Pixar Storytelling — How the WALL-E Opening Scene Tells a Story Without Words
68,634
Published 2021-03-22
Best Pixar Movies Ranked ►► bit.ly/wll-e
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - Script Setup
00:56 - Setting the Scene
02:35 - Exercise: Beyond the Script
03:44 - Use "Appeal" for Character Design
05:46 - Recap
WALL-E isn’t just one of the best Pixar movies to date, it’s also a masterclass in visual storytelling. For a majority of the film, we get zero dialogue and yet a complicated and compelling story is unfolding in front of us. This isn’t impossible, it was done for decades before sound was introduced to motion pictures. WALL-E seems revolutionary because we’ve become so reliant on dialogue that we’ve forgotten the power of visual storytelling.
In this Pixar video essay, we’re going to look at the first couple minutes of WALL-E to see how sound design, music, audio editing, and character design are all we need to tell a complete and nuanced story.
One of the most impressive feats in the opening minutes of WALL-E is how the combination of sound and image create and balance tone. The very first images we get show us the majesty and wonder of the universe. When soundtracked with a jaunty and peppy show tune (“Put On Your Sunday Clothes”), the tone is clear and consistent. It is an optimistic and adventurous call to action.
But then we plummet through Earth’s atmosphere to the surface and the imagery has taken on a completely different message...yet the music remains unchanged. Now we have the desolation of an abandoned planet that is juxtaposed with the unabashedly optimistic music. The tone, now, is complicated.
And then, the music fades away, as if dissolved and carried away into the past. We are left with only the sound of hollow wind pushing through an apocalyptic landscape. The tone is once again balanced between matching sound and image, albeit on the pessimistic end of the spectrum. In 90 seconds, we have three distinct tonal shifts, all due to the aural and visual storytelling. This is masterful and economic filmmaking — and in a “kids movie” nonetheless!
The lesson here is that dialogue is important and can be used with great purpose and strategy. But as you approach your next project, don’t forget that visual storytelling, film language, sound design, character design, and audio editing are also equally important communication tools. Anyone can tell a story with dialogue, but can you tell a story with images and sound alone? Give it a shot and remember Pixar and WALL-E when you do.
#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking
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Spotify Playlist ►► bit.ly/wa-e
Songs Used:
First Date - Wall-E Soundtrack
Wall-E - Wall-E Soundtrack
Put On Your Sunday Clothes - Hello, Dolly (Soundtrack)
2815 A.D. (Wall-E Soundtrack)
Bubble Wrap (Wall-E Soundtrack)
It’s the End of the World as We Know It - REM
It Only Takes A Moment (Hello, Dolly Soundtrack)
Music by Artlist ► utm.io/umJx
Music by Artgrid ► utm.io/umJy
Music by Soundstripe ► bit.ly/2IXwomF
Music by Music Vine ► bit.ly/2IUE0pT
Music by MusicBed ► bit.ly/2Fnz9Zq
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All Comments (21)
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The fade-out of the music helps to ground us in a hopeless world, but the fade-in tells us that WALL-E is a hopeful character who cares about this world
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The transition from non-diegetic to diegetic sound is fairly common in movies. But, that dying-out echo and the few moments of silence is genius. Really makes us feel alone, just like WALL-E when he enters the frame.
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always great seeing sound design being praised
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Walle- e is one of my favourite animated movies
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It deserves a spot on the long line of Pixar's masterpieces.
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I was bored during the online lesson until I saw that gorgeous notification came out 😌
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This is, in my opinion, one of the best movie ever made. I consider it almost perfect in every way. My favourite movie ever ❤
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Damn! Now I'll have to watch Wall-E again.
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So glad you cover one of my favorites animated movies! Much love to StudioBinder for producing such amazing content!
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The music introduces us to a world so devoid of life, and ironically continues to play. But as we realise just how bad earths situation has become, it fades out ; darkness and humanities errors (climate change, waste) have prevailed over its positives (music, joy). But adventure is ignited and we see that not all is lost when we hear the music return, this time diegetic, originating from a source of life (or robot at least!) full of hope and wonder. Great video essay, and some really good points about how the effect can be put to use!
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WALL-E is one of those movies that honestly gets better as you get older because then you can truly appreciate the things you missed when you watched it earlier, especially the visual storytelling. Not only do I think this is one of the greatest animated movies (my personal favorite animated movie), I think this is one of the greatest movies period!
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Never noticed how Wall-E had such good and simple sound and image editing. Great video
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that soundtrack fade-in fade-out reinforces the notion of reality change.
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I searched "wall-e beginning" but I couldn't imagine my new favorite YouTuber channel would feature my favorite animation in such a precious way
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Comparing the final film to the script and noting the differences is key here. Thanks for the careful work.
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The reason why I really love to watch the videos in this channel because I learn a lot so much, thank you so much for all of the videos
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I think WALL E genuinely has one of the best opening scenes in a film
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I remember watching this in the cinema as a child, even then I understood the scene, this is actually awe inspiring years later now that I'm studying filmmaking. These guys are beasts!
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Fading out, "and we won't come home until we've kissed a girl!" The foreshadowing is real, very well done.
