Pixar Short Films

When I first started researching into short film, I thought that I hadn't actually been exposed to that many examples of it. I thought the only times I have actully seen short films was at art festivals and events etc. I didnt really think that they were that widely speculated.
After doing a bit of research I realised that actually from a young age i've been exposed to them. In most Disney Pixar films there is a short film at the beginning, for example the Birds one, shown to the left. There is also the squirrel one in Ice Age, which is widely recognised and speculated.

For the Birds is one of the most famous Pixar short films. Its won a series of awards:

• 2002 - 74th Academy Awards - Best Short Animated Film
• 2001 - Vancouver Effects and Animation Festival - Animated Computer 3D Short
• 2001 - Anima Mundi Animation Festival - Best Film x2
• 2001 - Chicago International Children's Film Festival-Short Film or Video - Animation-Second Place
• 2000 - Annie Award - Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short Subject
• 2000 - Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival - Best Animated Short Film

I think that they are a really interesting way of getting audiences into the film. Clearly Disney Pixar films are aimed at children  and I think that these shorts demonstate perfectly getting their target audience right.