Code A113

Sometimes in plain sight, sometimes hard to spot, a number seem to lurk inside Pixar movies. Is it a conspiracy? Is it even terrestrial? … What is the number A113?

Indeed, from Finding Nemo to Brave, from Toy Story to Cars, this odd number keeps on appearing in the animations from the Pixar studio. It is so recurring that it gets almost ominous… But let’s not panic yet, the answer is actually quite simple.

Well, Pixar has been started by a (passionate) few people – mostly John Lasseter and Brad Bird – from the same art school: the California Institute of Arts (or CalArts). This period has been very decisive for them, and they consider that it all started there. Especially the 1st year, in room… A113.

You got it. It is just a reminder of you they are and where they are from, and it has become some sort of group signature. (A bit the opposite of room 101 of G. Orwell)

Here are some examples:

Toy Story 1-2-3: the plate of Andy’s mum’s car

Finding Nemo: the diver’s camera

Ratatouille: one of the ear tag of one of the rats

WALL-E: the order for the Axiom to never come back to Earth

Up: an office plate at the court

Inside-Out: the wall behind Riley when she hesitates to pick the phone

Etc…etc…

By the way, such habit of putting hidden marks on the movie is not uncommon. Some famous example are Disney movies – well known for hiding hints of the next release in each of its movies - or Hitchcock - you should be able to spot him in most (if not each) of his movies…

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