29 of Pixar's Most Creative Easter Eggs

The Pizza Planet delivery truck made its debut in Toy Story — Pixar’s first theatrical film — when Woody and Buzz hitched a ride in the back seat. Since then, the truck has driven through Finding Nemo’s Sydney, toured Ratatouille’s Paris, cheered on Lightning McQueen in Cars, parked behind a trailer in Monsters, Inc. (above), survived a scan from WALL-E, watched Carl Fredericksen take flight in Up, been memorialized in Brave’s Scottish carvings, and then some. To date, the Pizza Planet truck has made appearances in every Pixar film but The Incredibles.

Pixar’s first short film, “Luxo, Jr.,” told the story of the bouncing lamp that would become the “I” in the company’s logo — but the lamp’s favorite toy has found its own kind of fame. The yellow ball, with its signature blue stripe and red star, can be spotted among other toys in movies like Monsters, Inc., Up, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and the Toy Story franchise (above).

The Radiator Springs Drive-In Theatre in Cars is always showing classics like Toy Car Story or The Incredimobiles — which may be what inspires vehicles from Radiator Springs to make appearances in other Pixar movies. Luigi drives by the dentist’s office in Finding Nemo, Doc Hudson pays witness to The Incredibles’ final battle, and Snotrod and Finn McMissile adorn Andy’s wall in Toy Story 3.

In honor of a graphic design and character animation classroom at California Institute of the Arts, where Pixar filmmakers and animators like Brad Bird and John Lasseter got their start, “A113” is worked into every Pixar movie. Sightings include license plates like Andy's mom's in the Toy Story francise (above), a diver’s camera in Finding Nemo, Mr. Incredible’s holding cell, WALL-E’s evacuation code, a scare classroom in Monsters University, and the carving “ACXIII” in Brave.

If eagle-eyed viewers look closely during the opening scene of Toy Story 2, they might catch a cluster of stars in the shape of the Luxo lamp. Make a wish.

Those familiar with Pixar’s shorts will recognize the man who patches up Woody’s arm as Geri, the subject of the 1997 short “Geri’s Game.”

Mrs. Potato Head reads a picture book featuring the characters of A Bug’s Life, Pixar’s second film. Spot Dot getting “really angry” about something in the corner.

During the toy’s attempt to rescue Woody from Al’s Toy Barn, Buzz runs by an aisle of A Bug’s Life figurines, including Flik, Heimlich, and Dim.

When Sulley takes Boo back to her bedroom, she thanks him with a Luxo ball, Jessie from Toy Story 2, and a stuffed clownfish — a hint at the upcoming Finding Nemo.

A Finding Nemo tease also works its way into the décor at Harryhausen’s restaurant (named for stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen). Marlin can be spotted on the wallpaper.

As Nemo frantically looks around the waiting room after he arrives in the fish tank, he spies Buzz Lightyear in front of the toy chest in the corner.

When Nigel wreaks havoc in the dentist’s room, a young boy with a Mr. Incredible comic (a preview of the upcoming The Incredibles) nervously witnesses the commotion from the waiting room.

Boo’s mobile hangs above the dentist’s chair, and one of her drawings can be seen on a cabinet when Nigel flies in to rescue Nemo.

Lightning McQueen gets his speed from Lightyear Tires, a shout out to Buzz Lightyear.

One car making a pit stop in the race is using Sector 4 Gamma Quad tires, a reference to the location where Buzz Lightyear is stationed as a space ranger.  

Up’s Dug is a world traveler even before he boards Carl’s flying house; Remy sees the dog’s shadow in Paris.

Like the Clark Kent of the kitchen, Linguini sports the Incredibles' logo on his underwear.

Remy’s scooter is left in the rubble that WALL-E scans.

WALL-E’s collection includes Rex from Toy Story and Carl’s tennis ball walker from Up, what would be the next release on Pixar’s schedule.  

The little girl who watches Carl’s house take off has (along with a Luxo ball) a stuffed Lotso, villain of the then-upcoming Toy Story 3.

Andy has a postcard from Up’s Carl and Ellie Fredericksen on his wall.

A kid at Sunnyside Daycare wears a shirt with Lightning McQueen’s number (95, a reference to the year of Toy Story’s release) and logo.

A toy version of Nemo’s teacher, Mr. Ray, can be seen on a shelf at the daycare. We wonder where his class has gone…

Sid Phillips, the neighbor who terrorized Andy’s toys in Toy Story, makes a cameo in the film series’ third installment as a garbage man — still wearing the same skull shirt and still voiced by Erik von Detten.

Buzz runs on batteries from Buy ‘N Large, a major corporation in WALL-E’s time.

Gusteau’s, the restaurant from Ratatouille, is reimagined in the Cars world as Gastow’s.

A tavern features a painting of Brave’s Merida, along with the rest of her family, in car form. At the time, the film was the next Pixar feature to be released.

A Celtic rendition of Monsters, Inc.’s Sulley is carved into a block of wood in the witch’s home.

A toy version of Arlo, the dinosaur from Pixar’s upcoming The Good Dinosaur, can be seen on the floor of a scare simulator at Monsters U. (As a bonus, the roadside dinosaur that Riley remembers stopping to see in Inside Out also bears Arlo’s likeness.)