Knick Knack (1989) Poster

(1989)

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8/10
Nice early Pixar short
rbverhoef9 February 2005
'Knick Knack' starts with a couple of souvenirs taken from vacation in Florida. We see some palm trees dancing and a beach bunny dancing on a nice little tune. Then we take a look at the other end of the table. A souvenir from Alaska, a snowman in a glass dome, wants to join the hot party and especially the hot girl. He tries to break the glass of the dome in any way possible.

This animated short directed John Lasseter ('Toy Story', 'A Bug's Life') is a pretty impressive early film from the Pixar studio. It looks great and is inventive. The ending gives us the biggest laugh, but before that there are quite some funny moments.
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7/10
Proves Pixar was onto something
Agent1011 June 2003
Even when the whole idea of computer animation was still in its infancy, Pixar displayed ingenuity which wasn't even being thought of in the current industry. It just goes to show that Pixar is here to stay, and the serene cuteness of this little film proved to be one of the building blocks for a future empire.
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8/10
A funny and good Pixar short
emasterslake16 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This is another Pixar short made during their early years.

It's about Knick Knacks, and the characters are knick Knacks resembling Warm places. While one is a snow globe with a Snow Man in it. He wants to join with the other Knick Knacks but he's stuck in his own Snow Globe.

Through out the short he tries all he can to escape from the Snow Globe. This short contains allot of Chuck Jones like references. And has some good animation on the snow flakes in the snow globe.

You're able to see it off of Find Nemo DVD.

Rate: 8/10 Very memorable and funny wish they start making a collector's line up of these knick knacks.
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10/10
Judge this by 1989's standards and you'll realize its brilliance
planktonrules12 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
If you watch this today, you're bound to enjoy this short quite a bit because of its wonderful humor and decent computer generated animation. However, when you realize that it was made almost 20 years ago AND the state of computers and computer graphics at that time, you'll know just how creative ahead of its time it was when it debuted. Think about it--most homes didn't have computers. Those who did had 386 processors or even less powerful processors and Windows 3.0 (a mess) was just about to debut. Serious animation STILL needed to be done with enormous and ridiculously expensive computers and the software for rendering these images couldn't be bought--it had to be created by Pixar. Unlike more modern CGI,where Dreamworks, Fox and even people at home can make nice quality graphics, this was all done from scratch. Talk about a huge undertaking!!!! So in light of all this, KNICK KNACK was an absolutely incredible film. Heck, even today, it's still incredibly funny and watchable. I might even put it STILL in the top 2 or 3 of Pixar's films because the script is so hilarious and poignant. A masterful achievement in every respect. So,...then WHY wasn't this film even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film?!?! Several other Pixar films were but not KNICK KNACK--yet I loved this film and almost anyone (except the absolute worst curmudgeon) would also love this film! If anyone knows the answer to this conundrum, please drop me a line--I'm dying to know.
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Short and very funny
bob the moo10 July 2004
In a room full of ornaments and toys, a group of dolls, little models and decorations all sit enjoying the warm temperature and glow of an unseen sun.

All, that is, except a single snowman, trapped inside a 'greetings from Alaska' snow dome. With a doll waving him on, he attempts to break out and enjoy the party.

Found on the DVD for Finding Nemo, I found this film to be funnier and much more enjoyable than the feature (although both were good). It stands to show that Pixar were onto something as, even if the graphics are a bit blocky compared to Nemo, the comedy is great and the characters are well enough created to be fun. The routine is basic – snowman tries to break out without much success, however it has such energy, pace and solid imagination that I was laughing consistently despite a slow start (ie the first 20 seconds – what a moaner!).

The animation is slick if not perfect and my early worries over the snowman were never realized. I thought he looked a bit too sinister to be a sympathetic character, but his mishaps helped win me round even if his features were still pretty rough and unlikely to get him the dolls in question! He is a great lead and you can't help but feel sorry for him – but not to the point where you stop laughing at him!

Overall this was a very pleasant surprise and the continuation of a very clever ploy in regards Pixar DVD's. I for one love the short films on many of their DVD's and I hope they continue doing it even if I would rather see them release a compilation DVD with all of them on one disk. Anyway, this was very well put together even if it has aged a bit and I laughed the whole way through it to the bittersweet ending – well worth seeing if you get the chance.
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10/10
four minutes of the cutest Pixar animation yet
Quinoa198421 October 2006
This is a perfectly goofy time with Knick Knack, especially before a feature. It's four minutes of a situation, with a little snowman in a snow-globe pining for a little woman in the mix of a group of boppin-souvenirs. He finally gets out, but to a disastrous finale. It's very to the point in every measure, and all the while cute without actually being only for kids. In fact, I think I laughed at this harder now than I did when I first saw this as a kid. It's got a sense of humor to it that starts with the first shot, and continues all the way to the very end. Is it laugh-out-loud funny? Not entirely; it's got me 'heh-heh' type laughs all abound, with a few of the biggest laughs coming with the obvious pratfalls and errors. But even the music used is done with a big wink and a grin, especially during the end credits as the little voices are accompanied by a 'blah-blah-blah' voice. It's an Oscar-caliber little ruby of a short that, much like the early Disney shorts, doesn't overstay its welcome, and has an appeal ranging from 2 years old to 92 (to put it like a typical critic). It's a sweetly cruel piece of fluff.
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7/10
one of Pixar's early efforts
disdressed1222 August 2008
i thought this early animated short from Pixar was quite good.it's funny and ironic,plus it has a very catchy and infectious tune.it's also very low key,and movies at a nice sedate pace,which i liked a lot.it's from 1989,so it's a lot different than the animated films we have today.it's a very simple short with a simple story.considering it is nearly 20 years old,it's actually very well done.it's also much more clever than many animated shorts from today,and certainly back then.i'd check it out if you have the chance.you might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.or you might not be.either way,it's not like you're losing a couple of hours.for me,Knick Knack is a 7/10
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10/10
Great short-film!
m0rpher25 July 2003
This is truly a wonderful short-film. I love it!

The animation was great, the storyline is clever, and every time I've watched it, it's made me smile.

(Oh, and thumbs up to the amazing Bobby McFerrin for the awesome background music.)
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7/10
Early Pixar
TheOtherFool16 July 2004
Funny little short comedy by the Pixar people, which I saw as an extra on the Finding Nemo DVD.

A snowman is trapped in one of those glass snow domes, but he wants to break out as all the other toys are having a good time in the sun. So he tries to break/blow his way through but things just don't work for him. When he and the dome finally fall down, we think he can escape but again, the dome gets the better of him...

Well made and fun, we can see why Pixar became such a huge company over the years. If you have the Finding Nemo DVD, make sure you check this one out.

7/10.
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8/10
A Solid Animation Short
travisimo6 December 2003
Before computer animation was all the rage, I bet the Pixar guys made this little gem simply as a labor of love. From this early creation, you can take a glimpse of the clever storytelling that would become a staple of Pixar's full-length features. This short gives you a chuckle as the disgruntled snowman struggles to get out of his snow globe to hang with the knick-knack ladies of Hawaii and Atlantis. It's quite a cute feature, but it can only go so far. I wouldn't consider it a classic like other animation shorts like `Mickey's Trailer' and `Duck! Rabbit, Duck!' but I think it will become a nice little treasure in the Pixar vault.

My IMDB Rating: 8/10
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7/10
Not much to say...
patrick_dunne22 January 2006
Knick Knack is simply a short film that the theaters showed right before the movie. (I forgot which one it was- FInding Nemo or Monsters Inc?) I think it was one of Pixar's earliest short films. The story is about a snowman in a globe. He wishes to join all the other souvenirs outside of his globe, especially the hot Miami Beach souvenirs. So, he tries to break out of his snow globe.

I don't know what to say. It's a short film with no dialog. Instead, it has some psychical humor and a funny sense of irony at the end.

I suppose that I would recommend it, because Pixar is good at humor, and because it's only a couple minutes long. What else is there to say?

7/10

Feel free to send me a Private Message regarding this comment.
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10/10
A wonderful, wonderful film
rashah18 February 2003
I first showed this to my business unit in 1996, to show that we needed to keep trying to achieve our goals, despite the setbacks along the way.

It became a kind of anthem for our team as we grew, and we ended up showing "the snowman film" at every group biannual meeting since.

I totally love the soundtrack, the animation, the story and everything about it - a real 10/10!
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7/10
funny story
bump-1858923 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This is the story that a snowman makes various ventures. At first, many souvenirs from various countries hold a joyful party on a table. They are dancing to the rhythm of music. The snowman wants to join them and dance with them, so he tries to get out from the snow globe in some way or other. I could enjoy this film because the snowman tried all means possible and his state was so cute. It's really interesting that he tries every possible way and fails each time. I admire his perseverance. In addition, the construction of this story is easy for the audience to understand. First, the snowman sees many souvenirs dancing pleasantly. Second, he tries to get out from his snow globe. Finally, the unexpected result waits for him. I think this story shows our whole life very well. First, we find a purpose or what we want, and we take action to achieve or get it. Sometimes the action goes well, sometimes it goes wrong.
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3/10
Unique concept
MK_Movie_Reviews23 August 2021
Sunshine VS Snow, Summer VS Winter.

To be honest, I miss the winter season and I want to play with snow. I think 4 seasons are the best for humans health.
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10/10
An early Pixar gem
skad134 June 2003
I first saw this Pixar short when it appeared in theaters in 1989 as part of a short-film project sponsored by American Express. It was like a great delight that popped up on the screen and then anonymously disappeared. I just saw the theatrical Pixar release Finding Nemo, and Pixar has had the great good sense to preface their new feature with this charming short. It's a 4-minute gem, with hilarious gags and great music by Bobby McFerrin. I hope Pixar puts this out on the Finding Nemo DVD. In the meantime, if you're seeing Finding Nemo, don't be late--Nemo is very good on its own, but this short is worth the price of admission in itself!
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Excellent computer animated short
James L.26 August 2000
The animation is truly excellent, using dynamic structures and design. Very amusing script about a snowman in a snowglobe,as well as other " Knickknacks". Interesting concept and very good computer animation make this a gem. By Pixar, who later , after a series of milestone shorts, worked with Disney on several computer animated features.
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10/10
Stone wall may not make a prison, but a snowglobe works fairly well here!
llltdesq19 March 2002
This has got to be one of the most delightful animated shorts I have ever seen in my life! It was once said that a man's reach should exceed his grasp. Watching this, I wondered if that includes snowmen! The ending of this was magnificent! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! Pixar did a grand job here. While I know features are their bread-and-butter, I fervently hope they continue producing these little darts that score bullseyes most of the time. Pixar, please put your shorts back in circulation! Pardon me, but I need to get a certain snowman something that will cut through plastic! Most joyously recommended. A grand slam!
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7/10
Cute characters
ymtm18 July 2013
There are many toys on a book shelf. A snowman in Alaska is alone and looks bored in a snow dome, while those who are in warmer climes such as a girl in Miami, a flamingo in Florida, a pyramid in Egypt seem very cheerful and pleasant. The girl tempts the snowman to come out of the snow dome, so he tries to break the dome's glass with a variety of tools. However, the glass is too hard to break with the snowman's power. Finally, the snow dome falls into a goldfish bowl and……

I don't remember clearly, but maybe I watched this film when I was a little child. It is true that I can enjoy watching it now, but I think I could have enjoyed more if I were younger. However, the characters in this film are so adorable that it is not a waste of time to watch it. It is good film for children.
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10/10
very early Pixar
Siloty18 June 2008
this is a very early Pixar animation which i saw when i watched Finding Nemo at the cinemas and i found it an enjoyment.

a little snowman in a snow-globe sees a mermaid toy he is attracted to and tries all these different ways to get out of the snow-globe to get to the mermaid toy. you somewhat feel sorry for the snowman as none of his efforts actually succeed, and then the one that does, which is very simple, turns out against him in the end.

this is quite a simple yet entertaining little flick and i find every minute of this short counted. enjoyed by young people and older alike. Pixar have a thing for making good shorts.

poor little snowman
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7/10
Lovely film
dunkirkafternoon11 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Knick Knack is an animated short film with no dialogue. The main character is the snow globe snowman. He envies a summer world and tries to escape from his snow globe. He uses some instruments to get out of it, but it doesn't work very well.

I think that the story is designed so that people will never get bored. For example, the snowman goes through a lot of trial and error to escape out of his snow globe. As there is repeated trial and error, the audience's expectations for him continue to be maintained.

Moreover, the sound of the film attracts people's attention. Actually, I watched the film many times when I was a child, but for some reason I completely forgot the content and the title. However, when I watched it recently and heard the sound, I could remember the story. It can be guessed that the sounds of drills and water in this movie are very characteristic for children. In summary, this film elaborates a method for drawing people's interest. I can say that it is worth seeing.
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8/10
Please Give The Snowman a Big Hand
AdamHawkes13 July 2013
A snowman in a snow globe wants to join a group that looks very amusing. Among the members is a beautiful woman in a bikini. Therefore, his aspiration to join the group is becoming stronger and stronger. By doing a lot of things, such as breaking the glass with a hammer, a drill and bombs, he tries to go out of the snow globe, but he can't. Can he escape out of the snow globe and join the group?

This film is pretty, especially the snowman. When I watched him striving to break the glass, I felt like encouraging him. and his action is very humorous. He continues to fail but he never give up and soon hits on a new plan. The new plan are unexpected, so they are very interesting.

This film is an old animated film, but it is still amusing even now. The snowman is as great a comedian as the other famous ones. Please give him a big hand.
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7/10
KNICK KNACK
vxyytcsg6 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I feel that this movie portrays a sense of poignancy humorously and interestingly. The story revolves around a snowman trapped in a snow globe who yearns to escape and attempts to break free. One aspect that left me puzzled is whether the snowman was determined to go outside to play with the sunbathing girl wearing sunglasses and the pyramid, or if it was seeking freedom. The intention behind this storytelling, whether it was driven by a desire to play with the characters inside the globe or a longing for freedom, remains unclear to me. Another point that raised questions for me is why the setting outside was a tropical paradise. I speculate that when aiming to convey the lack of freedom in toys, the snow globe might have been the first thing that came to mind, and associating it with the yearning for a tropical, warm place is a creative choice. It reminded me of scenes in Toy Story where Mr. Potato Head loses his parts, perhaps drawing inspiration from a similar theme.
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9/10
cute cute snowman
yu-ka23 December 2021
Knick-Knack is a short comedy animation produced by Pixar in 1989. It is a story of a snowman who manages to get out of his snow globe trying every imaginable way. In the first scene, a lot of summer ornaments are wearing sunglasses and dancing happily. The snowman wants to join them and meet one of the girls. Does he finally achieve his goal? The last scene is very humorous and charming. I am sure that you will want to cheer on the snowman as he tries his best. There is no dialogue, but the music is very rhythmic and the images are rich in color, so I think even small children who cannot understand the story can enjoy watching it. However, this film is worth seeing even for adults because it is a humorous story that will make anyone chuckle at least once. In addition, I think you will enjoy the story more if you look at it from the snowman's point of view.
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7/10
"knick-knack" world
nekogasuki26 July 2013
What image do you have about the title of "Knick-Knack"? This short film is held between knick-knacks, so the main characters are small objects in the ordinary room. There are objects which symbolize summer, but one of them is a snowman who is living in the snow dome. He wants to join summer and tries to get out of his dome. It is interesting that the knick-knacks having their feeling and they are living. It's funny that imagined my knick-knacks are also moving when I get out. I would like to recommend not only children but also adults watching this film. We are apt to waste everything compared with old days. So, I want you to think about that problem. On the other hand, I became to dislike the snow dome. I often bought the snow dome for souvenirs, but I thought it is like a transparent prison for snowman. I cannot buy it anymore.
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5/10
Knick Knack lacks the warmth that made Lasseter's previous shorts memorable.
TheMovieDiorama28 September 2018
After winning the Academy Award with 'Tin Toy', Pixar continued experimenting with its, at the time, genre capabilities. This time dabbling into pure visual comedy, reminiscent of classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons like 'Tom and Jerry' (damn, I miss that show). The reliance of slapstick humour, crazy antics and a disposable premise made for a slightly entertaining watch. However its technical merit has somewhat depreciated and is a step down from 'Tin Toy'. This computer animated cartoon sees a snow globe snowman attempt to break out of its prison so that it can join a summer themed party of other souvenirs. I'm sure the primary question you are asking yourself is: how does a snowman break out of a snow globe? Well my friend, easy question. A cutting torch, carrot chisel, jackhammer and the detonation of TNT. A mightily equipped souvenir, clearly. Watching it unleash all of these constructive (yet destructive) tools will certainly keep younger viewers entertained for its three minute runtime. The jazzy a cappella accompaniment also adds to its zaniness. Yet, something was missing. It almost felt too derivative, lacking the memorability of the previous shorts. The animation was squandered, with supposedly curved edges looking more jagged than a triangle, in order to focus on the comedy aspects. The anthropomorphic characters lacked design, the addition of sunglasses was a feature that felt uninspired. In terms of technical advancements, this really didn't test the the experimental boundaries that it should've been targeting. Still, a mildly entertaining short that just feels too cold.
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