Pixar Theory: What Happens When People Have Too Much Free Time

                The Pixar Theory pretty much blows my mind.

                Never heard of it? Click here for all of the basics (or just continue reading and hope I provide enough information!): http://www.pixartheory.com/

                Or here, for the full theory: http://jonnegroni.com/2013/07/11/the-pixar-theory/

                    

                As in life, everything in Pixar is connected. That’s something most of us Disney-Pixar fans have figured out; there’s references to multiple films in each one and many of them share the same themes.

                But what I never would have figured out is that Pixar films all take place on Earth over a timeline of thousands of years. I would have never thought that Boo (the adorable girl from Monsters Inc) grows up to be a time-traveling witch desperately looking for Sully.

                   

                                   Notice the Pizza Planet truck! 

                This is what happens when people have too much free time. I don’t mean that in a negative way- I think it’s amazing that someone was so moved by movies that he wanted to understand everything about them. Pixar surely knows of his theory by now. Whether or not everything in the Theory (the capital T makes it so much more official) was intentionally done by Pixar, it is worth a read. Ultimately, it poses a lesson of love and tolerance and I’d like to think that Pixar would support that message.

We all get into our fandoms and I love that. I think about which side of the force I’d be destined to and why Luna is the best witch ever and whether lembas tastes good. I feel instantly connect to other fans when we discuss our shared interest.

I love analyzing these worlds because they teach us so much about our own.

                I study history in order to gain a better understanding of our present and future, not just the past. (Also, it might make me a better wargamer!)

I understand why Jon Negroni spent all of those hours coming up with the Pixar Theory- he wanted to understand his own world by analyzing the ones in these well-planned and touching movies.

I’ll give you guys a little summary, but I promise that it does not do the Theory justice. Just go and read the whole thing. It won’t take that long. :)

The Theory begins and ends with Brave. The witch turns the Queen into a bear, step one in the blur between animals and humans. These magically enhanced animals continue to evolve and breed. 

In Ratatouille, animals begin experimenting with human behaviors; Up shows us how intelligent dogs are through the collars, which humans will then industrialize in order to exploit; Finding Nemo suggests the animosity between humans and animals has grown. 

                 

        Dug doesn't look unhappy... but he does seem pretty human!

Animals became powerful due to the magic and evolve at increased speeds. They’re angry that humans are polluting the Earth and taking advantage of them.

In addition, artificial intelligence poses a threat to humanity. This feud begins with The Incredibles, machines turn against humans. 

But why? Because humans are discarding (sentient) objects, like in Toy Story. 

                     

                               The saddest movie scene of all time.

A.I. relies completely on humans, and rules them through the super corporation hinted at in multiple films, Buy-N-Large (BNL). All of this industrialization leads to pollution, so naturally, animals and A.I. become at war too.

Unsurprisingly, machines win and Earth is dominated by Cars (and Planes). 

                    

                                 Watch out for machines, everyone!

Wall-E shows us the last effort to save humans, on Axiom, where humans are now the completely dependent ones. Wall-E is a hero and life can flourish on Earth again. A seed is planted… the seed of the tree from both A Bug’s Life and Up. Finally, machines, humans, and animals live harmoniously together and create a new species of monsters!

       Monsters need humans for energy and travel back in time through doors to capture it. The witch from Brave wanted to find Sully and travels through time, through doors of course, to find him. She went back in time to Mordu in order to find the magic to bring back her best friend.

                  

                           Anyone else getting a little teary-eyed?

                There are parts of the Pixar Theory which I am skeptical to believe. But I want to believe. (Okay, I just really want to evolve into a monster someday. I understand how evolution works and I know that just because humans/animals might evolve into monsters in these movies doesn’t mean I will be one but I’m stubborn, so that’s that.)

                           

                                   I already go to MU. I'm halfway there. 

                This interpretation of Pixar is brilliant. I don’t care if it’s right or wrong. I like it because look at all of the life lessons it teaches us:

1. Treat all life forms with respect- even those “inanimate objects.” Don’t jump on the bed, it has feelings too. Love your pets. Don’t drop your phone in the toilet.

2. Robots are awesome, but are they worth the risk? We KNOW they are going to conquer humans.

3. Don’t let any corporations/organizations get too big.  It’s only going to backfire.

4. Just kidding, let all of these terrible things happen so we can become MONSTERS.

                Here’s my Theory: continue being passionate about whatever it is that makes you happy. Stay strong in your convictions and never give up on your dreams. I’m going to become a Scarer one day, what will you do? :)

My Other Home: WBC

                By far, WBC is my favorite week (well…9 days!) of the year. WBC stands for the World Boardgaming Championships and is currently held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

We became friends with some Amish teenagers at the local Waffle House, too. 

My first year at WBC was the summer of 2010. It was eye-opening. I had only been introduced to the hobby a few months before when I started dating Joe.

Joe’s face would light up when he talked about WBC and he described it as a place where he felt like home. A place that was “his.”

After my first taste of gaming, I was hooked. And for some reason I thought Joe didn’t want me to go so I never asked. About a week before the convention, we realized that there had been a misunderstanding – he thought I thought WBC was too nerdy while I thought he wanted to keep it all to himself. Regardless, a week before the Con started, I decided to go and he taught me A LOT of games so I would be able to play in as many tournaments as possible.

(As much as I hate learning rules, I was thankful for this!)

I instantly won over the sport gamer crowd by kicking some serious butt in March Madness minutes after learning it; I made future life-long friends; I felt the majestic power of hundreds of people slamming their cups during Liar’s Dice.

I had the time of my life that first year and knew that summer would not be summer without WBC.

Forget you, "normal people," who like to go down the shore for vacation.

I’ve made some great memories over the last few years and hope to remember many of them from this year’s Con. Here are some of my top WBC tournament moments from 2013:

Tournaments:

5. Facts in Five. I learned that I know a lot about geography, magazines, and Fortune 500 companies and little of everything else. Either way, this event is so much fun. However, I was insulted by one category involving Monopoly. I’ve had too many people assume I play those types of games for me to fill in any answers. 

A picture from the 2012 event.

4. Star Wars: The Queen’s Gambit. I really want this game, it’s so fun! I ended up playing two of my friends during two heats which made it even better. Since I’m a super-nerd, I wore my Ahsoka Tano hoodie to stay with the Star Wars theme. J

Any Clone Wars fans out there?

3. Pirate’s Cove. You know an event is fun when getting candy isn’t even the best part! I am going to bring some pirate attire for next year to get into the spirit. This event reminded me of why we all go to WBC- to have an amazing time. 

                                     

                                                                            

2. Paydirt. This is one of my favorite events every year! I was accidently the Browns and the Eagles (I wasn’t really paying attention during the draft and just stuck up my hand when I realized I could get these teams “for free”) but it worked out pretty well. Every year, new rules are added and the team’s stats are updated in order to make the game more realistic, which I appreciate. In the AFC heat, I won two games and then lost my third on a field goal on the last drive. In the NFC heat, I won my first game by 26 – I felt really mean – then lost my second game in overtime. I love the atmosphere of this game and how everyone gets so into it. J

Representing my hometown team!

              

1. Battleline. During this tournament, I was more focused than ever before! Usually, I daydream between turns, but for this game, I was calculating and intent on winning. This is not a game I usually win – it’s actually the game I play with Joe after I’ve already beaten him in a few so he has a chance… Anyway, I’m really proud of myself for winning five games in a row and then losing in the finals. Second place, woo!

:)

Bonuses: It was a teammate’s team game. It is the third event I’ve earned laurels in and I still don’t have a plaque (Joe has FIVE third place plaques, among others). I think I might try to set a record. J

Overall, this year’s WBC was a success. I loved all of my tournaments and catching up with old friends. Somehow, we always managed to find the last table in the open gaming room. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything this year, which is new for me. I had an amazing 9 days. It all just worked out perfectly.

It’s a great feeling realizing that what once was “his” place is now “ours.”

                                            Is it August 4^th, 2014 yet?!