Why Pixar Hides An A113 Easter Egg In Every Movie Explained

Easter eggs are common in Pixar movies, but one of the most mysterious is the code “A113” that appears in every film. Other Easter eggs have clearer meanings, such as those that reference other Pixar movies; for example, a carving of Sully from Monsters, Inc. appears in the witch’s cottage in Brave. There is also a board game in Inside Out called “Find Me!” with a clownfish on the box, referencing Finding Nemo. In addition, other Easter eggs are present in multiple Pixar movies, such as the Pizza Planet truck originally from Toy Story.

However, A113 is unique in that it appears in every Pixar movie. Starting with Toy Story, A113 is Ms. Davis’ license plate number. Most recently, A113 appears on Luca’s train ticket as his seat number in Luca. Other Pixar films have had to include the Easter egg in even more creative ways. For example, the Roman numerals ACXIII appear above the door to the witch’s shed in Brave, which equates to A113. Additionally, Onward includes the code only in an audio format when Colt Bronco receives a dispatch about an “A113 in progress.”

While many long-time fans likely noticed this Pixar Easter egg, the history behind it is never made clear by the movies. This is because the reference is to real-life history for the industry: A113 was the number for the classroom used by animation students at the California Institute of the Arts, where many now-popular animators studied. As these animators’ careers progressed, they began including the code in their movies, especially Pixar films, as a reference to their former classroom. Although this Easter egg initially started as a joke, the running gag soon took on other meanings as well. A113 became a way for the animators to not only recognize each other and their experiences together but to honor the school that helped shape their careers.

For the animators who attended the California Institute of the Arts, A113 has provided a way to subtly acknowledge each other in their movies. Brad Bird was the first animator to include A113, using it as a license plate number in a 1987 animated episode of the TV series Amazing Stories. Since then, Bird has directed multiple critically acclaimed animated films, including The Incredibles, Incredibles 2, and Ratatouille. Other animators from the university include John Lasseter, who helped found Pixar and previously served as its Chief Creative Officer. He directed movies such as Toy Story and Cars, and executive produced movies such as Frozen and Zootopia. In addition, Pete Doctor, the current Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and director of Monsters, Inc., Up, and Soul, attended the university.

Given that A113 refers to a specific classroom, this Pixar Easter egg is also a way to honor the university itself. Without the California Institute of the Arts, these animators would not have their current careers. Due to this, A113 often appears in any of these animators’ films, even if they are not with Pixar. Non-Pixar animated features with this Easter egg include Lilo & Stitch, The Iron Giant, and The Princess and the Frog. The code has even been in some live-action movies, such as The Avengers and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. In this way, the A113 Easter egg has appeared in many films, including every Pixar movie, as a way for animators to acknowledge each other and how their education has shaped their careers.

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