Luxo, Jr. is both Pixar's mascot and the titular protagonist of the 1986short film of the same name. He is a small, sentient, light gray desk lamp (although he has sometimes looked more white than light gray) who loves to play with bouncy balls. He is also best known for appearing in the beginning of every Pixar film, hopping over to the Pixar logo, jumping on the capital "I" in "PIXAR" and squashing it. After having the same light bulb for over 20 years, WALL-E had to replace it for him when it went out, which can be seen in the trailer for WALL-E, replacing the standard bulb with a compact florescent. Luxo, Jr. has been seen in every Pixar feature film and short film since Toy Story, during the film's introduction and at the end of the credits as the "I" of the Pixar logo.
Luxo, Jr.'s most recent (albeit temporary) upgrade was that of a laser for the teaser trailer of Cars 2.
Luxo, Jr. can be seen twice on the credits of Cars 2; the first overlooking the Pixar Studios building on a map, and the second in an advertisement for "Air Luxo".
The latter, however, ends slightly differently the background suddenly turns off leaving it a blue glow around it which slowly dims and the lamp's brightness dims slightly before turning off.
Beginning in 1998 at the opening of films from A Bug's Life onward (not counting Monsters, Inc. and Cars; including the beginning of the 2000 DTV feature Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, the short films Boundin' and One Man Band, and the non-theatrical prints of Cars 2), it animates as normal, but it ends similar to the D'sAS:TS version. The difference from that version is the fading is faster.
The BLoSC:TAB version has it vertically off-centered.
A still version with Luxo, Jr. exists on Toy Story 3 for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
On mainly trailers and TV spots, at the beginning of Monsters, Inc., at the beginning of shorts starting from Partly Cloudy, at the end of TV specials, and on the second trailer for Coco titled "Dante's Treat", the tail end of the animation plays.
On June 27, 2008, starting with WALL-E, it was given an HD look with the same animation intact.
At the end of the theatrical release of WALL-E, it plays as normal, but it cuts in at the beginning, but after the lamp turns, it freezes for the few seconds before "ANIMATION STUDIOS" fades in.
Beginning with Up, after the lamp turns, "ANIMATION STUDIOS" then fades in.
At the beginning of the 2009 2D re-release of Toy Story, it plasters the existing WDP logo variation, but still fades to the opening shot.
On one TV spot for Finding Dory, "ANIMATION STUDIOS" is absent.
At both the beginning (opening variant) and the end (Normal version) of Cars 3, it cuts in like the WALL-E theatrical version (and its custom variant).
On the teaser trailer for Incredibles 2 on Samuel L. Jackson's official Facebook page, it is oddly cropped up in the middle to unfit into the vertical ratio cutting out the "P" & "R" in "PIXAR" and the half of "ANIMATION STUDIOS".
In opening logos of Incredibles 2, the logo is reanimated to be in the style of the movie's closing credits, with a completely different color scheme.
In the opening logos of Toy Story 4, it straightly transitions to a thunderstorm during the flashback scene, where Luxo, Jr. can slightly still be seen glowing his bulb in the rain.
In the closing logos for said movie, Duke Caboom takes Luxo, Jr.'s place. After he finishes, the winter Combat Carl arrives. Duke gives him a high-five and the logo cuts to black.
In the openings titles of Pixar Popcorn, Luxo, Jr. keeps finding popcorn as it rains over him.
In the opening titles of Inside Out 2 the sound effects of Luxo, Jr. bouncing on the I in the Pixar logo, aren't heard, music is heard instead.
Anniversary variants[]
In 2006, Pixar celebrated 20 years. At the beginning of Cars (excluding the 3D version), the logo plays as normal. When the background darkens, the words: "Celebrating 20 years".
In 2011, Pixar celebrated 25 years. At the beginning of theatrical prints of Cars 2, the logo plays as normal, but after the lamp turns, the letters of "PIXAR" (excluding the already squished "I") and "ANIMATION STUDIOS" fades out leaving the background and lamp behind. Then it fades to black, as "CELEBRATING" (with the "C" formed from Luxo, Jr.'s light) fades in, zooming forward.
Trivia[]
The inspiration for the design and size of Luxo, Jr. came from Spencer Porter, son of Tom Porter, who had brought his son to work one day and John Lasseter was inspired by how much larger Spencer's head was compared to the rest of his body, plus the size of his eyes compared to the rest of his head.[1]
The animation of the Pixar Logo lamp was done by Pete Docter.[2]
In a new commercial for the iPad M4, Luxo, Jr. makes a cameo. Possibly to pay tribute to the late Steve Jobs.
In an episode of Season 6 of the Cartoon Network series The Amazing World of Gumball, "The Revolt", a lamp that is believed to be Luxo, Jr. is seen hopping on Phil, one of the minor characters in the show.
Gallery[]
Screenshots[]
Luxo, Jr. in the Pixar logo
Luxo, Jr. joins forces with WALL-E in a special Pixar Logo.
Luxo, Jr. shoots a laser out of his light in the Cars 2 teaser trailer.
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