in this series of articles, Jamie Dyer looks at popular films and TV shows from his millennial perspective. In this edition, a groundbreaking short film animation from Pixar.
In the years before Toy Story, Pixar made several short films to develop CGI animation. This early effort was not only a stepping stone, but eventually helped form part of their logo.
what is Luxo Jr About?
Luxo Jr. was written and directed by John Lasseter and first released in 1986. This groundbreaking short film tells the simple yet charming story of a playful young desk lamp and its larger, more reserved parent. As the smaller lamp eagerly bounces around a ball the elder lamp watches. Upon resting on top of the ball, it is reduced to being flat. Luxo Jr bows it’s head in sadness.
Jamie’s Thoughts
I remember seeing this film on a Toy Story 2 VHS tape back in the early 2000s, with a pre-message about its origins. It was clear from the off that it was from the early days of CGI.
Looking at this film through a 2025 lens, the models look a little basic but they do the job. The viewer can quite clearly see what the objects are, and look fairly convincing despite low resolution textures. For something released in 1986, I find this to be a remarkable film that still looks impressive.
It must be difficult to establish a character from an inanimate object, but they achieved it here. The way Luxor jumps around, and later bows his head in shame, are plain moves that help establish him as a living thing. The sound, although minimal, helps land the punchline at the end.
The character of Luxor Jr, a small lamp, would go on to be a familiar aspect of Pixar’s future, via regular appearances as part of the company’s logo. The simple lamp design, coupled with the cute sound effects, helped make it a memorable visual from everyone’s childhood!
Where to Watch Luxo Jr
Given its status as a part of Pixar history, it is easily available in a number of places. Viewers around the world can experience the short via a Disney Plus subscription, where it is viewable alongside other classic and new Pixar shorts. It can also be streamed for free on YouTube.
The film has been made available on physical media, including the first volume of the Pixar Shorts collection.
