Term Paper Outline: Analysis of Pixar's Up Film

Introduction:

A.   Animated feature film: Disney-Pixar’s UP (1hour 45mins)

B.    Thesis: In Pixar’s UP film, the laws of physics were pushed beyond the limits existent in real life in order to provide an entertaining story of a retired balloon salesman and his ultimate adventure in his flying home to the South American wilderness.

Body Paragraphs:

1.     Unrealistic Gravitational Forces

-The 20,000 balloons used to lift the house in the beginning of the film would not be strong enough of a force to rip the house off the ground

-The House would be too heavy and fall over with out support on left and right side of house during lift off (Balloons are gathered up and center on top of roof)

-Defies rules of air resistance- scene where Russell is piloting the house and lands on the roof. Carl, Dug, and Kevin are moving as if they were on normal ground, defying effects of wind resistance

-Good use of Physics: Chimney scene. Charles Muntz sets the chimney on fire and balloons start to pop, making the house start to fall back to ground

-Carl empties out house by throwing out the special objects inside the home. House slowly begins to float again and take off

2.     Exaggerated Path of Actions

-Impossible for house to travel several days from North America to the wilderness of South America with just the help of balloons inflated with helium

-Opening scene: Balloons magically appear and rise out of the roof’s chimney. 20,000 plus balloons emerging from an approximate 30x30 inch chimney

- Carl and Russell carry the house holding on to strings on top of a cliff at a constant motion/path of action. Buoyant Force causes the house to rise upwards, then the density of air and balloons decrease, and in turn allow the weight of the house and the buoyant force to be the same and balanced.

3.     Challenges and Defies Newton’s Law of Inertia and Follow Through

-The house hits objects such as minivans and other objects along the path of his journey to the wilderness, yet it remains at the same or similar speed it was traveling before hitting

(An object in motion remains in motion unless acted upon outside force)

-Carl and Russell attempt to escape Munt’s cave. They are jumping and floating as if they were on the moon with a floating house attached to their backs.

Conclusion

-       A couple of laws of physics were bent or broken in different scenes throughout the animated film

-       The use of good and bad physics within the film were done intentionally in order to illustrate the story of Carl’s journey with Russell and a floating house that had many previous memories of Carl’s past. The film had a balance of real world physical laws, along with laws of physics unique to fit the story of UP.