Knick Knack (1989) User Reviews

Nice early Pixar short

[rbverhoef · 8/10 · 9 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.

Proves Pixar was onto something

[Agent10 · 7/10 · 11 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.

A funny and good Pixar short

[emasterslake · 8/10 · 16 April 2005]

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.

Judge this by 1989's standards and you'll realize its brilliance

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 12 February 2008]

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.

Short and very funny

[bob the moo · 10 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.

four minutes of the cutest Pixar animation yet

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 21 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.

one of Pixar's early efforts

[disdressed12 · 7/10 · 22 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

Great short-film!

[m0rpher · 10/10 · 25 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.)

Early Pixar

[TheOtherFool · 7/10 · 16 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.

A wonderful, wonderful film

[rashah · 10/10 · 18 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!

Not much to say...

[patrick_dunne · 7/10 · 22 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.

A Solid Animation Short

[travisimo · 8/10 · 6 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

Great movie

[daikibaseball-04275 · 7/10 · 21 July 2022]

The short film "KNICK KNACK" is a story about a snow globe snowman struggling to escape from the inside. He uses a variety of tools, such as hammers, drills, and dynamite, to meet beautiful women, but it's hard to get out.

The reason I like this short film is that the desperate snowman is so cute and is a soothing character. It's interesting that he also does dangerous things to escape from the snow globe. The depiction of the snowman trying to get out of the snow globe is very cute and makes me smile. I was laughing at the ending. Also, this movie has no dialogue, only BGM. The calm BGM conveys the cuteness of the snowman to the viewer. I am soothed because the BGM and expression of the snowman are very good.

For these reasons this movie is very interesting and I like it. I think this movie will make you forget your tiredness.

This is a funny film.

[ysk865540 · 5/10 · 27 December 2013]

The film Knick-Knack is a funny short film. In the film, characters are objects.Objects are personified. Especially the film has two scenes which I think are funny . I will tell you the scenes. First, I tell you the scene in which a main character, a snowman,tries to break a wall of a decorative object.The snowman is in the decorative object. However he wants to go out of the decorative object and meet outside objects such as objects of a flamingo.He used a drill and a machine to break the wall of the decorative objects. The way he breaks the wall is very funny. Second, I will tell you the last scene. The snowman tries to go out of the decorative object.In the process,the decorative object falls from a shelf. At that time, the snow man can get out of the decorative object and go into a fish tank.He finally gets freedom. However, in no time, the decorative object falls down, too. The snow man is shut up by the decorative object again. The way things are is very funny. I think that this is a funny film.

An early Pixar gem

[skad13 · 10/10 · 4 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!

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.

Stone wall may not make a prison, but a snowglobe works fairly well here!

[llltdesq · 10/10 · 19 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!

funny story

[bump-18589 · 7/10 · 23 July 2016]

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.

very early Pixar

[Siloty · 10/10 · 18 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

A brilliant animation short with a philosophical view to the universe

[1qatreh · 7/10 · 24 April 2020]

This animation short is brilliant, considering its determinist philosophical view to the universe mixed with a very fitting narrative structure (specially due to its eastern style of philosophical symbolism which considers human beings as determined beings as toys; and reminds me of the great persian poet and philosopher, Khayam), along with a very good technical frame which was really avant-garde for its time. To construct a successful story with such qualities, is not an easy job to do, at all. So, one could comprehend how more difficult has been Mr. Lasseter's job to make it via an animation short film. No matter do we believe in determinism or not, believe me, there are not so many philosophical movies which do have a really good narrative and technical quality; and this short title is certainly one of them!

Sad story

[shuna-14122 · 8/10 · 25 July 2016]

This story is a very sad one because the snowman wants to meet a woman but he can't meet her. He is ornament so he is bound to his role. He tries to go outside to meet a woman. First, he taps glass, he throw stuff on the glass, nail the glass with his own nose. Finally, he bombs glass. But he can't go outside. I think that's because there is him in the destiny. And, he falls from the desk into the fish tank. On the way to the fish tank, he can go outside and is about to meet a woman but, finally, the cover him, so he can't meet a woman. I think it is sad because his efforts didn't pay off. What does the author represent? This story is like comedy but, I think it is like sad story.

Cute characters

[ymtm · 7/10 · 18 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.

A Pixar Classic

[breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com · 10/10 · 4 January 2012]

Pixar is known for making a lot of good short films. Out of all of them, Knick Knack is the best. Even though this film has no dialog, it is just so adorable to watch and laugh out loud at it. The story behind this film is that director John Lasseter noticed that his wife collected a snow globe after every trip they went on. Thus the idea of making a film about knick knacks were hatched.

Knick Knack is the story about a lonely snowman that's stuck inside a snow globe and wants to hang out with an attractive mermaid knick knack. What makes this film so cute is that the snowman tries from the simplest, to the most ridiculous ideas on how to get out of the snow globe. To make things even funnier is that none of these ideas work! I also loved the music, which was performed by Bobby McFerrin. The beat of the music meshes so well with the situation. It's a jumpy, goofy song for a jumpy goofy film. One last thing that I thought was cool was the year it was made. For 1989 computer animated feature, it looks great and I will note that their is a pre-Finding Nemo (2003) character in the end of the film. Once the viewer compares the differences, they will see how far of a distance Pixar has evolved.

As one of Pixar's earliest films, Knick Knack is considered to be one of the best. It consists of delightful characters and although it is fairly short, it will keep the viewer's eyes glued to the screen for the whole three minutes.

Knick-Knack

[shojijason · 7/10 · 5 September 2017]

This film's art was great and very easy to understand. The snow globe snowman wants to come out and he tries several things to come out. This film is so short, though it has many points to laugh. Therefore, I thought the importance of creating a story is not the time, the content of the story is very important. The picture of the film looks like an old game and little bit weird, though I liked it because it's like watching an amateur film that is super. I felt bad for the snowman that he couldn't get out and have fun, but it was a short and good comic story.

The lonely snowman attracts us.

[kumayama · 5/10 · 8 February 2014]

Everything in the movie is very simple; the story, characters and music. However we find it funny that the Snowman in a snow dome tries to get out. The taste of picture is cute and friendly, so we can easily watch it. Things floating in the snow dome seem real in animation.

The Snowman living in winter and toys in summer look are in contrast. We sympathized with him because he is lonely. At the same time, we can't stop feeling he is charming because his tries to get out the snow dome just to talk with a cute girl. He moves a lot and fails many times with full expression that also make him lovely.

The situation that toys are moving when we don't look at them is a dream of every child Pixar formed that as this animation to keep not only children but adults wondering, and it's easy to guess that this idea leads to the most popular animation, "Toy Story."