on the streets of Metroville, there’s a midnight blue Hudson Hornet parked in the background that looks a whole lot like Doc Hudson. He’s not anthropomorphic this time around, but it’s definitely a fun inclusion!
#7: Finding Hank “The Good Dinosaur” (2015)
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Is it just us or does that octopus only have seven tentacles? What octopus, you ask? Oh, you didn’t see it? Yeah, neither did we the first ten or so times. When Arlo first falls in the water, there’s a blink-and-you’ll miss it moment where Hank from “Finding Dory” can be spotted in the lower left corner of the frame. For fans who managed to see Hank hiding at the bottom of the ocean the first time, he probably wouldn’t have been reminiscent of anything except some random octopus, until the release of “Finding Dory” the year later. Speaking of, “Finding Dory” also had a nice little nod to “Cars 3”, with a truck driver wearing a band-aid featuring Lightning McQueen.
#6: We’d Pay Good Money to Read That Comic “Finding Nemo” (2003)
The early 2000s saw Pixar putting out hit after hit, two of which included “Finding Nemo” in 2003 and “The Incredibles” in 2004. We all know the iconic dentist scene in the former and, apparently, it’s been rewatched so many times that even the patients in the waiting room were examined with a close eye. Specifically, people took notice of their reading material. There’s a young boy sitting next to his mom, who’s reading what appears to be a comic book. On the cover is none other than Mr. Incredible himself, striking the classic superhero pose. We wonder if there were issues of “The Incredible Spider-Man” and “The Incredible Hulk” too!
#5: The Car-ified DunBroch Tapestry “Cars 2” (2011)
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She’ll be… driving? For her own hand! This is another Easter egg that requires a rather keen eye. Even though Merida drives a sword through her family tapestry, it’s not necessarily the most memorable part of the movie. Still, it’s replicated on a wall in Ye Left Turn Inn, a pub in “Cars 2”, which was released the year before “Brave”. If you stare at it long enough, you’ll see each member of Clan DunBroch as a car version of themselves. They’re all there: King Fergus, Queen Elinor, Princess Merida, and even the row of tiny triplets. It’s pretty adorable honestly.
#4: A “Beary” Hidden Detail “Up” (2009)
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Even as a stand-alone, “Up” stole the hearts of everyone who watched it. Still, the excitement generated for the third installment of the beloved “Toy Story” franchise was memorable, even a whole year before it premiered. There’s a cameo from a major character introduced in “Toy Story 3”, but no one knew it at the time! In the scene where Carl Fredricksen’s house begins to float away, we get a shot from the perspective of a little girl as the balloons pass her window. In the corner of her room is none other than Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear! We know there’s a pun in here somewhere. Those are… “Lotso” Balloons? Eh, we tried.
#3: The Skeletal Incredibles “Coco” (2017)
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“Incredibles 2” might have been the most highly anticipated Pixar sequel to date, likely due to just how much time had passed since the original. Before we got to see it, though, “Coco” would hit theaters and keep audiences satiated for a little while longer. One might have been quickly reminded of the upcoming “Incredibles” film, though, with the identification of a relatively striking poster on an alley wall. In a scene alive with dancing through the streets of the Land of the Dead, the Parr family clad in their signature uniforms appear as dead versions of themselves. Seriously, some of these Easter eggs are enough to make us “Un Poco Loco”!
#2: The San Fran-saurus Memory “Inside Out” (2015)
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“Inside Out” deals heavily with memories, one of which features the Andersen road trip to San Francisco, where Riley and her family stop to take pictures with dinosaur statues. In hindsight, those aren’t just any ol’ dinos! They’re a nod to Arlo and Forrest Woodbush from “The Good Dinosaur”, which premiered just five months after “Inside Out”! An even earlier reference to the movie can be spotted in “Monsters University” two whole years before. Keen eyes might notice Arlo and co. as toys on a bedroom floor in one of the scare simulations. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. This Town Should Look Familiar, “Cars 3” (2017) “Coco” Hit Theatres Just a Few Months After! This Shadow Remind You of Anyone?, “Ratatouille” (2007) Maybe Dogs Are a Rat’s Best Friend? Guinevere’s Majestic Mural, “Toy Story 4” (2019) We Would Have Killed to See Ian and Barley at the Fair! Carl Fredricksen's Walker, “WALL-E” (2008) The Tennis Balls Give It Away!
#1: A Monstrous Carving “Brave” (2012)
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This list wouldn’t be complete without the strongest piece of evidence for Jon Negroni’s famous Pixar theory. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s theorized that all the Pixar movies take place within the same universe. The little Easter eggs like the ones on this list are often used as proof of a connection between the films. In “Brave”, the wooden carving of Sulley in the background of this scene is supposed to indicate that the witch is actually Boo. Either way, this was a nice allusion to the release of “Monsters University”, which would come out the year later.
